Fun Travel Accessories

Dormify, has recently come out with a fun line of vintage-inspired packing accessories, perfect for any traveler.  From lingerie bags, to cosmetic carrying cases the brand sells a wide selection of affordable products.  Not only are the products practical but would also make outstanding gifts for members of the wedding party.  The luggage tags posted above can be found on the companies website.

Who Would Have Thought?

An idea as simple as changing boring, drab shoelaces into colorful, fun ones has alluded us all. And I'm choosing to forget the awkward teenage years when we all thought mismatching shoelaces (if not shoes), was definitely the way to go.

We are talking about taking your groom's and/or groomsmen's shoes and adding a shoelace that corresponds with your wedding colors for an unexpected pop of color.

Ties for All

Esty seller toybreaker has sets of matching ties for your Groomsmen.  They are all hand screened in a range of really neat patterns.

The ties come in sets for your number of Groomsmen and range according to how many you need.  A set of 6 is $162.00 and a set of 12 is $288.00.  The more you buy the more you save!  They can even make one to match for your little ringbearer.

Tux Questions: Answered.

GQ has all of your tux questions answered.

Question: I wore my white dinner jacket when I got married in June, and now my boss’s daughter is having a black-tie wedding. Is it appropriate for a guest to wear a white jacket?

Answer: Between Memorial Day and Labor Day, it is considered proper by the authoritarians to wear a white dinner jacket or mess jacket in place of a black dinner jacket. So if you feel the need to stand out, this is a good way to do it—far better than with the folly of “creative black tie.” I find white more joyous.

Question: I've received an invitation for a wedding starting at 1:30 p.m. Dress is black-tie, but given the timing, I would prefer to wear a morning suit. Would this be seen as a faux pas by the bride's and groom's families?

Answer: You would be dressed properly by traditional standards, but such standards are superseded by the wishes of the celebrants. Rule number one is never to show up the bride and groom. Wear a tux and dark glasses and pretend it's after six.

Question: What color socks are considered appropriate to wear with a white tux? White, black—does it matter?

Answer: Everything matters. If you mean a white tux jacket with black trousers, then you should wear black socks. If you have one of those showbizzy all-white ensembles in the manner of the great Cab Calloway, then wear white shoes and socks.

image from men.style.com

Tie One On

We love Vineyard Vines ties - a wonderful gift for your groomsmen and a great preppy touch.

Shop now for your summer wedding and get 25% off!

www.vineyardvines.com 

That's Why I...

Bluefly.  Did you know Blufly.com has a new Wedding section - with a sole purpose to help you get dressed up as a bridal party member or a wedding guest?

 

You know Blufly.com - they're the folks that have the accessory wall on Project Runway.

Label It

This cute idea comes directly from the master of ideas - Martha Stewart.

We all love the idea of giving bridesmaids and groomsmen something they can use for the wedding, but also use in the future.  Each time they reach for that special item they will think of you and the fond memories of your wedding day.

What better way to personalize those items than by sewing an adorable tag into it?  You've seen these tags on handmade items and they're very easy to come by (and inexpensive!!)

image from marthastewart.com

It All Adds Up

US News and World Report published an article earlier this week about the rising costs of attending and participating in a wedding.

"Complaining about the high cost of weddings used to be the father of the bride's job. Now, as nuptials have been transformed from simple family affairs to weekend-long marathons, the invited guests are increasingly feeling pressure to strain their own bank accounts.

Destination weddings, where couples commit to each other far from home, have grown fourfold over the past decade and now make up 16 percent of weddings, according to Condé Nast's Brides.com. The cost of gifts has also ballooned as weddings have become more elaborate and guests feel compelled to spend as extravagantly as their hosts.

But the heftiest burden of all falls on bridesmaids. They play a role that, for all the honor of its implied intimacy to the bride, comes with a price to match. Bridesmaids are often expected to buy a dress, matching shoes, and jewelry, not to mention professionally applied makeup and nail polish on the day itself. And well in advance of the "I do's," they usually serve as host for a bridal shower, bachelorette party, or both. TheKnot.com estimates that, excluding travel, the average cost for each bridesmaid adds up to around $700.

Part of the reason for the growing pressure on wedding guests is that when couples and their families spend thousands to make a day perfect, they want to make sure everyone else is in tip-top shape, as well. "Your bridesmaids are like your backup dancers," says Rebecca Mead, author of One Perfect Day. Adds Katherine Jellison, author of It's Our Day and a professor of history at Ohio University: "It's all part of a larger phenomenon that we have convinced ourselves of—that if we don't spend a lot of money on something, it's meaningless."

To save their own budgets, wedding guests—and participants—may need to scale down their efforts. That may mean declining invitations from anyone other than best friends or relatives. Guests often put pres-sure on themselves to buy the Waterford crystal set or china pattern on the couple's registry, when the bride and groom are expecting their friends to choose the $40 set of martini glasses. They may also need to assign themselves new roles. "If you feel you can't afford to be in the bridal party, be upfront about it right away," suggestsWeddingChannel.com senior editor Christa Vagnozzi.

As for the bride and groom, they can often organize group discounts for hotel rooms and local activities and even hire a stylist for a few hours so each member of the bridal party doesn't need to pay for her own hair and nails, says Michelle Preli, editor-in-chief of Brides.com.

Perhaps one of the biggest favors a bride can do for her attendants is to be realistic. Telling guests that a destination wedding is affordable because it doubles as their annual vacation has become the new bridal fib, replacing the one about bridesmaids being able to rewear their dresses, as Katherine Heigl's character is repeatedly told in the movie 27 Dresses.

So why don't bridesmaids unite and cast off their (matching) chains? "They submit," Mead says, "because they're happy for their friend. And statistically, bridesmaids are going to be brides themselves in a few years," and they'll want the favor returned."

-Kimberly Palmer

image from 27 Dresses

Get your Custom Kicks

We have already told you about the Custom Converse Sneakers for the Groomsmen - so how about some custom shoes for your girls?

Enter:  Custom Keds.

You can customize the shoes with color, pattern, and style.

Custom for your for about $60 a pair.

Great for the Guys

Get the guys something unique and fun for the groomsmen gifts.  Custom cufflinks are a fun option - and something they will use in the future.

There are tons of fun options on Etsy

$18.25 per set from seller BellaModaArtist

$15.00 per set from seller CrimsonKing

$15.00 per set from seller Luv4Sams

Custom Casual Comfort

Is your guy a Converse guy?  Well, you're in luck.  Converse is doing custom shoes for your handsome Groom.  Have a pair made for your Groom and gift them to all of the groomsmen.  Pick your colors and even have them embroidered with the wedding date.

Perfect gift for your Converse guy.

$60.00 for a pair from Converse.com.  They have a variety of shapes and are adding all the time.

Dress Your Man

JCrew is a terrific resource for attire for your Groom and Groomsmen.  They have an array of tuxes, suits, and jackets perfect for this very special occasion.

Classic tuxedo pant ($195) and jacket ($450)

Seersucker pant ($98) and jacket ($198)

Linen pant ($128) and jacket ($250)

A great deal for pieces they can wear for years.

Crabby a-TIE-re

We love this idea.  Vineyard Vines has these great crabby ties in 3 colors - light blue, yellow, and raspberry.

Perfect for your groomsmen and fathers!

Not feeling crabby?  These have practically any pattern you can imagine.

Great Groomsmen Gifts

3 Great Ideas for your Groomsmen

For the Techie:  Solar Gadget Charger

Great for phone, ipods, even laptops.  To win extra points add an ipod filled with songs you guys love.  Find it on RedEnvelope

For the Tailgater:  Portable Grill with Cooler and Tool Set

Perfect for tailgating, the beach, the park, or your backyard.  Find it on Amazon

For the Gamer: Personalized Poker Set

An excuse to have a boys night to test out the new sets.  Find it on Groom Stand

What is your favorite groomsmen gift?  Post it on the comments.