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Archive for May, 2009

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The Man Registry joins the fight against breast cancer

Friday, May 29th, 2009

tatasEach year, hundreds of thousands of Americans are diagnosed with breast cancer. It is a terrible disease that has surely affected the lives of many that are reading this.

As the 2009 wedding season hits full speed, The Man Registry is proud to announce that we’ll be donating a percentage from each of our wedding registry and groomsmen gift sales to The Save the Ta-Tas Foundation.

The Save the Ta-Tas Foundation was founded in 2008 and has already generated over $50,000 that has gone towards funding a dedicated breast cancer researcher. They are committed to fighting breast cancer at every stage, including education, prevention, community outreach, and emotional support for those struggling with the disease.  We chose to donate to Save the Ta-Tas because of their comprehensive approach and their mindset of “putting some fun into the fight.”

For more information on The Man Registry’s partnership with Save the Ta-Tas, please e-mail info@themanregistry.com or call 1-877-476-6601.

Information on Save the Ta-Tas
Breast cancer information

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5 Tips to Choose the Right Dress

Thursday, May 28th, 2009
This beautiful Alvina Vaenta gown is preowned but never worn, discounted by nearly $1000!

This Alvina Vaenta gown is preowned but never worn, discounted by nearly $1000!

One of the things I enjoyed most during planning our wedding was gown shopping. I love shopping so that part came easy but trying to pick the perfect gown- that was hard. I honestly never had a ‘this is the one’ moment. I ended up choosing the gown that I kept going back to but in the end I absolutely loved it. If you’re having a similar problem then these few tips may help make your decision easier.

1. Type of wedding.

Formal, informal, time of the day, time of year, and place where it will take place. If your wedding is in the winter you may not want a strapless gown but if you do choose one, consider using a cute bolero to cover your arms and shoulders. If you have a night time formal wedding, an elegant ball gown style would be more suited for this. A simple lace or tea length gown would be perfect for a more casual destination or garden wedding.

2. Your budget.

If your budget is really tight, center your search on used inexpensive wedding dresses. There are thousands of possibilities and many of them are designer gowns. A little adjustment here and there, and everybody will think the gown was made just for you.

3. Time available for choosing.

If the wedding is near, find an already-made dress. Having it tailored by a designer will take much longer, and you must assume the risk that the dress won’t be ready on time. Buy it off-the rack and use the remaining time for the right alterations to make it fit perfectly.

4. Material and details:

Embroidered fabric, beaded details and lace are used for enhancing certain parts of your body. Plain fabric is used to conceal your tiny flaws. Make sure your dress enhances your best features. Here’s more detailed information about how to choose a dress for your body type.

5. Personal characteristics:

Style, body type, height, weight, complexion, age, personality, and taste, everything counts. Always ask for expert advice. Mom’s don’t count here (they will find you gorgeous even in a plastic bag). Stressing your best characteristics and feeling comfortable are the best sensors you have in making the right choice.

Once you limit the scope of your search, things will be much easier. Asking for advice at bridal shops will help you determine the type of dress that best suits your figure. Base your choice on their advice and always ask for an honest opinion. Remember, the perfect dress for your wedding will be the sum of good advice (stressing your best features), a practical decision (comfort), and your total mindset for your bridal attire (if you don’t love it, it will show).

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The Tradition of Wedding Rings

Wednesday, May 27th, 2009

Today I was just browsing though the jewelry section and wanted to share some of my favorite wedding bands on the site (click on the photo to see the listing). While I was at it, I did a little research on wedding bands and where the tradition comes from. So feast your eyes below on some beautiful rings and read on if you’d like to learn more about why we wear bling on our left hand. :)

Tiffany & Co. Platinum & Gold Wedding Band - almost half off!

Tiffany & Co. Platinum & Gold Wedding Band - almost half off!

Simon G Wedding Band - reduced to $550

Simon G Wedding Band - reduced to $550

This rustic gold ring is only $35!

This rustic gold ring is only $35!

Teno stainless steel with ceramic inlay, 50% off

Teno stainless steel with ceramic inlay, 50% off

Wedding bands are thought to have their origins in ancient times, possibly as far back as ancient Egypt. Egyptians twisted plant material (such as hemp) into rings and bracelets. The circle has symbolized eternity for many cultures throughout the millennia, and so it did for the Egyptians. With no beginning or end, just as time, and returning onto itself, just like life. The shape of the circle was therefore revered and adored.

In Roman times, the tradition of wearing a ring on the third finger of the left hand was started. They believed that an artery extended directly from the heart to the third finger, they called this vein the vena amoris (love vein). The wearing of this ring symbolized the capture of one’s heart.

n antiquity, wedding bands or rings were made from different materials such as leather or wood. As metallurgy advanced, so also did the rings and bracelets began to be made of iron, brass, silver, and gold.

Although today we’re used to the tradition of exchanging rings at a wedding ceremony, in Roman times, and also in other cultures and ages, rings were given as symbols of eternal love when the married couple entered their home for the first time. These rings were not necessarily simple bands like today’s, but, especially in medieval times, were quite ornate.

Silver was quite popular as the metal of choice for wedding bands during the Renaissance, especially in Italy. Its popularity later spread to France and England. Gold eventually became more popular, and silver was relegated for rings of engagement. The Irish believed it to be bad luck for wedding bands to be made from anything other than gold.

Today wedding bands come in all shapes and materials. Traditions remain, but people choose anything from traditional golden rings – usually engraved with their partner’s name and wedding date, to silver or copper or brass rings, to tattoos!

However, the tradition of exchanging a token symbolizing eternal love has not, and is unlikely to disappear, much to the relief of wedding vendors everywhere.

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Hindu Wedding Traditions

Tuesday, May 26th, 2009

hindu1This past weekend I went to my first Indian wedding and it was quite a celebration! The festivities began Friday night at a Sangeet, which is kind of like a rehearsal dinner just much bigger with lots of food, drinks and dancing. The ceremony took place on Saturday morning in a temple where their customs included covering your head with a scarf and taking your shoes off before entering. The wedding reception was on Saturday night and had many of the same traditions as a Western wedding such as cutting the cake, the first dance and of course, wedding toasts. It was an amazing cultural experience that I will never forget.

I did some more research on Hindu weddings and here’s what I found:

Hindu weddings are very cheerful and last several days. It is a true joyous celebration that is filled with symbolism and tradition, as weddings are all over the planet.

For starters, the bride gets to wear two dresses (Saris). One of them is white, symbolizing the bride’s purity prior to her wedding and the other is red and symbolizes fertility. The bride gets the first dress from her uncles and the second one from the groom’s family.

The night before the wedding, the bride enjoys a quiet and reflective evening with her close women relatives and friends. During this time they ceremonially paint their palms and feet.

On the wedding day, as in many other cultures, the groom is not allowed to see the bride until after the bride’s mother has greeted him by placing a red dot on his forehead and presenting him with a wreath of flowers to symbolize her approval for the nuptials. The bride’s mother and the groom’s sisters walk with him to the ceremony following close behind to ward off evil spirits. Before walking into the ceremony, the groom must step on a clay pot and break it. This symbolizes his strength. While he waits for the bride, his parents wash his feet. Finally, the bride enters the ceremony carried or accompanied by her uncles and brought to the groom.

Fire is an important symbol in Hindu weddings. The bride and groom both make seven encirclements around the the Sacred Fire or Agni.  Another beautiful and particularly interesting tradition in a Hindu wedding is the seven steps together:

First step: To respect and honor each other; Second step: To share each other’s joy and sorrow; Third step: To trust and be loyal to each other; Fourth step: To cultivate appreciation for knowledge, values, sacrifice and service; Fifth step: To reconfirm their vow of purity, love family duties and spiritual growth; Sixth step: To follow principles of Dharma (righteousness); Seventh step: To nurture an eternal bond of friendship and love

The attire used at Hindu weddings is quite colorful. Male guests wear a lounge suit or traditional dress. Women wear a traditional Sari. The only color they do not wear is black. The groom wears a traditional dress or a lounge suit.

Even though you may not be Hindu, there are still aspects of the Hindu ceremony you may choose to adapt to your own. Maybe you were thinking of walking down the aisle in a used wedding gown (a very wise decision, given the current economic downturn), but why not a colorful sari? That would get everyone’s attention!

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Just when you thought wedding cake couldn’t get any better!

Friday, May 22nd, 2009

I attended a fun wedding vendor event this past Tuesday and had the pleasure of meeting Michaela from Clara French. Clara French specializes in ceramique cake stands and they are absolutely gorgeous (see for yourself below)! I have seen a lot of wedding items over the past year and her cakes stands are hands down, one of my favorites. If you are looking for a wonderful wedding gift she makes personalized dessert plates too. I also love that not only can you buy a cake stand but you have the option to rent one for your special occasion. Just wanted to leave you with something beautiful to look at over this long holiday weekend, happy Memorial Day!

stand11

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Wedding Day Attire Q/A for the Groom

Thursday, May 21st, 2009
This tux is listed on BravoBride for only $50, reduced from $300!

This tux is listed on BravoBride for only $50, reduced from $300!

The Man Registry and Mike Dee from The Wedding Guyed have teamed up to answer a few of the common questions that grooms have about their wedding day attire. Mike had just launched a new wedding blog for men and he’s got some great tips (as seen below) for the grooms out there!

Tux vs. Suit

The only major difference between a black suit and a tuxedo is the satin stripe down the pants and the shiny lapel.

Buying vs. renting

Photos are forever and video makes you immortal.  With that said you will want to look your best. Rental tuxedos are one size fit most. I recommend that the groom purchase a tuxedo and get it custom tailored. The accessories (Vest kits, shirts and shoes.) can be rented for around $20-$50. Your future wife will thank you for it.

When to book

Book early. 3-6 months is ideal.  Picking the styles and colors are your personal preference. The best time to shop for a tux is early in the week and in the afternoon.  Most retail stores are empty and you will get a better service experience.  If your wedding is during prom season, book your final fittings during school hours to avoid being in a small shop with a bunch of teenage boys.

Where to book – Mom and Pop Shop vs. Click and Mortar:

In this dot com era there are very few local tuxedo shops left.  If you are doing a local wedding where all your groomsman are in the same area, use a local shop.  A local shop will likely carry stock. In other words, they will have the tuxedos, vests and shoes on hand for you to look at and  try on (unlike the mall stores with just the picture books). Click and Mortar (aka big chain formal wear stores) retailers have some big advantages over the little guy.  The main advantage is being able to accommodate a bridal party across the state and across the nation.  These places will carry more inventory and more current styles then your local mom and pop shop.  They will have online reservation and tracking systems in place to help you set up your group’s package and some will offer you your very own group planning expert. The national average price for a rental ranges between $120-$200.

*** Always remember that if the wedding date is late April-Mid June, you are competing with prom kids. The local store will always take preference to the prom kids (Multiple tux rental from his group or school, repeat business for the next prom and a possible future wedding.) over your request as a groom.  Also keep in mind when you go for your fitting, you may have to wait in line behind 20 teenagers.
Cheers!

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Achieving Seating Nirvana

Wednesday, May 20th, 2009

seatsWhen you are planning the all-important reception, there are many things to keep in mind. The visual part is very important, and certainly the food, drinks and music. But what will ultimately create the ambiance is how comfortable your guests are and how quickly they begin mingling and making a party out of this.

It is for this reason that seating should be paid special attention to.

Traditionally, the bride and groom sit at a table of honor where they might be accompanied by their parents and perhaps grandparents. This table of honor is typically placed so as to have a perfect view of all the other tables, and so that all guests can look onto the new couple and easily follow any speeches, toasts, and other collective participations. There is really not much more science to seating this close nucleus of people.

When it comes to your guests, space availability, personal relationships, the presence of children, coworkers, relatives, and many different groups of acquaintances and friends, who may or may not know each other, makes the “perfect seating” configuration quite a challenge.

First of all, keep in mind that the number of guests determines your most important variable in this whole proposition: space.  As a reference, seated guests need about 14 square feet of space in a circular table, and 11 square feet in a rectangular table. Standing guests need 7 square feet. So you need to figure out your dance floor and other spaces that won’t be occupied by tables or chairs, and then find an adequate venue for the size of your guest list.

Once you have the venue, the real challenge comes in. How do you place everyone so they’ll be comfortable and enjoy themselves?

Much can be said about this, but here are the tips we’ve found most important to achieve seating nirvana:

  • Try to seat colleagues and families together
  • Try to create tables with equal number of males and females
  • Avoid seating ex-partners together unless you absolutely know it’s o.k. with them
  • Sit young children with their parents, and older kids in tables assigned especially for them
  • Avoid the “table from hell” where guests who didn’t fit anywhere else are all sent. Try to spread these people around evenly in all tables
  • Try to sit everyone with at least one person they know

This is in terms of seating arrangements. Don’t forget that flowers, table centerpieces, and other decorative items must have their own arrangement, as well. You must allow for enough space, but also make sure they can be placed artfully around your seated guests. That’s the beauty of working with wedding vendors; they will not only supply the items, but also help you decide where they should be placed so as to give your guests plenty of room to mingle  and enjoy themselves.

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Jewish Wedding Traditions and Symbolisms

Monday, May 18th, 2009
The Breaking of the Glass. Photo by Laura Totten

The Breaking of the Glass. Photo by Laura Totten

Our one year wedding anniversary is just around the corner, I can’t believe the first year went by so quickly! My husband is Jewish and I am Catholic so last year we decided to mix both of our cultures together for our wedding ceremony. Being new to the Jewish culture,  I did some research on the most common wedding traditions. Read on to learn more about them!

The Veil

The veil is worn by the bride to save her beauty for her husband only on this special day. Before the ceremony begins, the groom will check under the veil to make sure that the woman is his bride. The veil is also meant to remind the groom of other attributes he admires in his bride other than just her beauty.

Chuppah

Pronounced “hoopa”, it is a traditional canopy under which the bride and groom stand during the marriage ceremony. It symbolizes them united under the same roof.

Kippah

The Kippah are the round head gear that Jewish men wear. They are also known as “skull caps” or Yamakas. They serve no practical purpose, as they do not cover much of the head. They symbolize servitude to God. In ancient times, free men did not cover their head – while slaves and servants were required to.

The Breaking of Glass

There is not one single explanation for this tradition. At the end of the ceremony, the groom will step on a glass that’s wrapped in cloth. When he does this, all the guests shout in unison: “Mazel Tov!”  The symbolism of this tradition is thought to come from many different origins. For example, some think it symbolizes the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem; others believe the loud noise drives away evil spirits; yet others say the fragility of glass is meant to remind the couple of how love is fragile too and should be cared for; there is also the symbolism of change that cannot be backtracked – when a glass is broken it cannot assume it’s previous form anymore, just as the couple are now married and cannot go back to their previous life.

The Seven Circles

The bride circles the groom seven times when she approaches him at the beginning of the ceremony to take her place next to him under the Chuppah. This is thought to symbolize the seven days it took God to create the earth and the seven-fold bond between God and man. As man is in a seven-fold bond with God, so his bride binds herself to him in a seven-fold bond.

Whether you’re planning a traditional Jewish wedding or an informal gathering, make sure you hire the right wedding vendors to help you organize the event that will change your life forever.

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The Man Registry- Guest Post! Spring wedding (and baseball) season

Friday, May 15th, 2009

batWho doesn’t love spring time? Great weather, great weddings, and baseball! If the groom and groomsmen are into baseball, there are a few great ideas that can be incorporated into the wedding festivities.

Bachelor Party

Baseball games are popular bachelor party venues. If you have enough people going, group tickets can be purchased for most professional and minor league teams.  If there’s a little extra money in the party budget, a suite or party room is always nice. These rooms usually involved unlimited food and, of course, beer. But, hey who needs beer at a bachelor party?

Groom’s Cake

It goes without saying that favorite sports team logos are a common choice for groom’s cake designs. If you’re not doing a groom’s cake, baseball cupcakes are a great dessert idea for the rehearsal dinner.

Groomsmen Gifts

One of our top selling groomsmen gifts over at TheManRegistry.com is the Personalized Louisville Slugger Baseball Bat. This bat can be engraved with a groomsman name, date, and personal phrase. For example – Jon Johnson – Groomsmen 5/10 – Can’t hit the broad side of a barn

Cheers!

TheManRegistry.com is an online resource for grooms and is the internet leader in grooms’ wedding information. The centerpiece of the website is a specialized wedding registry featuring wedding gifts tailored toward grooms. Included in the thousands of products you’ll find at The Man Registry are barware, electronics, tools, logoed sports items, and groomsmen gifts. The company also recently launched a local vendor directory which gives grooms an outlet to connect with local wedding vendors.

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Truly Amazing Cakes!

Wednesday, May 13th, 2009

I love wedding cake. Not so much the eating it part… well that too actually, but going to a wedding reception and seeing the cake displayed. The cake is such an important part of the wedding and usually reflects the tone of the couple’s big day. Our wedding cake had starbursts on it that represented fireworks for our Fourth of July wedding and a friend of mine was married on the beach and their cake was covered in delicious white chocolate seashells. I loved our wedding cake so much that I had to share our vendor who created it, Mike’s Amazing Cakes. I first saw his creations on the food network channel and he’s been featured on a variety of other cooking and wedding TV shows. I was lucky enough to meet Mike and taste his cake a few years ago at the Seattle Wedding Show and I was sold. His cakes taste as amazing as they look and they’re truly works of art!

rosespillowstrawberriespots1wine19277taj

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