5 Tips to Create a Memorable Engagement Proposal

This week on the blog we'll be featuring articles and photos geared towards the Grooms and Gents! We'll start at the beginning with the engagement proposal. This is the big kick off for the whole series events, so use it to set the tone for all the happiness to come!

Photo by Trejo Photography

1. Choose a Spot: Beautiful, Personal or Memorable
Choose a location for your proposal. The place you first met, a gorgeous spot you both love by the lake, or somewhere personal to you both. Location makes a huge impact on your proposal! Choose a meaningful and memorable spot.

2. Make it Personal
If she doesn't like crowds, don't do something like propose on camera at half time at a basketball game. Be sure to take into consideration what she loves, what she doesn't, and what absolutely takes her breath away. This is a huge moment that you don't want to overlook, so go the extra mile to ensure it's exactly what she's always dreamed of.

3. Make it Beautiful
Flowers, rose petals, a beautiful ring box, candles, surprises, a delicious and beautiful dessert, a gorgeous outdoor spot at sunset....make it noticeable that you went the extra mile to think of her and create something amazing for her. That is something that won't be forgotten!

Photo courtesy of Elmbrook Catering

4. Hire a Photographer
There's nothing more special than being able to look back on that moment forever. Hire a photographer to be nearby and capture the moment unbeknownst to her, then bring out the photographer afterwards for some ring shots and photos of the two of you. It's something she'll always treasure being able to look back on!

5. Enlist Help
In order to pull off the event completely as a surprise, it may take the assistance of others to handle the details! Enlist both of your friends or family, assuming they can keep the secret as well! If you want it to be perfect and don't know how to pull it off, hire a professional. We offer Engagement Proposal packages where we make all of the arrangements and set everything up for you...all you have to do is show up with your love and your ring and pop the question!

Photo by EM Event Photography

The Best Guide to the Best Man's Duties

After the groom's brother or best friend says "I do" to being the best man, what exactly are his responsibilities? Sure, he's supposed to plan the bachelor party, but what other best man duties does he need to know about? There are more things for him to take care of then he might have realized!

So, what does a best man do? In short, he's your groom's right-hand man. The best man role revolves all around lightening the groom's load before, during and after the wedding. Read on to for a breakdown of exactly what's expected of him.

Photo by Trejo Photography

Pre-Wedding Best Man Duties

• Help the groom choose and rent (or buy) wedding formalwear, and coordinate the other groomsmen's rentals. The best man may also be asked to help arrange accommodations for out-of-town groomsmen. If it's a more casual wedding, help groomsmen find the outfits online or in store.
• Organize the bachelor party (but recruit the other groomsmen to help). Also, the cost should be split among everyone who attends the festivities.
• Coordinate the groomsmen's gift to the groom.


Attend the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner and perhaps make a (low-key) toast.
The best man provides emotional support, patiently listening to the groom's complaints, confessions, and questions without any judgment. He's the reassuring best friend that every groom needs. The best man will pat the groom on the back, and keep him focused and his head in the game.

Best Man Responsibilities Day-of-Wedding

• Keep an eye on the clock the morning of the wedding to ensure the groom and all the groomsmen get to the ceremony venue on time.
• Wrangle the groomsmen throughout the ceremony and make sure they're in the right place at the right time, organized, and presentable. (The best man will also make sure the groomsmen's aren't glued to their cell phones and any flasks are out of sight!)
• At the ceremony, hold on to the wedding rings for safekeeping.
• Help welcome guests to the wedding ceremony.
• Serve as a witness during the marriage-license signing.
• Give the officiant his fee (placed in a sealed envelope) after the ceremony, unless the officiant is a friend, in which a handshake or a hug should suffice.
• Be the emcee in a pinch. Let's say the DJ or the band cancels at the last minute or shows up late—a good best man will step in and crack a few jokes, get the crowd to the dance floor, and introduce the key players so the party can go on as planned.
• Offer the first toast to the newlyweds at the reception (his biggest responsibility!).
• Mingle at the reception to make sure guests are having a good time.
• Dance with the bride, the maid-of-honor, the mother of the bride, and the mother of the groom during the reception.
• Collect any gifts and cards guests may bring to the reception. Ask the bride and groom (before the wedding) where they'd like you to store the presents.
• Decorate the getaway car (again, enlist the groomsmen and bridesmaids to help!).

Photo by Cavanaugh Photography

Post-Ceremony Best Man Responsibilities

• Take care of the groom's clothes after he changes out of his wedding attire.
• Make sure all of the groom's wedding-related expenses are taken care of (really, the vendors should have all been paid in full one month before the big day, but in the event they haven't been, it's the best man who makes sure everything is settled).
• Coordinate car transportation for the bride and groom to leave the reception.
• Make sure any rented tuxes are returned on time (and intact).

See the full article at Brides.com.

Diamond Shopping Tips

More shopping tips, this time for the gentlemen (and the ladies who have a say in selecting their ring, since that's more common these days!). Choosing a diamond and setting can be overwhelming if you don't know what you're looking for. Remember these tips from the experts when you begin your quest for the perfect diamond!

Tips from BlueNile.com: Blue Nile has an entire section on their website dedicated to education on what to look for when choosing a diamond. The four C's are discussed in detail here, along with shape and certification. Click the link above to visit their site.

Tips from TheManRegistry.com: It’s very important to have some sort of insurance for the ring up front, but once the wedding day is over, consider looking at other options such as adding it to your homeowner’s or renter’s insurance policy. You may find that going that route can be a better deal. Just remember to keep the appraisal in a safe place so you don’t have to get the ring it appraised again if you switch insurance companies. You’ve spent a lot of time finding her the perfect ring, take 10 minutes and make sure you have a good insurance policy for it in case something happens. This is an incredibly busy time in your life. Do yourself a favor and go with an insurance company that the jewelry vendor recommends. The store may even be able to set it all up right then and there. This way, it’s done and taken care of and you won’t need to worry about it again for at least a year.

Ask for an Appraisal and Certificate. Your diamond should be issued an appraisal of its value. You should also ask your jeweler if the diamond has been treated with any fillers or other laboratory enhancements. If it hasn’t, he should issue you a certificate of authenticity. This paperwork is essential if you choose to have your ring insured.

You also need to inquire about the warranty of your diamond. Some jewelers will continue to warranty the ring if you visit regularly for them to clean and check the setting of the ring. These basic maintenance tasks guarantee that your ring will remain as brilliant on your fiftieth anniversary as it was on your wedding day.

Tips from The Knot: Throw out that old two-months salary myth; You should buy the best ring you can without going into major debt. If she’s a size queen and your budget isn’t super-sized, go for a ring with a slightly larger table, or surface, area. You won’t get as much sparkle, but a one-carat ring will look much larger if the stone isn’t as deep. Don’t want to sacrifice the look of your stone? Buying just shy of the next carat (1.8 instead of 2) can equal a savings of nearly 20 percent. And when it comes to clarity, buying shy gives you the most wiggle room without affecting sparkle (often defects are not visible to the naked eye).

Buy Loose Stones; Unless you’re buying an estate ring, chances are, you’ll be looking at loose stones as opposed to stones in a setting. (The ones you see in the jeweler’s case are often just samples to give you an idea of the finished product.) The stone accounts for the vast majority of a ring’s cost, so wouldn’t you want to get the most gorgeous one imaginable (or at least in your budget)? Be sure to inspect the stone with a loupe (a handheld magnifier that most jewelers have). A good jeweler (more on that later) will be able to guide you and tell you what to look for.

Consider the Metal; When it comes to the band, you've got a variety of metals to choose from. One popular choice is platinum -- it's extremely durable and especially pure, making it a great hypoallergenic choice for brides and grooms with sensitive skin. There's also gold, which comes in a variety colors, including white, yellow, rose, and even green. Beyond platinum and gold, you might also consider palladium (which has a grayer hue than platinum) or even a recycled metal band, which might include a mixture of platinum and gold. Think of it as a "something old" and "something new" all rolled into one.