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Best Groomsmen Gift Ideas

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Wedding planning demands a lot of time and attention to details. Sometimes, certain things don’t get as much thought as they should. Groomsmen gifts may be one of those things that don’t benefit from careful planning. In some cases, they are forgotten completely! Eek! Don’t skimp on showing these special men how much you value their time and participation.

The groomsmen gifts don’t have to be expensive to be meaningful. Traditional groomsmen gifts have gotten a bit cliché. The personalized beer glasses, alcohol, shaving kits, watches, and cuff links have become so common that they may have lost their meaning. Unless one of those things truly connects with the groomsmen on a personal level, it seems like a thoughtless token. Consider these trendy groomsmen gift ideas.

Consider the hobbies and interests of the groomsmen. If the groomsmen are football fans, perhaps football jerseys would be the best gifts. One couple got personalized Louisville Slugger baseball bats for each of the groomsmen. Golf-themed gifts are also popular.

Is the backyard barbeque the favorite pastime of your groomsmen? Maybe a grill set with authentic Koko charcoal, spice rubs, grill tools, and personalized grilling apron would be the perfect gifts. If your groomsmen are the DIY gurus of our day, they probably already have the basic tools that they use to complete projects. However, if you know of an upcoming project, you might want to give a special tool that may be useful for that project.

Food and drinks are always a hit. Instead of buying everyone the same gift basket, why not make your own with snacks that you know they love? Some people have given small, personalized coolers to each groomsman filled with their favorite snacks. One couple tied a small bottle of each groomsman’s favorite alcohol on top of the boxes that held their gifts.

Clothing can be a great gift. A graphic t-shirt with great design can be something all the groomsmen would love. One couple gave each of their groomsmen a pair of personalized sneakers. Some personalized sneakers that have been used as gifts for groomsmen have the groomsman’s name vertically on the back of the shoe. This gives the shoe a personal touch without being too garish. Pocket watches are becoming wildly popular groomsmen gifts.

Homemade objects tend to indicate that a great deal of time and thought was put into the gift. Mosaics, garden accents, or wall art can be incredible groomsman gifts. If you’re not the creative crafter, you can get some help with a website that sells handcrafted items like Etsy or Scoutmob.com. There are vast possibilities on these sites from personalized pocket knives to upcycled pallet wall art to messenger bags with vintage graphics.

For more ways to make your wedding a remarkable success for everyone involved, please visit the Best for Bride blog.

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3 Tips to help you stay calm on your wedding day

So, your long-awaited wedding day is finally here! Yay! But, why is it that you suddenly find yourself a bundle of nerves?

Don’t worry, this is nothing unexpected. Most brides find themselves buckling under the pressure of the events that are to unravel and can hear their heartbeat in their head even as their wedding day approaches. If you think the pressure of your wedding day will be too much to handle, these tips will help you calm down a little and relax as you enjoy this lifetime celebration of yours.

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Set your schedule for the wedding day in advance

It is a great idea to plan and organize what you will do and at what time, before you set out on your wedding day. Allot a reasonable time frame to each activity and make sure that you stick to it on the day. Divide your schedule into an organized list of activities that you can follow in the same sequence on the day, and get ready on time. You can begin making this list well ahead of time, and refine it to be just right by the time of your wedding eve. Make sure the schedule isn’t jam packed, and you have some buffer to relax. Also, put all the things you need to get ready in place on the night before the wedding day, so you do not have to stress over where something is on the day itself.

Start the day early and on the right note

You have an idea of how long it will take you to get dressed and be out of the door. Set your alarm an extra hour early, and begin the day on a relaxed note by indulging in a long warm shower or doing some meditation. This extra time will allow you to compose yourself and be better prepared for the demands of the day. Don’t do anything that is wedding-related at this time, and you will find yourself better prepared for the rest of the day. Have a good, healthy breakfast and plenty of water to hydrate yourself. Stick to the allotted time, but make sure that you do not let your mind wander towards unwanted thoughts of things that can go wrong.

Be prepared for every situation

As you may have heard already, the most unexpected things can happen on the actual day. Whether it is a weather problem or vendor issue, the best way to handle it is to be prepared for anything and everything. Plan for every worst case scenario you can think of. Once you know you have a plan in place, you can handle the stress better, should things indeed take a turn for the worse. Set up an emergency kit, or buy one online so you are covered for any wedding dress mishaps. Follow up with your wedding vendors ahead of time to ensure everything is progressing as per plan. Check on your bridesmaids to make sure they know when and where they have to be at any point of time. Run your checklist by your mother or maid of honor and add anything that you may have missed.

With all luck, everything should go well, and you will not have to struggle with anything you worried about. For more information on how to plan your wedding, or to choose your wedding dress to look great on your wedding day, visit us on Best for Bride.

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Crafting Your Dream Day: Essential Questions to Ask Your Wedding Planner!

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Wedding planners are an additional cost to your wedding budget, but when you choose the right person, your wedding will be a breeze. Most of your success depends on how capable the candidate is and also on how well you gel with your wedding planner.

A wedding planner may be professional and experienced, but you will not be satisfied if they do not get your ideas. After all, it is your wedding, and not theirs. So first off, remember this. Don’t hire anyone who

  • is bossy or busy
  • dismisses your ideas or is skeptical about implementing them
  • doesn’t agree to signing a contract and
  • just doesn’t understand you

Before hiring a wedding planner, you should conduct an interview with her. This may be face-to-face or over-the-phone. Here is what you should ask at this interview, and the answers will determine whether you have the right candidate for the job.

Are you available on my wedding day?

There is no point in pursuing the discussion if the planner has another wedding lined up on your wedding day. If your wedding date is not yet confirmed and you really like the person you are talking to, consider fixing your wedding on a day when she is available.

What services do you offer?

Does she work only with a recommended list of vendors, or is she open to interviewing and assisting you with other vendors? Can she design your wedding, plan the ideas and be in charge of everything from sending out invitations to decorating the venue, or will she only assist you while you find and book vendors? Will she handle any booking issues herself? How often will you communicate, and how many meetings can you expect?

If the scope of her services are limited, consider whether you can tackle what is left yourself. If so, this shouldn’t be a problem. Also ask about the team. How many staff members will be on-site on day and how many other weddings they will be working on simultaneously.

How many weddings have you planned already?

The last thing you want to do is to entrust the task to an inexperienced planner. Ask her how long she’s been in business, and obtain references. A good wedding planner will direct you to a number of satisfied clients.

Share your vision for the wedding with her and ask what she can contribute to make it better.

What if there is an emergency?

Ask her how the team tackles emergencies like bad weather or other wedding disasters. If you anticipate a likely problem, ask her how she would prepare. Another big challenge is adhering to budget, how can she ensure this? You should also ask for backup plans, should something unforeseen occur and she cannot personally handle your wedding.

And finally, the fees

Don’t feel shy to ask what her charges are, including all overheads and extras. This will confirm whether the charges are within your means. If your planner will handle vendor payments, ask how this will be done. Will you be paying your planner a lumpsum, or will you have to write out checks to each vendor as and when required?

Once you have all this information, you should have a fair idea of whether this wedding planner is right for your wedding. If not, keep looking.

For more wedding advice and tips, as well as your wedding shopping needs, visit us at Best for Bride.

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5 Tips to help you get your bridesmaids bouquets right

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There are so many details, both big and small, to get right at your wedding. One of them is your bridesmaids’ bouquets. The flowers and the designs that you choose, will have an impact on how well they look on the day. Although they may not hold on to the bouquet for the entire day, it will still be prominent during some very important moments. So, you have to get it right.

Here are some ideas for you to start with.

Match it to your bouquet

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Your own wedding bouquet should be the starting point for your bridesmaids bouquets. Bouquets that are miniature versions of your own would complete the effect seamlessly. Consider choosing the same or similar flowers as you have used in your own bouquet, for a cohesive effect. One thing to remember is that if your bouquet matches the colors of the bridesmaids dresses, it would be a good idea to choose flowers that are slightly darker or lighter in color for their bouquets. Else, it could get lost in the background of their dress.

Complement their dress color

Choosing a bridal bouquet is easy, as there are hardly any combinations that could go wrong with a white wedding dress. This is however, not the case with your bridesmaids dresses. Not all colors blend well. So, when you choose your wedding color palette, make sure that you have enough flower choices that will go well with your choice of bridesmaid dress colors. Lighter and shades from the same color family, complementary shades on the color spectrum and neutrals can be explored to find a good combination.

The size should go well with their dress design

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If your bridesmaids wear elaborate gowns or dresses with intricate detailing, keep the floral accessories simple. For dresses with details at the bust or waist, choose a bouquet style that doesn’t hide it. Also consider the differences in height and build of your bridesmaids when choosing bouquets. After all, it is very unlikely that a bouquet which is perfect for a plus-size woman will have the same effect on a petite woman.

Make it interesting by varying the colors and designs

There was this rainbow wedding featured on the Rock ‘n’ Roll bride,  where the bridesmaids wore dresses in different colors and held bouquets that matched their dress color. The effect was spectacular. We can see that the most brilliant and memorable choices are when you think outside the box. Give a unique touch to each of your bridesmaids bouquets by customizing each one. Vary either the colors, or designs and you will have stunning results.

Trust your florist

You may soon feel you’ve had enough when you have to select so many flowers, bouquet designs and floral centerpieces. Trust your florist with the finer details. She is an expert who knows her job and when allowed to use her creativity, it is likely that she will give you some surprising choices that you would never have thought of yourself. Tell her what you would like and give her the freedom to design it. Not only will this reduce your stress, she may also appreciate the opportunity to show her best.

For more valuable bridal tips and wedding planning advice, visit us at Best for Bride.