Cufflink Winner + When Zombies Take Over Engagement Sessions

So I thought of a new engraving option overnight for the Cufflink Contest (remember: it was a 2-line limit, 15 characters per line):

blame it on the

a-a-altitude

OK, whatever, I'm in vacation mode.

Thanks to all who entered both here and on Facebook! I printed out all of the submissions, read them aloud at a poetry slam (yes, that really happened), and let the crowd determine the victor.

RUNNER UP

You're hot baby

My sleeves agree

- Teresa R

THE WINNER!

Note to self:

< 98.6 = zombie

- Beth L

So Beth (because slam audiences love zombies) gets two FREE Thermometer Cufflinks, c/o of BridesVillage.com. Don't forget to check out the other bride and groom gift options available on their site.

Side note: not all of BridesVillage's products have thermometers.

- - -

Also ... Teresa (honorable mention above) shared an awesome engagement shoot link that I could not help but re-share here. It's an instant Groom Says favorite because it challenges our expectations of engagement portraits ... and because it involves bludgeoning a zombie to death. 

And he JUST bought that suit, too.

So congrats, Beth! And congrats unnamed engaged couple ... for having a love that is stronger than the chokehold of the undead.

cheers

brian

Cufflink Contest + E-Session News

Alright, a couple quick notes from the east coast:

1. No pressure, but we've got some great entries for out Thermometer Cufflink contest, sponsored by BridesVillage.com. Leave a sweet idea for a personalized engraving (2 lines, 15 characters per line) on either the original post, The Groom Says Facebook page, or both!

Top the other entries, and you'll walk away with a kick-ass pair of these, customized with your smart-ass engraving:


Contest ends Sunday at midnight, PST. Winner to be announced Monday.


2. As many of you know, 2Es and I own and operate our own photography business (responsible for 95% of the images you see on this here blog), and we're thrilled to announce that our most recent "Nerd Chic" engagement session is featured on THE KNOTTY BRIDE this weekend. Check out the post HERE.

3. Oh, and scroll through recent posts to read through Justin and Audrey's French wedding recap (in two parts). English speakers welcome.

Alright, I'm on vacation. No one bother me.

Have a great weekend!
brian

Groom-Friendly Giveaway: Thermometer Cufflinks!

If there's one thing men love, it's shiny jewelry ... particularly when that jewelry is functional. Real men call that "fashionable functionality."

So today on The Groom Says, we have a special treat for all the real men out there -- and for all the ladies who want to gift something to the fashion forward men in their lives. BridesVillage.com, a great resource for wedding accessories, has agreed to give one Thermometer Cufflink Set to one of our loyal readers.

(Yes, as in, there are thermometers in the cufflinks.)

(Yes, they are both working thermometers.)

[click image to enlarge]

"Wow, is it like super hot up here at the altar, or is it just me?"

The thermometers are mounted into polished silver sidewalls and are seriously bad-ass, technically speaking. And to top it off, the cuffs come with a silver-plated, lightweight polymer case that comes with custom engraving and is virtually indestructible. 

(Okay, I made up the "virtually indestructible" bit.)

The Groom Says: never lukewarm

To enter our GROOM-FRIENDLY GIVEAWAY, just leave a note in the comments section below and/or on The Groom Says Facebook page, telling us what you might engrave on the case. It can be humorous, sentimental, clever, offensive -- just keep it to 2 lines, 15 characters per line (letters and spaces are both considered characters). I'll be picking the best one from the bunch, and that person will receive a (wait for it) FREE pair of Thermometer Cufflinks (w/ engraved case) from Brides Village. 

So comment below AND/OR comment on the TGS Facebook page. Do both, and that'll give you two separate chances to win ... provided you come up with two awesome (separate) engraving ideas.

Go on. Get creative.

And once you've done that, you're entered! Reward yourself by checking out the variety of groomsmen gifts available on Brides Village ... like this 1GB USB Flash Drive Keychain (geek groom) or this Deluxe Travel Cooler (outdoorsy groom). I'll announce the winner on Monday, August 22nd.

Let the comment wars begin.

- - -

Photos by Joanna Wilson Photography

Groom-friendly giveaway courtesy of Brides Village. Contest ends midnight PST on Sunday, August 21st. In full disclosure, Brides Village has provided me with a pair of these sweet cuffs (pictured above) in exchange for this post ... so I know first-hand how bad-ass they are. They'll most likely make an appearance at the next Twitter "Meat-Up."

A Preview of Next Week (un aperçu de la semaine prochaine)

This past weekend, Best Man Justin became Groom Justin ... which means that I got to spend an amazing week in the northeast of France with some amazing people ... and it means that we've got a lot of catching up to do.

What's happening next week on TGS?

1. my best friend gets married (parts I and II)

2. we give away some sweet ass cufflinks

3. we meet this guy

4. we re-define the role of the (Co) Best Man

5. more business with my yankees hat [video included]

6. did I mention that sweet giveaway? [custom engraving included]

and

7. I get back in the kitchen ...

... where the husband belongs

See you next week y'all!

-brian

Crossing the Aisle Vol. IX + Must-Do Contest + Good Heavens!

To kick off a busy Friday morning wrap-up: a huge THANK YOU to our friend, image consultant and groom savior, Julie Rath of Rath & Co. This week Julie lent us her design sense and expertise and a handful of invaluable groom tips. Check out our edition of Stump the Stylist (at Kmart, for chrissake) and the tour of the sinfully groom-friendly Michael Andrews Bespoke studio, where Julie unveiled three amazing rehearsal dinner looks.

Note how the yellow accents coordinate with my pocket square.

Two, if you haven't yet entered the #wedlux giveaway sponsored by our pal Chris at The Man Registry (along with our friends at Gigmasters, Greenvelope, SmartBride Boutique and Wishpot), then you should seriously consider having yourself committed. They're giving away $1,500 in merch and services, people! Brides, Grooms - click this link to get the full scoop, read about all the ways to enter, and do so before July 13th.

Go. I'll wait.

OH - and great news, men. GoodHEAVENS, crazy talented tie designer and manufacturer, has been getting all kinds of love from all of the lady blogs these last couple months. Unfortunately, until recently, they were unable to ship to the states. So my gift to you today, because I'm in a giving kind of mood, is a link to their Etsy storefront. Fifteen styles for sale, all for $33 (absurd price) + $7 for US shipping. $40 all together for an awesome tie. You deserve it, groom.

Do it. I'll wait.

Finally, let's jump into our weekly series: Groom-Friendly Designs on the Bridal Blogs. Here goes:

Men of the Wood: a new musical ... via Green Wedding Shoes

A WHIMSICAL WOODLAND WEDDING: TRISHIA + JUSTIN
via Green Wedding Shoes
There's a couple things grooms can appreciate about this wedding, and no, it's not the "whimsical" element. But it might be the raccoon love ... and the geek lumberjack attire (see above) ... and the fact that their "unity symbol" is a bottle of Jameson. These are my kind of people.

THE FRESH HUBBY ... IN PRINT!
via Broke-Ass Bride
Our good friend and fellow groom activist Hunter Stiebel, the one and only "Fresh Hubby," is now a contributing editor to Destination Weddings and Honeymoons magazine, providing a manly dose of advice in every issue. Congrats Hunter! Click the link above to read his first article on destination bachelor parties.

You know a groom sketched out these vows ... via Ruffled Blog

STOCKING THE WEDDING BAR: THE RIGHT WINE AT THE RIGHT PRICE
via Lovely Little Details
Honestly, I'm jealous I didn't think of this first. On Tuesday, Jacin at LLD invited the sales manager at Colene Clemens Vineyard to provide some insight and tell you everything you need to know about wine and weddings and wine at weddings. Read on, grooms.

And to close:

This was the vegetarian buffet ... via Southern Weddings Magazine.

Happy weekend, everyone!

TGS Goes Corporate (with JWP)

Six months ago, I sent my boys (along with now Co-Best Man Odin) to The Art of Shaving Barber Spa in Midtown Manhattan for a luxurious pre-wedding shave.

Four months later, 2Es and I -- equipped with camera and facial hair -- visited the Los Angeles retail store for an interview, photo session and GROOM GIVEAWAY. 

And just now we learned that 2Es' photos are on The Art of Shaving website, gracing their re-designed Barber Spa page. Please check them out here, and tell TAOS how much you enjoy the new look and the new photos that go with it.

And please ignore the dude in the barber chair. It's clear he's not a model.

© Joanna Wilson Photography 2011

Razor Burn Victims: the winners of our GROOM GIVEAWAY revealed!

A huge THANK YOU to all who submitted their stories of pain and humiliation. Shaving was a true nightmare this morning. Thanks for clouding my mind with horrifying images.

Without further ado, I announce our victors:

The Winners

Dan "The Demon Barber"

"No Eyebrows" Erin

"Still Has Flashbacks" Randy

"Looks Like Leprosy" Theresa

"Never Again" Katy

"You know what, never mind. I don't need a shave. I can shave any day. Just do the haircut. Really. I don't need it!"

Honorable Mentions

"Sensitive" Steve

"To the Bone" Tatamwari

"Nerves of Steel" Tony

If your name has been called ... Congratulations! Please email me and I'll be in touch shortly about how you can retrieve your Royal Shave gift certificate.

Please note: Winners must respond within a month of this post (by March 25th), or the prize will be awarded to one of our Honorable Mentions.

And a big thanks to The Art of Shaving for donating their outstanding services! Please visit one of their 23 Barber Spa locations for a one-of-a-kind shave and an introduction to their amazing product line. You won't regret it. 

Giveaway Reminder + a word from Best Man Justin in France

Reminder, brides and grooms:

Our The Art of Shaving contest is open until NOON! The winner will be announced around 1PM this afternoon. Just leave a comment describing your (or your groom's, or your hubby's) most hilarious/horrendous shaving experience. Five readers will receive a complimentary Royal Shave -- a $55 value -- at The Art of Shaving!

(See the complete collection of photos on the Joanna Wilson Photography blog.)

If inspiration is what you're lacking, you're in luck! Former Best Man Justin has agreed to share a calamitous shaving tale of his own. You've been warned:

- - -

Those of us who claim to have "grown-up" on film sets learned to pick up the secret film terminology along the way. One of the earliest terms I remember learning is continuity, and I have the scars to prove it.

Contrary to my own quasi-logical dissection of the word (CON-tinuous NUITY-newness), the term actually refers to "continuous unity" -- the continual matching of location, script, wardrobe, weight, and facial hair. Sometimes a film will span the day-in-the-life of a character (a la Training Day, Collateral, Die Hard) but is typically shot over several days, weeks or months.

Another thing about movies that pertains to shaving is where you film them. Film shoots can sometimes take place in the most remote locations with extremely limited resources. I was on one such West Coast shoot when I was nineteen. My peach fuzz was growing quickly enough that I had to shave every day but slowly enough that I was in total agony. All I had was my rusted, jagged, 7-Eleven brand "razor" (issued to every nineteen year-old boy in the suburbs along with a Playboy and a copy of Frampton Comes Alive). And all they had was cold water. Ice cold water.

So what is one to do in the absence of a scented, alcohol-free, three-fold hot towel treatment?

You can't begin the film looking like Leo and end up looking like Jonah

I'll save you the bloody details, but by the third day I resembled James Franco's arm in 127 Hours. The make-up woman hated me. I certainly could have used Steve and his mustache socks back then ... and now that I'm older and more experienced with The Art of Shaving (thanks to you, Groom), I finally have the chops to appreciate such royal treatment.

Bring on the chocolate mask.

Your pal,
Justin

Yet another reason to not have a lame proposal (via The Wedding Salon)

The Wedding Salon's newest promotion made 2E's want to file for an annulment and get engaged all over again. Another 18 months of planning and another X thousand dollars spent on another wedding would be well worth the prize.

In short, WS is offering a Valentine's Day giveaway to the groom- and bride-to-be with the best engagement story. And what do this groom and his 2E's receive for their killer proposal? They get Belize. The country.

And if that paperwork doesn't really pan out, they'll get a trip to Belize, which is not as lucrative but much less time-consuming. Even more impressive than your hot air balloon/Bermuda Triangle proposal will be your 6-night stay at the Hidden Valley Inn (courtesy of Romantic Travel Belize), a 7,200-acre reserve with 12 luxurious cottages in the middle of the remote Mountain Pine Ridge.

 My backyard looks exactly like this

To enter, just send an email to Tatiana at the Wedding Salon with your name, address, upcoming wedding date and a recount your one-of-a-kind engagement story. The winner will be announced on the WS blog on Monday, February 28th. 

The fine print: The honeymoon giveaway includes the 6 night stay and round-trip ground transfer to the hotel, air travel is not included. The offer/prize is valid for 12 months only and must be redeemed with Romantic Travel Belize by February 2012. For full details, visit http://www.weddingsalon.com/blog/index.php/2011/01/26/honeymoongiveaway-romantictravelbelize/.

Ultimate Groom Contest! (Ultimate Grooms Only, Please)

The Man Registry is SO clever. They come up with this kickass Ultimate Groom Contest, open to all grooms who are residents of the U.S., and then they make me an official judge so I can't even enter the competition.

You are SO clever, Man Registry. So. Clever.

And why would I want to enter the contest, anyway? Is it purely for the title -- The Ultimate Groom? Is it bragging rights? Years of Twitter posts about how awesome I am? Perhaps it's the prizes, which include a honeymoon kit, a grilltopper set and the hottest pocket square you've ever seen.

It's definitely the pocket square.

If you're a groom, it's definitely worth checking out. And if you're a bride, it's definitely not open to you. But it is open to your fiance, and it's pretty much your bridal duty to nominate him between now and March 15th. See the contest rules and a complete prizes list here.

FYI - the contest is also sponsored by some awesome industry peeps (The Dessy Group, Whiteflash.com, Adam & Even, Grilltopper & MissNowMrs) and will be judged by the most unworthy group of grooms that the blogging world has ever seen. If that's not incentive enough ... honestly ... I don't know what is.

Who Scored the Scorecard

Last week I introduced the first Groom Says Giveaway, an opportunity for brides and grooms alike to write in and tell me why they deserve an original, limited edition, FREE laminated Groom Says 2010 Scorecard. This prize has so many adjectives it's almost silly.

We had five excellent entries ... and it was a close call ... but the scorecard goes to CINDY! 

[dramatic balloon drop insert here]

Here is a snippet from Cindy's very convincing argument:

"An example of how wonderful my fiance is: one Sunday afternoon he put together a brand new bookcase he bought for me then helped me completely clean my room (vacuuming, dusting, purging of old items, etc.) and then moved my furniture around until it was perfect. All this took about 4 hours. Then as if that's not enough, he then helped my parents remove all the furniture from the family room (couch, desk, computer, recliners, tables, tv, etc) so the carpet installation people could come the next day and then he helped them put all the Christmas decoration stuff in the crawl space under the house. And that's just one example of all that he does. He really is extremely deserving!"

Yes he is, Cindy! Why? Not necessarily because he helped you clean your room. Cindy's fiance spent his Christmas helping his future in-laws move furniture and take down their decorations. This is a serious health and wellness issue. Cindy's guy accrued hundreds of points over the holiday break and clearly has no means of keeping track. This must end.

So Cindy -- send me an email at thegroomsays@gmail.com and tell me how I can get your guy on the right track.

Mucho thanks to the other four contestants. Tim -- hang in there buddy. Help is on the way.

Love,
Madman

GROOM GIVEAWAY!

I am thrilled to announce the first Groom Says Giveaway!

With Valentine's Day approaching, you want to show your groom that you care. And not just that "chocolate chip pancakes in bed" kind of care. You want to show him that you get him. That you connect with him. That you understand his plight.

What he needs most of all this Valentine's Day is a Groom Points Scorecard!

Brides -- make a comment on this post between now and Thursday the 21st at 10pm PST and tell me why you think your groom is most deserving or most in need of his own laminated scorecard.

Grooms -- Valentine's Day is about love, and that includes loving yourself. Write in and tell me why you think you're the best candidate for your own points tracker. 2 points for honesty.

Husbands, wives, MOBs, MOGs, life partners and significant others -- you're eligible, too.

Giveaway includes:

• 10"x15" laminated limited edition 2010 Groom Points Scorecard 
• Expo Vis-A-Vis wet-erase markers, assorted 4/Pack
• Free shipping to anywhere in the Continental U.S.

The winner's name will be posted here on Friday, January 22nd. Happy commenting!

Love,
Madman