Five Fun Things To Do With Your Groomsmen

Thank you. Gracias. Merci. Danke. Grazie. No matter what language you speak, the groom always is thankful of his groomsmen for their support and camaraderie both before and during the wedding. One way to truly say thanks is to do something fun with the groomsmen. Here are five different activities that you can do to say thanks that will make for some macho fun that you and the boys can enjoy.

Fun Thing #1: Go to a Game

Guys love sports and being able to attend a baseball game, or even a football, basketball, or hockey game can be an absolute blast. Show up a little early for some tailgating or to meet other people, get in early to enjoy some killer food, and enjoy a game and root the local team on. Since sports are typically enjoyed by most guys, this one is a pretty safe call to make sure everyone will have a great time.

Fun Thing #2: Shoot Some Guns

A great macho activity is to head out to a shooting range, get some weapons, and shoot! Now, for those of you that have never been out to a range, be assured that this can be a lot of fun. Obviously, you want people that are in good health and in a responsible mood (obviously, no drinking!) if you decide this is the activity for you and your buds. Be sure to call around and explain your group and their level of expertise. Many times you will find that ranges will have a deal where they can include weapon rental, ammo, as well as lessons for first timers. What’s even better is that everyone will get to take their target home to show off their skill (or lack thereof!).

Fun Thing #3: Quick Vegas Getaway (or a Local Casino)

While you certainly will not want to re-create the antics from “The Hangover” you can have a great time out in Vegas or even in your local casino should the trip prove too costly. There are all sorts of deals to accommodate different budgets and sizes of groups. Whether you decide to go all-out and stay at an upscale resort like Caesar’s Palace, or The Wynn, or go more modest (but still amazing) like The Rio All Suites,  your team of guy-pals is sure to have some great stories to bring home.

Fun Thing #4: Golf

Nothing says fun guy time like a round of golf and some grub. There are many golf courses across the country so no matter where you live chances are there’s at least a public golf course that can accommodate your needs. You might want to try your luck at private courses as some will take care of special groups. You might be lucky and either have someone in your party that belongs to a club, which might take care of finding a great course to play.

Fun Thing #5: Poker Night, BBQ, & UFC

This is a personal favorite of mine, as it is what I used to do with my friends. We would all get together, everyone would bring some meat to bar-b-que, and we would eat, play poker, and then watch UFC on Pay Per View. It was always a great time and out of all of the five activities listed, this is the most economical and scalable. Meaning, many of the previous activities cater to groups of four to six, but this activity can easily work for 16 or even 18 guys.

Final Thoughts

The point is that you should find an activity that all of your friends can enjoy. Your groomsmen are obviously important people in your life, so treat them right and do something fun with them so you guys can bond and they can feel truly appreciated.

Five Fun Bridal Shower Games

Bridal showers are the perfect time to be silly and have fun, while still celebrating the bride to be. You want the bride to relax and enjoy some girl time with the special women in her life. Games are always a great way to break the ice and get everyone to interact and have fun together. These are just some game ideas to use, but remember that you can always improvise or make your own! Be creative and don’t be afraid to look funny. Remember that the goal is to be silly, and have it be a memorable occasion for the bride to be.
1. GROOM FAVORITES: It is always funny to see how well couples really do know each other; especially as their wedding day fast approaches! Prior to the bridal shower, ask the groom what his favorites are – favorite food, color, hobby, etc. You can change it up by adding in what his most embarrassing moment was, what superhero he thinks he is, what word he would describe his fiance as, or what animal he compares his fiance to be and why. Asking random questions will get funny responses from both the bride and the groom. Comparing the two answers is destined to get some good laughs out of the bride and everyone at the shower. You can also change it up by asking both the bride and groom things beforehand, and then have all of the girls fill out a worksheet on their own as to what they think the bride and groom have answered.
2. ADVICE: Pick a wedding related word, such as ‘wedding, matrimony, marriage, husband,’ etc, but make sure it is long enough. Type it up on a piece of paper as if it were an acronym (one letter per line, and then a long blank line following the letter). Hand out the worksheet to everyone, and ask them to fill in a piece of advice, based on the first letter of that word. It is funny to see people’s choice of advice when their options are limited to a pre chosen letter. The older women in the group always add to the funny responses as well. Have some people share what they wrote down, and then collect all of the papers and give to the bride for her to read on her own afterwards. Some advice will be practical, some will be funny, and some… well, you’ll just have to play the game to see!
3. DON’T SAY IT: Before the bridal shower, write out certain words such as ‘wedding, bride, honeymoon, grooms name’ etc on pretty cardstock, and place them around the room. Buy a bunch of beads, and hand one or two out to everyone. Announce that there are certain words that you cannot say, or else you will lose your beads to the person who heard you say it. At the end of the shower, whoever has the most beads will get a prize!
4. WORD SCRAMBLE: Look up a bunch of wedding related words (difficult ones that aren’t heard of as much) and scramble them on a piece of paper. Hand out a worksheet with about 20 words on it, and set a time limit for people to unscramble them. Whoever unscrambles the most words in 3-5 minutes wins!
5. DRESSMAKING: We all know that the classic wedding game is to make your own version of a wedding dress out of toilet paper. Why not switch things up and use other arts and crafts? Go to an arts and crafts store and buy pipe cleaners, fake flowers, some extra fabric, tulle, or other fun and random objects. Divide the group into teams, give them certain items, and set a time limit. Whoever has the most creative outfit at the end will also receive a prize!

Top Five Island Honeymoon Destinations

Going on an island honeymoon is the dream of just about every newlywed couple. An island offers gorgeous beaches, exotic foods, and privacy. Many couples just assume that Hawaii is the best place to go and that is where they book their trip. While Hawaii just might be the best spot on Earth, there are multiple islands that make up the Hawaiian Islands, as well as many other amazing destinations you can look into. Here are our Top Five Island Honeymoon destinations!

#1 – Bora Bora, Society Islands

Bora Bora is in the Society Islands of French Polynesia in the Pacific Ocean. The island is surrounded by a lagoon and a barrier reef and in the center of the island is the remnants of an extinct volcano with two peaks. A major tourist destination, the island has a permanent population of just under 9,000 inhabitants. There are many resorts that have sprung up over the last ten years, with Hotel Bora Bora being the first resort to feature over-water bungalows. You can get to Bora Bora on flights with Air Tahiti.

#2 –  Saint Lucia

Saint Lucia is a sovereign island country in the eastern Caribbean Sea and is northwest of Barbados. It has a population over 174,000 and the official language spoken is English. What makes Saint Lucia so amazing are the pristine beaches, cobalt blue oceans, and the amazing lush green landscape inside the interior of the island, which includes a few golf courses. The island nation is home to some of the best resorts in the world, with plenty of water-sports activities and island tours to whet your appetite for adventure.

#3 – Bali, Indonesia

Bali is an island and the smallest of the provinces that make up Indonesia. It is described as a paradise with a spiritual nature, along with earning the reputation as having the best surf in the entire world. The population of Bali is 3.8 million and most of the residents practice Balinese Hinduism. The island is well known for its well developed arts, including dance, sculpture, painting, leather, metalworking, and music. There are many amazing resorts to enjoy the surf, sand, and culture of this haven.

#4 – Manafaru, Maldives

Manafaru is one of the islands that makes up the Republic of Maldives. This small island is more like a giant resort, featuring 83 villas, half of which are perched over water. If Manfaru isn’t in your plans, look into other islands in Maldives. There are 300,000 inhabitants on the 185 islands, with the biggest sector of the economy being tourism. The islands feature many resorts, totaling over 92 as of 2007, many of which feature over-the-water bungalows for people to stay in.

#5 – Kaua’i, Hawaii

Kaua’i is the oldest of the main Hawaiian Islands and is 562 square miles in size. Thanks to its volcanic origins, this might be one of the most lush and breathtaking islands in the world. One of the must-see places on Earth sits on this island in the form of Waimea Canyon. At 3,000 feet deep, Waimea Canyon is often referred to as “The Grand Canyon of the Pacific” and is sure to take your breath away. There are many small towns on the island, many of which cater to resorts that tourists stay in. If you love breathtaking canyon views, contrasted by gorgeous scenic ocean views, then Kaua’i is the place for you.

Top Five Island Honeymoon Destinations

A picture of me at iconic Kaua’i location Waimea Canyon in Hawaii

Five Hot Tips for Bridesmaids

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Congratulations! You have been chosen to be the next best thing after being an actual bride. Think about it- you get to throw pre-parties with your friends, you can book yourself guilt-free spa treatments & beauty appointments, and you will ultimately spend an entire weekend lavishing in the joys of fantastic food, fashion, and friendship. Behold our Five Hottest Tips for the Bride’s Favorite Ladies.

1. Share your ideas with the bride, but don’t be hurt if she doesn’t use them. Most of the time, the bride has a pretty good idea of exactly what she wants her wedding day to look like. That doesn’t mean she has thought or heard of everything! Be open with your suggestions because you never know what might strike her fancy. If she signals for you to slow down, then respect her wishes and share only the best few ideas that you find. At the end of the day, it’s all about the bride and her specific vision.

2. Bring extra cash. No doubt you have heard of packing a wedding day emergency kit complete with bandages, aspirin, tweezers, and a needle & thread. These things are great, but they cannot buy you the conveniences that cash can offer. Let’s say you forgot something at home; you can pick up just about anything at the local drugstore. Taxi cabs take cash, waiters take cash, and cash-only bars take cash. Get the idea? Money talks!

3. Have a classy, unique toast prepared (hint: keep it short!). Should there be an unfortunate situation where the Maid of Honor bawls through the entire toast, is too nervous, or no one could hear her, have a few thoughtful lines prepared that sum up how special/hilarious/happy/thankful the bride and groom are, and deliver them like a boss. A nod to the parents in case someone forgets to thank them is another quick go-to toast and absolutely necessary if they are not otherwise mentioned.

4. Ask the bride for a list of no-no’s, and stick to it! The bride most likely has a mental list of cringe worthy conversation topics (exes, wedding costs, bachelorette party secrets) and behavior (complaining, constant texting, smoking near her dress) that she is hoping to avoid during the bridal festivities. By approaching her with this request, it takes the pressure off her from having to bring it up or worse– address problems directly on her wedding day. Some brides will already have this list prepared, and be very vocal about her no-no’s. But if you know your bud has a hard time being assertive, this list will be a lifesaving tool for her to keep the no-no’s at bay so she can relax and have the perfect day.

5. Be familiar with the wedding day logistics. Your bridesmaid dress acts like a beacon for guests to come and request information. Since you’re in the bridal party, you must know everything about the reception, transportation, where gifts go, you-name-it, right? If you don’t, study up! Review maps of where the ceremony and reception will take place. Know alternate routes in case there are road closures or an accident. Be familiar with the timing of events, things to do in the area, where people should park, etc. because you can’t always count on those groomsmen to know!

Share these tips with the bride and fellow bridesmaids. Better yet, add on some of your own must-have hot tips! Happy Bridesmaiding!