By Simon Daykin

Last week we found out the sex of our baby….and it’s a BOY! I’m having a son. We’re super stoked and went out shopping for the wee guy to make sure he comes into the world in style. I didn’t get him a suit but we do have his outfit picked out for the baptism. Now I get to tackle the design and painting of his room and try to explain to my dogs that are no longer the “babies” in the family. It’s going to be a whirlwind year and I couldn’t be happier.

Next month I’m speaking at Rockstar Wedding Planner LIVE 2010 in San Diego. Should be a blast! Seems the recession is backing off and we’re booking up with couples getting some last minute planning in for this summer and fall, it’s never too late to hire a planner to make sure it all comes together correctly on your special day. We’re also hooking up with some 2011 couples who want to get a jump on their planning. So click here if you’d like to book your free consultation with us and prove to your bride to be that you are interested and you can take initiative.

Cheers,
Simon Daykin

By Simon Daykin

Right then, We’re gonna do it a little different this issue no pictures, just info!!!  During the Bridal Fair I got a ton of questions about what to look for when going after a Wedding Planner.  You know you need one, but you want to make sure you get the right one.  You don’t want a “CCP” or a little old blue haired lady that has no idea what the current trends and styles are, so you need to know what to look for yes!?!  Oh, “CCP” is a phrase I coined that means “Clipboard Clutching Planner”, this planner resembles a deer in the headlights, but with a clipboard!  So below are my 8 Simple Rules To Finding A Wedding Planner.

Here we go in no particular order…

1. Can They Provide “The Hook Up”?
Does the Wedding Planner have good relationships with vendors and venues?  Can they pull you the discounts?  Do vendors and venues want to work with them?  We pass on all the discounts that we get from vendors DIRECTLY to our clients, and we get those discounts because we bring those vendors a lot of business and they love working with us.  Having your planner be able to “hook you up” is one of the reasons you hire a planner in the first place.  Your planner should be fighting for you to get you the best deals they can.

2. Are They Insured?
Pretty simple question no???  A lot of planners are not insured, they rely on venue insurance which doesn’t always cover them.  You MUST make sure that in the event of any kind of accident, both you and your planner are covered.  Wearing a lampshade on your head at a party (when it’s your choice) can be hilarious, having a lampshade fall from the ceiling and bonk one of your guests on the noggin….not so funny.  It’s your ass, so cover it guys!!!

3. You Got A Real Purdy Website
What is their web presence like?  Do they have a great site out there?  People seem to love this internet thing and do tons of research before they even contact a planner.  So take a look at the planner’s website.  And this is always a red flag for me…do they have a real email address.  Is it weddingplanner25@hotmail.com or is it info@fireflyoccasions.com?  Have they taken the time to set up a real email? This may be the web snob in me, but I feel that real email addresses are REALLY important!

4. And Speaking Of Websites…
Really look at the portfolio section.  Does the planner have a varied portfolio or do all the weddings kinda look the same?  You want your wedding to be as unique as you, so you need to know that the planner can pull off a unique wedding.  You don’t want to become just another wedding in the eyes of your guests.  Also look to see if the venues in the back ground are different.  If the planner works mostly with the same venue I find that they become “lazy” in their design strategies and reproduce old weddings, and you don’t want that either.

5. Full Time, Part Time Or Just Time To Time
Does the planner you’re looking at work as a planner full time?  You want to be able to contact your planner when you need to.  If they are at their day job from 9-5 do you really think you’ll get their best when they get home and THEN start planning your wedding?  When I’m done at work, all I want to do is watch TV and veg the hell out.  So are they planning weddings full time or is this a hobby business for them?  I don’t want to knock newer planners or part time planners, but if I were building a house, I’d hire a guy who builds homes for a living, not a guy who builds them in his spare time.  Hire a professional. I’m just sayin’…

6. “Preferred” Isn’t Always A Good Thing
In the wedding industry there are things called preferred vendor lists.  When you meet with a venue they may recommend people to you.  This seems great, the venue says they’re cool…so they must be, right?  Well not always.  Preferred vendor lists can be bought. A vendor can give the venue a chunk of money to be on that list.  The venue may not have EVER even worked with them, but they pay, so they play.  Ask the venue if their list is based on reputation and talent or if companies can simply buy a spot on the list.

7.  Is Your Planner An “Expert”?
Does your planner travel?  Do they attend conferences?  Hell, do they speak at those conferences?  Is your planner an Expert in their field? I feel planners should travel and always be learning more stuff, because let’s face it…you can’t be trekking all over hells half acre looking for new wedding trends.  It’s the planner’s job to do the learning for you and bring that to the table when planning and designing your wedding.  Ask them if they belong to any Associations, if they speak at conferences and if they travel to track down the latest and greatest in wedding stuff.

8. And Finally, Do They Know You Exist?
When I was getting married, I had to insert myself into any meeting I wanted to attend, because most planners only focus on the Bride. It’s not their fault, they don’t know any better.  They focus on the Bride because history tells them the Groom wasn’t interested.  Well that was THEN, this is NOW and we’re re-writing history here fellas.  Make sure your planner knows you, the Groom exists and that you want your opinion heard.  When you meet with your planner for the first time, make sure you attend that meeting.  You can get a lot from a first impression, if the planner doesn’t ask you your opinion when they first meet you, it’s a good bet they won’t…ever!

Simon’s Gutsy Groom Advice

I know some of the above points may seem a little harsh, but after some of the questions I got last weekend I had to write this.  I hate having the Groom overlooked in the planning process.  Now I can’t do anything for you if you take yourself out of the process, but you won’t do that will you???

The thing is, the odds are very good that you will not figure out you hired the wrong planner until your big day comes and it all goes pear shaped.  So if you follow these 8 simple rules, you’ll have a better chance of getting it right the first time.  And don’t be afraid to ask the planner for references, ask them to hook you up with their past clients, the parents of past clients, hell…ask them for vendor references from photographers or DJ’s etc they have worked with in the past.  See what the other pros in the industry have to say about them.

It never gets any better than a first impression, you’ll be spending a lot of time with the planner you choose so make sure it’s a good fit.

Click here to book your free consultation with Firefly Occasions & Gutsy Groom and we’ll take care of everything…and everyone!!!

By Simon Daykin

Another day, another Twitter hook up.  Blank Label is teaming with Gutsy Groom to bring you guys some really cool stuff in the future, but for right now I wanted to introduce this new company to my readers.  Blank Label is for guys who want their own style, I mean their own style right down to the buttons.  You can design a completely custom shirt JUST FOR YOU right on their site.  I mean, ALL CUSTOM…from the fabric, to the buttons to monogramming to the number of pockets you have.  This is perfect for the Groom with style. Even if you’re going for a traditional dress shirt for the wedding you can wear these shirts to the rehearsal, or incorporate an outfit change into the reception.  And you know that no one will have the same shirt as you.  These are also great for Groomsman gifts.

To visit the site and start designing your very own custom shirt, simply click here.

Well, Happy 2010 to all my readers. I know this is my first post of the New Year and I do apologize for that. We got new office space over the holidays and I have been working to make it all cool like. We have grown so much iIn the last year we had to increase the size of the office so we can continue to provide the kick ass type of service to our clients that they are used to. And trust me, this new office is the coolest space I have ever worked in! Plus, it’s close to downtown and that means I can have lunch with my buddies again, plus it’s easier for our clients as well.

We had a great Holiday season and I hope you guys did as well! Ciara and I found out we are pregnant!!! We’re super stoked to have a Gutsy Baby on the way. I’m pulling for a son, so any good vibes that may help in my quest for a boy you have, feel free to send them our way.

We’re ready to get back into it for 2010 and bring the Grooms even further into the planning process with more style and confidence than ever before. So buckle up fellas, cause I have a feeling 2010 is gonna be one helluva year!!!

Oh yeah, and this weekend is the Calgary Bridal Fair, we will again have a booth there so stop by and say hello.

Looking forward to seeing you on January 24th at the Round Up Center.

Cheers,

By Simon Daykin

Well it’s the end of the year and in the tradition of that, I guess it’s time for my top picks of the year. In no particular order here are my top 5 links of 2009. Companies, who over the last year have come to my attention via Twitter, Facebook, this E-zine or over my extensive travels:

www.englishlaundry.com – Stylish, unique and trendy men’s wear. I can say the quality is great, the shipping is fast and the items are truly unique. The shirts work best un-tucked and in a more casual setting such as the beach.
www.pocketsquarez.com – The best selection and price for pocket squares I have ever seen! Honest! Pre folded and easy to use, I have a few of these and will be ordering more. They add tons of style to any suit, rented or not.
www.indochino.com – Custom made suits. I have a tuxedo from these guys, it fits like a glove, the quality is impeccable and it has my name stitched into it, who could ask for more? I highly recommend these guys for your suit or Tux needs.
www.themanregistry.com – All things Groom! Great gifts for your Groomsmen, or yourself…go ahead indulge yourself. I’m on the expert board, answering questions for the Groom along with some others from the industry. A really great site to help you out as a Groom.
www.blank-label.com – These guys recently found me through Twitter. You can design your own shirt. It’s pretty cool and adds a really unique factor to your attire. You could design your shirt and also those of your wedding party, plus the shirt would make a great take away gift for your Groomsmen.

By Simon Daykin

OK guys, everyone makes New Year’s resolutions. Most (myself included) forget all about them, there is a ton of dust on my gym membership card…but I digress. I’m gonna let you know of 5 easy resolutions you can make to make the planning process easier on you and your bride. And if we’re honest here…a happy Bride makes the process SO MUCH EASIER! So take heed fellas, grab a pen or hit print on your computer and file these away for a rainy day so you can surprise your Bride to be with your awesomeness.

Be A Groom Who Takes

By this I mean take stuff OFF her plate. Go through the things on her “need to do” list, find stuff that you’re interested in and take them over. It’s not that tough and could be fun. If you like music and food, take those and own them. Look for DJ’s or bands, get their demo cd and check them out. Go to the hotel and talk to the chef, see if you can help design the menu. You will of course want to take your fiancé to the tasting but you can do all the leg work leading up to it. Don’t just sit back and let her try to do everything. The marriage is a team effort, so is the wedding and the planning should be as well.

Listen, Listen, Listen

As the planning process goes along, your Bride is going to need to talk to you. You must listen to her. She may not need you to fix anything, she may just need you to listen. (If you get confused, as I do…ask her what she wants you to do, but ask nicely) Sure there are forums and what not, but sometimes she will have to talk to you. Be patient and see what she wants you to do. She may be complaining about how many DJ’s she is having to contact (See above section) if she is complaining about getting overwhelmed, then see if she wants to hire a planner. (Here’s a good one.) The most important thing to do is listen to her.

Take Time For The Two Of You

Make time for the two of you to do stuff that isn’t wedding related. Sounds simple but a lot of people forget this one. Go out to dinner, but don’t talk about the wedding, go see a movie, you’re not even allowed to talk there. Go out with friends and have a good time. Try to do something non wedding related at least once a week. It’ll help you get back to normal. My wife and I run this company together, we work together every day, it’s pretty hard to not talk about wedding planning at dinner…but we try and so should you. It helps. So feel free to surf blogs and gossip pages while you’re at work so you have something to talk about when you get home.

Give A Little Along The Way

Give her stuff, it doesn’t have to be huge things. Sometimes flowers and a nice card will make all the difference to her. Things to let her know you are thinking of her and you love her and you can’t wait to get married to her. You can set this up in your work calendar so you get prompted when the time comes. She’ll think it’s spontaneous (but you’ll know better) You can get romantic about it and as the days lead up to the wedding, you could send her something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue. Just be sure to explain it in the card you attach.

Don’t Be Afraid To Speak Up

This wedding is a combination of both of you. Don’t forget this. Sure you need to listen to her, but you need your ideas heard as well. Don’t let her mash all your ideas into the dirt like a poorly protected quarterback (holy crap, I think that is my first sports reference in 2 years of writing this!!!) Sure you may need to compromise on some of your ideas, but make sure you are heard and that she listens to you as well. The wedding should be a true combination of BOTH your personalities, just as the marriage will be down the road.

Simon’s Gutsy Groom Advice

The planning process can take its toll on couples, that shouldn’t be news to anyone. But there are simple ways you can help to make it easier. If you don’t support her, the whole thing is gonna suck, if you don’t get your ideas heard, you may get angry and resent you never got the wedding you wanted. So try to make the planning process a team thing.

It can be fun. It doesn’t have to be work. How tough would it be to have the boys over on a Saturday, break out the bottles and concoct your signature drink? Yeah, not that tough really is it!?!? Will it really be a chore to eat a few steaks to see which one you like the best? Nope. So grab that list, take over some items and get on that. Own those items guys. She’ll love you for it…wink, wink, nudge, nudge.

So in closing, take the time to just hang out with your fiancé, and you can start this over the holidays as well. Not every conversation needs to be about the wedding, if she doesn’t believe you…show her this E-zine. I’m apparently an expert in this stuff so my word counts. Good luck guys, I know you can all do it.

Click here to book a free meeting and get started planning your one of a kind wedding, we can take all the stress off you and your Bride so you can focus on the fun of being engaged.

So Happy Holidays, have a great New Year…may the turkey be moist and the wine properly chilled. See you in 2010!!!

Happy Holidays!  We’ve had a great year and I’m looking forward to 2010 and bringing more advice to my Grooms and getting them hooked up for their weddings. I’ll be back January 7th with more pearls of wisdom, so enjoy the holidays, eat some turkey and have a great time. I’m gonna be busy as usual, we have signed a lease on the coolest office space I have seen in a long time so I will be setting it all up over the holidays to get it ready to kick some ass in 2010. So I get my house back and I’m stoked for that. We have a HUGE wedding on New Year’s Eve so we’re putting the final touches on that one, plus all the fun that comes with the holiday season, Ciara and I will be cooking the turkey at the family gathering plus my bacon wrapped sausages, family recipe stuffing (not made inside the turkey’s butt) and it wouldn’t be Christmas without mushy peas.

Also I got the info for the next PLAYBOY MANSION party. It will be held on February 27th 2010 and will be a Masquerade party. Only 600 tickets will be released to the public and the early bird price is $1000.00 USD. Visit www.kandyevents.com and use the VIP invite code KF1184.

You can’t secure your ticket without this code. KF1184

I have included a few details below.

Kandy Masquerade – An Evening of Mystique & Seduction
February 27th, 2010 @ 8PM
Playboy Mansion

Experience a true fantasy that transcends all time and is found in your dreams; where imagination and wonderment are brought to life behind the Mansion walls.

Ambiance and decor that will transport you to a romantic time in which high society enjoyed profound fashion and daring entertainment.

Kandy Masquerade is a self-indulgent destination event that offers a very exclusive experience for a privileged few at one of the world’s most renowned venues, the Playboy Mansion. Beautiful women dressed with only masks and intimate lingerie partying and dancing with gentlemen clad in masks and dark attire, reminiscent of a Venetian Carnival.

Gentlemen dressed in all black and masks (required).

Special cuisine and open premium bars served all night.

Dance with some of the world’s best DJs spinning Hip-Hop, Mash-up and Miami House music.

Cheers,

By Simon Daykin

Last year North Americans spent over 52 Billion dollars on clothes, sadly most did not buy any style. Don’t believe me? Next time you’re travelling internationally, try to pick out the North Americans in the airport. They are pretty easy to spot for the most part, walking piles of laundry. Oversized sweaters, rumpled pants, baseball hats, etc. In contrast, look at the European travelers, smart, well dressed, hair styled and great shoes. Still comfortable for flying, but they look good while doing it.

I always say that it is never a bad thing to be the best dressed guy in the room, and I stand by this 100%. I have also noticed that some guys just don’t know how to choose well fitted clothes, the shoulders on their shirt end at their triceps, or the neck is WAY too big for them. Did you know that when a suit jacket is buttoned up and you pull it away from your body, there should only be the length of your thumb between your body and the jacket? Any more space and the jacket is not the right fit for you. I know casual Friday is recognized in most offices, but seriously guys, that doesn’t mean baggy jeans, old stinky sneakers and a “Golden Boy” T-shirt.

Shall We Begin?

I’ve said it before but I’ll say it again. The suit is not the be all and end all, you need to add your style to it. Accessorize my friends…add pocket squares, a kick ass tie, amazing shoes, even socks can make an impact. I have my Union Jack socks that I wear to most events, yup, they get noticed. The suit is a great place to start but it needs to be added to. And when choosing the suit, I suggest making a trip to a high end suit store to pick the salesman’s brain. Ask about style trends, colors that are in that season and how to accessorize if you don’t feel comfortable doing it yourself. Also, if you have a friend or co worker that dresses really well and you like their style, ask them a few questions, trust me…they will be flattered you did. If you pick up your suit or tux rental and go with what they give you, then you’ll just look like every other guy who got married over the last decade or so, and we don’t want that do we!?!?!

Size Does Matter

It’s a pretty simple concept, but it’s also simple to screw this up because a lot of guys don’t know exactly what to look for. A well tailored suit will make you look a million times better than a suit you pulled off the rack at say…Sears. When choosing your shirts and suits make sure that the shoulder seams fall on your shoulders. Pretty simple concept right? Now have a look at the general public the next time you’re out and see how many guys have broken this rule. A collar on a dress shirt should fit snugly around your neck, not too tight though. If you can fit more than one finger between you and your collar, that neck size is not the right one for you. If you’re getting married on a beach and you’re going with the golf shirt style, the shirt should end just below the waist…not down at the crotch, you ain’t K-Fed! With the pants, a pant worn lower will elongate your torso, I like this look and it works for me. A higher waistline will make your torso appear shorter and more stocky. A jacket that drapes low on you will give you the appearance of having shorter legs, but a shorter cut on the jacket will make them appear longer. It’s important to try on a few different styles to make sure you get the right one for you.

Quality Always Wins

You can always tell the difference between a tailored suit or tux and one that is off the rack. Be it the lining, the stitching, the fabric the garment is made of and most of the time, the fit itself. If you are renting, go to a higher end rental place, forget Moore’s rentals and the “booklet” people. Go to a place that has stock on site and will let you try stuff on. NEVER, EVER order sight unseen! If you’ve decided to get married in a suit, buy a new suit for the wedding, a custom suit, just for you. I suggest www.indochino.com, I get all my suits from here and I can say, they do good work. You can wear that suit after your wedding, it’s not the dress that gets wrapped in plastic and stuck in a box. So spend a little extra on it. You’ll have it for a long time.

Simon’s Gutsy Groom Advice

At your wedding you should be the best dressed guy in the room, nay…you MUST be! So do your research, look into various styles, look at both suits and tuxes as options. Research the colors and accessories and go shoe shopping. Never wear the rental shoes! Try EVERYTHING on! If you’re thinking about wearing it on your wedding day, try it on before hand. Put on the full look, down to the cufflinks and socks. If you’re wearing sunglasses for an outdoor ceremony, put those on with the outfit, they may not look as good with a suit as they do with a beer and boardshorts. And make sure they fit properly, sunglasses should fit the frame of your face, not hang off the side.
There are plenty of places and people out there that you really have no excuse to be ill dressed at your wedding, or really any day of your life. Don’t be afraid to ask, or visit if you have any questions. If you don’t want to go out in public with your style questions, the internet is there for you in the privacy of your own home. Sites such as www.indochino.com have style tips on a wide variety of subjects, www.themanregistry.com has a stable of experts (myself included) just waiting to help you out, www.Youtube.com can show you how to tie a bow tie and I’m always available should you need me.

So in closing gentlemen, remember that fashion is fun, once you have a few rules that work for you on the basics, try new things, add brighter colors and may every suit you wear be a well fitted one.

By Simon Daykin

What a crazy few weeks, sorry I missed last week’s ezine. I have been travelling my ass off but I’m back now. Last week I was speaking to a group of wedding planners at the Wedding Institute of Canada’s annual conference in beautiful Turks & Caicos. I can tell you it was AMAZING! I spoke on the subject of Décor and Design and how to get an amazing look and atmosphere at the weddings they plan. The week before that, we attended the Association of Bridal Consultants conference in Indianapolis where my wife spoke to 250 planners. So many airports…so many crying babies on planes, but we do what we must right.

We’re back in Canada now, putting the final touches on a huge New Years Eve wedding, this wedding is gonna be so cool, we’re making it snow in a ballroom at midnight. We’re also taking bookings for 2010, so if you’re currently engaged or looking to get engaged over the holidays and you want to reduce the stress of the planning on both you and your wonderful wife to be…just click here and we’ll make it all better.

Suit Up!!! Every Man Needs A Tux

If there is one thing every man should have in his wardrobe, it’s a Tux. You don’t have to go with the classic tux either. The Nouveaux Socialite is a great example of gracefully updating a classic tuxedo. With a satin strap along the edge of the peak tux lapels, and an accompanying stripe along the side of the pants (i.e. classic tux pants) this tuxedo is ideal for the man that wants to stand out at a black tie event or try something a little different for his wedding. Plus it comes as a 3 piece with a vest, so it’s a little more versatile than your average tux. I own this particular tux and it is a kick ass piece of clothing. I even got mine with pink lining.

Click here to start shopping.

By Simon Daykin

So the big question is “Do you write your own vows?” Or even “can you?” I know I was a little scarred when my future wife told me we would be writing our own vows. But I sat down and wrote what I think were some damn fine vows. I made people cry so I took that as a good sign. I do tell my grooms that if at all possible, write your own vows. You can give her Hallmark cards and stuff written by other people for the rest of your life. Make the wedding day special, man up and write them vows!

It’s All About Each Other

At Firefly Occasions we work with both the Bride and the Groom to make sure the wedding day is a fusion of both their personalities. Nothing infuses your wedding like writing your own vows. You want them to be original, heartfelt and from you. You don’t even have to memorize them, you get them to your officiant and they will have them with them in case they need to feed you a line or two. We work with our couples to help them write their vows, separately of course, so the bride doesn’t know what the groom’s vows are and vice versa.

There’s Plenty Of Inspiration Out There

If you’re worried about finding content, DON’T BE! People have been writing love songs for years, soap operas have been televising weddings since what feels like the dawn of time and even with reality shows like Nick and Jessica and Dave and Carmen have cropped up in the past few years. Now I’m not saying lift stuff word for word. I’m saying take a little from column A, a little from song B and mash it all together adding your own feel to it. Most people in the audience won’t have a clue you lifted a line from a Sade song, and if they do…so what?

Not A Dry Eye In The Place

Nothing gets people going like a good set of vows. Your family members and audience will be bawling like a child with a skinned knee. I have seen this countless times. A big, burly groom gets up there and all of a sudden these beautiful words spill from his mouth and all of a sudden, the entire audience is in tears. It gets people talking about how cool it was they didn’t have to listen to “til death do us part, for richer and poorer…blah, blah, blah”. Seriously, I hate to say it but I tend to tune out during the pre-written, used every day vows. They are boring, I’m sorry but they are.

Simon’s Gutsy Groom Advice

If you can write your own vows, and if you think you can’t, step up and remember you love this women enough to buy dinner for 150 people so get to it and write them anyway. This is your wedding day, you can’t use other peoples words to tell her how much you love her, it works fine for birthdays and Christmas and that stuff, but for this one day, YOUR DAY…tell her how much you love her in YOUR words.

It’s not that tough, as I said, there is inspiration all over the place. I had a groom use some lines from Star Wars. Myself, I used a few lines from different songs and a few odd lines from some films I like. Plus if you’ve hired us, we’ll work with you one on one to get the best vows you can possibly have. You don’t need to be Shakespeare, if I can do it, I’m sure you can.

Just remember to work “I Do” or something along those lines into the vows…
Click here to book your free consultation and we’ll get you started on planning your unique, one of kind wedding.

By Simon Daykin

Over the last few seasons, suit designers Boss, Dior, and D&G have all been creating high quality, shiny polyester suits. Wear this with a slim black tie, write dress shirt, cufflinks, and a tie bar; you will make a serious impression out on the town. You may of spotted Justin Timberlake wearing a similar suit during his last concert tour too . . .Now not every man can pull this look off, and not every bride will like this look. So before you go and get this suit, run it by her. She may think you look like the Tin Man from The Wizard of Oz, personally, I think it’s bad ass!

Go Shopping Here.

By Simon Daykin

Your bride has a lot on her mind. This should not be news to you. So in all the chaos, I have compiled a very short list on a few things you can help her with. I encourage my grooms to get right into the whole process, but this is a list of the most popular things my guys like to take on themselves.

A steak, a steak…my kingdom for a steak!!!

Guys love food! Someone once said that the fastest way to a man’s heart is through is belly. So why not take this and make it yours. You can decide what cut of steak you’ll be having for dinner and not IF you’ll be having steak. Now this is a great one to do. Call the reception venue and have them send over the choices for the meals they are offering. If you see stuff you like but it’s paired with stuff you’re not crazy about, ask them if there is any “wiggle” room. You never know till you ask, so NEVER be afraid to ask. We had Caesar salad for one of our wedding appies, but I love tomatoes, cherry to be exact. So I had the chef drop a few cherry tomatoes onto the salads. See if you can mix and match items on the menu if that takes your fancy. And another great thing about this, TASTERS!!! Most venues will offer a tasting to help you make up your mind. So what you can do is make a date of it. Get dressed up and take your bride to be to the tasting (just make sure you have confirmed a date and time with HER so she’s available). The chef will usually let you pick a few appies, mains and deserts, and if you ask you can have wine paired with each course. So you have a nice dinner, some venues will do this for free, and you can take her out and NOT talk about the wedding…talk about the food!!!

Honeymoon Suite ain’t just a band

After the bouquet has been tossed, the garter has been passed on, the last song has been played and all the partying is done. When the last drunken guest has stumbled back to their rooms, it is time for you to go up to the Honeymoon Suite. Most people forget all about the Honeymoon Suite. But why should you? With our higher end packages we include décor in the suite for you and your bride to enjoy. Rose petals, music, maybe some mood lighting etc. The trick is not to tell her about this. If you don’t have a planner, get your best man to do this for you. She will melt. You can set up an iPOD on repeat to have her favorite song playing as you arrive into the room, (but you need to remember to take it off repeat) Include some fragrances, but not too strong…you don’t want her sneezing all night. And to take it a step further…why not make all the plans for the Honeymoon itself? Sure, get her opinion on what she wants to do. But you take care of the details. If you have a planner, they can help you with locations, flights and travel agents. So while it looks like you did allot of work, all you really need to do is call your planner with dates etc and they can make the arrangements. Firefly Occasions & Gutsy Groom has a travel agent on staff for just this reason. We also offer our Vegas Condo to our couples.

Click here for details.

Play that funky music!!!

Music can make or break ANY event. Don’t let it break yours!!! A DJ or band is very important to an event. We all have opinions on music, what the first song should be and songs that, under no circumstances should ever be played at a wedding again. Chicken Dance…I’m looking in your direction. So after you have again gotten her opinion, you really need to pick out your first dance together. Take over the process. Grab the Yellow Pages, or your Google page and start looking for people in your area. Make sure you interview them. As I’m sure I have mentioned, I fired 3 DJ’s before I settled on the guy who did my wedding. Now he is my #1 recommended DJ for ALL my weddings. He did the Fernie wedding last year and was packing up his gear at 1am to screams of “ONE MORE SONG, ONE MORE SONG!!!” If you’re looking into a band, get them to send you a demo disc or something. Even better, if they are local and have a gig, take your fiancé out for a nice concert and see what she thinks. It’s not stressful coz it’s a cool night out. The same with DJ’s, get references from past clients, make sure they have a web site, see what lighting they offer and if travel fees are included or extra. Choose carefully on this one guys, if a DJ can’t read a crowd, you’re screwed.

Simon’s Gutsy Groom Advice

Make sure that you help your bride out in the planning process. If, for no other than selfish reasons. A happy bride makes for a happy wedding and very happy wedding night. Plus it’ll really cut down on tension or possible arguments during the planning process. I mean, come on…the 3 things listed above really aren’t that tough to get a handle on and they can be fun to do as well. There are many, many other things you can get your hand into, but these, as I said earlier are the top 3 my grooms usually get the most involved in.

A marriage is a partnership, so is the time leading up to the wedding. So take some responsibility, hey, you asked her to marry you right!??!!? You can’t just pop the question, then sit back and say…OK I did my part, off you go. Not cool at all. Plus if you get involved, you’ll get your thoughts into the process as well. I always tell our couples that the wedding should be a mesh of both their personalities, and I stand by that. So get involved fellas. Sometimes it even turns out to be fun!

Simon Daykin is Firefly Occasions’ Atmospheric Designer and Groom Stylist. Couples looking for rare, unmatched decor turn to Simon for their wedding design needs. Simon is part of the husband and wife wedding planning team, Firefly Occasions Inc. Visit his website to sign up for his free report, “5 Smoking Styles for Gutsy Grooms.”

If you would like to publish this article please include the above biography and live links.

It’s been a crazy week here for me, my wife is off in sunny Los Angeles supervising an event we planned and I am stuck here in the cold and snow. Oh well, she returns just in time for Thanksgiving dinner tonight so I’m looking forward to seeing her again. This is the longest we have been apart since we got married. OK, enough sappy stuff. We had a great Bridal Expo a couple of weeks ago and now I’m fielding so many emails from people wanting to book our services for planning their weddings. Seriously, I haven’t worked this hard in months. So if you’re on the fence about hiring a kick ass planner, get off that fence and come hang out in my yard…no frilly pink wedding for you my friend…I GOT YOUR BACK!!!

Cheers,

Simon

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So I’m gonna start trying something different here. I’m getting a lot of guys asking about what they should wear to the wedding and if they don’t want to rent the suit, then where do they get a great suit that won’t cost them a small fortune. So I’m gonna start my SUIT UP! Section. I’ll be recommending suits, custom suits, made just for you that range in price from $300 – $500. (A fraction of her dress cost.)

This week it’s the Vancouver Drizzle Suit, coming in at $319.00 USD. The weather in Vancouver is so grey it has inspired its own suit. The Vancouver Drizzle suit is one of the easiest suits you can wear. While at first glance you may not think it, this suit goes with everything. It works well with pink, white, blue, or even purple shirts. The light gray works well with many different skin types and has the great ability to make every and anything else you wear look better. Light gray is a complementary color; that is what it is supposed to do.

Click here to start your shopping, and as I always say…”She gets a great new dress, why can’t you have a new suit?”