Kitty Cake Topper by Helyn

If you have seen any great toppers, we’d love to hear about them! Please let us know in the comment section below.

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I love the vintage vibe of this one, including the sweet verse printed on the bride’s skirts (via cake today)

Is that one a bit too sweet for you? Give your guests a laugh with these ball-and-chain or cell-phone-fanatic toppers!

Firefighter groom? Oh yeah! Check out eBay for more ideas, via HubPages.

Are you a cop? Do you love pizza? And your dog? Then this one’s for you! Otherwise, you can have a hand-sculpted cake toppers made just for you, via Custom Wedding Cake Toppers.

Is the bride expecting? How hilarious would it be to break the news to family and friends with this delicious cake topper? (All Wedding AZ)

The next 4 toppers are from Offbeat Bride (Toppers that won’t make you cringe!) Well, some might cringe at the bride jumping the groom in public, but the little love-fishies and dragons are just sweet as can be!

Offbeat Bride also had the brilliant idea of using salt-and-pepper shakers as cake toppers… aside from being totally adorable, they’re great because you can reuse them on a daily basis!

Here are some ideas that are both formal and fun! Fresh flowers, ribbon, fabric, crepe paper, berries, herbs, acorns… this little ornament provides a great little outlet for your creative abilities!

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All photos compliments of Martha Stewart Weddings

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Dahlia + Polka dot tie = Cheerful and fun!

Flowers + Berries + Leaves = Striking and Earthy

Beaded flowers + Ribbon = Handsome Keepsake

Crepe paper + Creativity = Long-lasting flower!

Orchids + Ribbon = High Style

Ribbon + Button = Loads of fun (Get the How-T0)

Beads + Floral tape = Very vintage

Mini rosebuds = Gorgeous (roses never need anything else!)

Nerines + Mizuhiki cord = Japanese good luck

Ribbon + Fabric glue = Unique!

Oak leaves + Acorns = Jaunty and Autumnal

Muscari buds + Jacquard ribbon = Refreshing

Edelweiss flowers + frog berries + dusty-miller leaves= WOW!

Boronia branches + Hot pink = Manly (oh yes!)

??See even more gorgeous boutonnieres– floral and otherwise– at Martha Stewart Weddings!

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1. Personalized MP3 Cooler Bag

For the man who likes to celebrate outdoors, this brilliant bag is, quite simply, a portable party! Snacks and music go, great if you’re planning a beach or destination wedding, pool party rehearsal dinner or picnic engagement party!

Removable speaker panel, a battery-powered amplifier, a Velcro pocket for a standard-size mp3 player, a detachable jack, an adjustable shoulder strap, a top carry handle, a front zippered pocket, and an inner insulated cooler compartment, PLUS free embroidered initials, all for $49.95. Get it now!

2. Personalized Barbecue Cooler Kit

This is the perfect gift for any guy who is master of the grill. It’s fabulous for tailgating, camping, or heavy-duty picnicking.

This roomy cooler bag features: a front zippered pocket with a stainless steel grill brush, a spatula, and tongs; back zippered pocket holds a large tablecloth. Add on free personalization of your groomsmen’s initials or monograms, all for $62.95. Get it now!

3. Personalized Groomsmen Dresser Kit

Practical yet sentimental! This thoughtful men’s gift is a handsome valet tray where you can tuck in a photo to remind him of the good times you’ve shared! Personalized with his initials, this dresser set becomes a keepsake he’ll treasure as the years go by.

Black leatherette, with white topstitching and black velvet lining, four compartments, and photo box lid keep accessories and favorite memories safe. Free silver-plate personalization! Only $43.20. Get it now!

4. Personalized Groomsmen Cufflinks

Whether your groomsmen wears wingtip or laydown tuxedo shirts, these initialed classic brush silver square cufflinks will please your guy… and the ladies. Only $26.95. Get them now!

5. Personalized Mini Foosball Game Set

Now it’s foosball time all the time! You can play a little game wherever you go (just not during the ceremony!)…  Get your groomsmen hooked!

Miniature, portable, travel size Personalized Mini Foosball Game Set is made of silvertone metal and brass colored metal a features a replica of a real foosball game table complete with 2 sets of team players and 2 silvertone metallic balls. Free personalization up to 20 characters. Only $22.95! Get yours now!

6. Personalized NFL Wall Clock

Add a dose of team pride to your groomsmen’s game rooms with these impressive Personalized NFL Wall Clocks! Proudly made in the USA, these colorful NFL wall clocks feature genuine quartz movement. Available in 32 teams, these clocks may be personalized with up to 2 lines of 12 characters each. Only $28.95! Get it here!

7. Sean Travel Set

A handy-dandy gift for the man on the move. Especially apropos if you’re having a destination wedding. The handsome aluminum carrying case contains a razor, spare razon blades, small and large nail clipper, shaver, file, cuticle cutter, cuticle cleaner, and tweezer. Only $38.95! Get it now!

8. Engravable Silver Pocket Tool

This silver pocket all-in-one-tool gets back to the basics with stuff they’ll need for the great outdoors and regular, everyday pursuits. It includes needle-nose pliers, wire cutters, large/medium/small flat screwdrivers, clip-point knife, phillips screwdriver, bottle/can opener, fish scale, and saw. Pocketknife can be engraved with up to 12 characters, plus a nylon carrying case. Only $15.95. Get it now!

9. Engravable Curved Business Card Case

This attractive business card case thanks the professionals in your wedding party with distinctive style. No more lost or crumpled business cards! Sturdy chrome with a brown leather overlay, contrast stitching, and free engraving. Only $21.95. Get it now!

10. The Thinker Desk Pen Holder

This exquisite reproduction of Rodin’s famous sculpture, “The Thinker” is attached to a heavyweight base with a pen rest. Doubles as a paperweight. Sure to be the centerpiece of any office, this attractive statuette complements modern and traditional décor for a stunning effect. Only $35.95. Get it now!

OK. So what can the groom do? I know the bride and groom in this photo don’t inspire much confidence, but we know there are plenty of grooms out there who are mature, capable, and reliable! For the lucky bride whose groom is willing to meet her halfway, The Groom Says has a bunch of good ideas. In his own witty words:

• Male on Mail. MC Groom will stuff, stamp, send out the Save the Dates and the Invites. When guests respond, he’ll be responsible for managing the guest list (that means keeping track of RSVPs, updating mailing addresses, hounding guests who don’t respond, etc).
• MC Groom Inn the House. Your groom will also assume the sometimes unpleasant tasks involved in guest accommodations, like researching hotel options and being the point-person for the hotel’s group sales coordinator. It might also involve alerting out-of-town guests about the block of rooms that are set aside and ensuring that all guests get the decided-upon rate.
• Music and Food. Brides, you won’t like what you’re about to hear, but just know that you can’t possibly book all of your vendors yourself and keep your head on straight simultaneously. MC Groom will manage. He’ll do all the research, share his findings, manage contracts and handle all of the correspondence with your DJ/band and your caterer, the two vendors who will please and feed your guests’ ear drums and taste buds, respectively. He’ll ensure that the music that’s played will appeal to all of your guests and guarantee that the caterer caters to any dietary needs of your guests. Don’t worry, brides, you can still help him choose who those vendors will be and help decide the menu for the evening. And an added bonus — you’re still responsible for the venue(s), the coordinators and planners, the officiant, the florist/designer, the photographer and the videographer. Win!
• The Mini-Wedding. What a blessing it is that MC Groom is accustomed to eating, because he’ll be in charge of choosing the venue for the rehearsal dinner and working hand-in-hand with his parents (assuming they’re hosting the event) to plan the festivities.
• Favors. I know this is a touchy territory; some brides revel in the fact that they can send their guests off with homemade chocolate chip cookie-scented candles, and we wouldn’t dare take that joy away from you. But for those brides who aren’t as crafty, your groom may have some ideas to run by you and may be the perfect sounding board for yours.
• Information Hotline. MC Groom will assume the daunting task of ensuring that everyone knows exactly where everything is being held and how to get from this thing to that other thing. And in the days leading up to the wedding, he can field all of the phone calls from your long-winded guests who have inane questions. Someone needs to tell cousin Mark that, no, he shouldn’t wear open-toed shoes to the reception.
• Liquor Cabinet. And yes, he will gladly take care of the booze, which makes sense since he’s going to be communicating with your caterer directly. He’ll select the beer and the liquor and mix some specialty cocktails for you to sample at home. He’s such a gentleman… 
• The There-and-Back. If applicable, MC Groom will be responsible for researching transportation options for your guests, whether that involves a taxi, a trolley or an eight-person bicycle.
• We Love Our Garlic Press. My 2Es can attest to the unanticipated burden of sending out thank you cards. You planned a wedding for over a year, and once it’s through (while you’re genuinely stoked about your new Calphalon stick-free wok), the last thing you want to do is sit down and put those feelings on paper. The fact that you’re given a full year to complete the task doesn’t help either, as you only end up delaying the inevitable. So let MC Groom express your gratitude. Buy some stationery you approve of and put them in his trusty hands, confident that he can mail out four or five dozen envelopes in twelve months time.

A few more things:

• Take charge of his own attire, plus attire, rentals, accessories and gifts for his men.
• Hire the babysitters, rent a photobooth, book a harpist for the ceremony… basically any other responsibilities you and he agree to place in his trusty hands!

Liked that? TheManRegistry.com is an online resource for grooms and is the internet leader in grooms wedding tips and wedding advice for grooms. The website features a specialized wedding gift registry featuring hundreds of wedding gifts tailored toward grooms, including electronics, barbecue grills and accessories, bar supplies, tools and outdoors gear and items from favorite sports teams — In addition to the wedding registry, the website also offers a wealth of information, how-to articles and resources designed to help successfully guide the 2.4 million grooms who get married each year through every step of the engagement, wedding and honeymoon planning processes.

feature image: The Mail

Here’s another good idea, while you’re at it: The guys at GroomGroove.com suggest setting up a wedding registry on an otherwise uneventful weeknight. Turn off the TV, and make creating a charitable wedding registry a cool date. Says Golden: “It’s an opportunity to learn about the person you’re going to spend the rest of your life with. One recent groom chose Teach for America as his charitable organization, whereas his bride chose a charity that benefits artists.” You may be surprised to find out what charitable causes interest your fiancée.

I Do Foundation

Use this simple, free system to enable your guests to make secure online donations in support of the organization of your choice.  as their wedding gift to you.  You select the nonprofit organizations of your choice from their list of Recommended Partners, which includes Children, Youth, and Family, Community Development, Education, Environment, Health, and Social Justice.

Changing the Present

At Changing the Present, you can choose from over 1,500 donation gift opportunities, each at different princes, from adopting a tiger ($40) to sponsoring a year of schooling for one girl ($250) to clearing landmines ($50).

In addition to a charitable registry, you can order charitable wedding favors, which are small cards placed on your guests’ tables, saying that a donation was made in their honor. These favors include things like sandwiches at a drop-in center, materials for a struggling artist, assistance for deaf families, and more.

Wedding Channel

With a Wedding Channel registry, you can have your cake and eat it too. They will make a donation to your charity of choice every time someone uses WeddingChannel.com to purchase you a gift from one of your registries (in partnership with the I Do Foundation).

Charity Choice

Use their online wizard to create your own personalized webpage, customize with your favorite charities, buy bridal shower and party favors as a special honor for your guests, or give an elegant customized certificate as a charitable presentation to your wedding party.

Heifer Gift Registry

Help end hunger and poverty with gifts of livestock and training. With a Heifer Gift Registry, your gift will help families around the world become self-reliant and be able to provide for themselves, their families and their community.  You can choose from goats, water buffalo, chickens, llamas, camels, and much more. In exchange for their livestock and training, families agree to give one of its animal’s offspring to another family in need, so that this becomes the gift that keeps on giving.

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Here are some new ways of using this old classic.

invitations from Brides.com

decor ideas from the knot

table settings from Brides.com

Bride & Groom style from Brides.com

cakes from the knot

bridesmaids photos from the knot

Programs and favors from the knot

feature photo: offbeat bride

Real men wear pink:

jose villa, ep love via green wedding shoes

They also like orange:

epblog, leonce photography

And if they must wear a black tux, a bit of red makes it stand out:

They also wear shorts and bow ties:

jose villa, james christianson via green wedding shoes

They even look dapper in checks (the more contrasting colors the better)!

Tec Petaja

They love hats of all shapes and sizes:

tec petaja via green wedding shoes, offbeat bride, the knot

… And printed shirts:

epblog, offbeat bride

And they sizzles in black leather (that’s a kilt!) and boots:

offbeat bride

And speaking of kilts, of course, cultural costumes are always hot!

epblog, the knot, the knot

feature photo credit: Mark Lenoce Photography

So how cute would it be if you had this awesome Phone Booth prop for your guests to pose with… in… in front of… etc…? I don’t know how much this costs to actually buy, but with some imagination I bet you could replicate it with some cardboard boxes and red paint.

I also love this glamorous Crescent-Moon and Star Photo Booth from Martha Stewart! I think it would be great, not only for the bride and groom, but for your guests to get their pose on, too! You can make it out of foam board cut into a crescent shape, sprayed with glue, blanketed with glitter, and hung with fishing wire.

Another pretty option is this pop-up alter, which you can use for your vows, if you like, and then transfer to your photo booth location! Martha Stewart recommends creating this type of fluttering canopy out of these honeycomb leaf garlands. If you want to DIY, click: Get the How-To.

 

Pretty much anything can be used as a photo booth prop. If your wedding is outdoors, you could put the “Photo booth here” sign pointing to the vehicle of your choice, such as classic car, a rented Rolls, or a vintage pickup truck. And going back to the foam board, you could make your own life-sized car, complete with cut-out windows, for guests to have fun with! (Photo by Steve C. via photo.net.

Pocket Square How-To

Start with a handkerchief that is 15 inches square. For best results, iron it just before folding.  The thicker the fabric, the more billowy your finished pocket square will be. For silk squares, aim for a puffy look. Linen and cotton fabrics will result in a crisper fold.

1. Lay the square flat with the right side down. Fold the square in half by bringing the top point down to meet the bottom point, so it forms a triangle.
2. Fold the left point of the triangle down so it meets the bottom point.
3. Fold the right side down in the same manner.
4. Fold the left point of the diamond shape over so that the point touches the middle of the folded fabric.
5. Fold the right point over to the middle in the same way.
6. Fold the bottom point up to cover the other points by about an inch, hold in place so it doesn’t unfold, and carefully tuck the folded handkerchief into the left-side jacket pocket, exposing about 3 inches of your lovely pocket square!

Viola!

Franklin + Gower is based in my hometown of L.A. (the label takes its name from the notable intersection with a prime view of the Hollywood sign) but you can call for an appointment, or visit them on the web, where ordering is easy.  You can go with something ready-made, or customize to suite your superior style.  Furthermore, as StyleMePretty reports, “Franklin + Gower can create all the pieces you need to perfectly complement your entire bridal party. You name it, blazers, pants, shorts, ties and accessories… trust us your guy is going to enjoy the attention.”