5 Non-Traditional Bachelor Party Ideas

We all know the trappings of a traditional bachelor party: booze, strippers, and more booze. Whether it’s a private party with a girl jumping out of a cake or that strip club downtown, bachelor parties tend to be on the raunchy and debauched side of celebration. If nudity and alcohol don’t seem like the right way to celebrate your impending nuptials, though, you’re not alone. Here are some ideas for bachelor parties that keep it a little classier.

Brewery Tour

Yes, there’s still alcohol involved with a brewery tour, but the point is to taste a lot of delicious craft beer, not pound cheap shots until you pass out. Small breweries have been cropping up like crazy over the past decade, so odds are there are three or four near where you live. Grab your best buddies (and a designated driver) and tour through all of them. You’ll learn how beer is made, taste some one-of-a-kind brews, and even pick up a few growlers (that’s a 64-oz to-go bottle to drink later; preferably not all in one go).

Virtual Mayhem

Arcades have changed a lot since the 80’s and 90’s. Now instead of taking quarters for simple games, they take dollars--or fives--for cool, immersive experiences. Some arcades have massive machines designed to simulate the cockpit of a battle robot or a tank. Some have full virtual-reality options with goggles and 360-degree treadmills. Most of those machines are networked together so you can play against your friends. Presumably, your wedding signifies a step into maturity: what better way to mark it than by playing video games with your bros?

Poker Night

This one’s cheaper than a night on the town and easy to arrange. Just pick your buddy with the biggest living room to host, have a $20 buy-in to make it interesting, and make sure to have plenty of snacks and beer on hand. Green visors are not required, but they’re encouraged; ditto fancy cigars.

Rent a Cabin or Beach House

If you can get your buddies to buy into a weekend trip, vacation rentals divided enough ways are far cheaper than a bunch of hotel rooms. Most vacation homes have amenities hotels don’t, either, like private pools and hot tubs (you know, for male bonding). Make sure the rental you’re looking at has options for entertainment during the day--or pack your cards, video game consoles, board games and a whole lot of booze and plan on staying in. Even if you end up doing what your crew always does when you hang out together, it’s more fun in a different locale.

Go See a Game

Sure, you may occasionally go to a baseball, football, hockey, or basketball game, but this is an excuse to pony up a little more cash for good seats, or a sky box, or that third $10 hot dog. Maybe even pack up the grill and a couple of coolers and tailgate beforehand, so you get the most out of the day.

It’s About the Groom

The goal of a bachelor party should be for the groom to have a great time and for all of you to connect as friends. If the groom loves paintball, slap on your gear and go to war. If he’s really into nerdy board games, an entire uninterrupted evening playing Twilight: Imperium or Arkham Horror is better than a trip to a strip club. If he likes golf, make it a golfing trip. If you take something you all enjoy doing together and take it to the next level, the bachelor party can be a great bonding time without risking bodily injury or a jealous spouse.

Destination Weddings: Pros, Cons, and Considerations

Faced with the daunting prospect of wedding planning--renting a venue, renting a reception hall, hosting dozens if not hundreds of friends and family--a destination wedding can start to seem awfully tempting. And certainly, for some couples it’s the perfect option, but the fantasy of a destination wedding is different from its reality. Here are some things to consider when deciding if a destination wedding is right for you.

Pro: A Much Smaller Guest List

Your guest list will be limited to those who can afford to make the trip, or even just to the couple getting married. All of those distant relatives and friend-of-a-friend folks won’t expect to be invited to a destination wedding, so you can focus on the few key people you really want to be there.

Con: A Much Smaller Guest List

In the heat of the wedding planning, it might seem like you’d rather get married at a courthouse with no witnesses rather than mess with the delicate politics and economics of managing a guest list. But take a step back from the process and imagine the memories of your wedding day that you’ll have five years from now. That buddy who doesn’t fly, or that elderly relative who can’t make the trip, might be someone you’ll wish had been there on your special day. And sometimes the magic of combining social circles and family groups leads to lasting friendships forged on the day, something that is less likely to happen with a destination wedding.

Pro: Everything’s Included

With a destination wedding, you won’t have to worry about finding the cake decorator, florist, photographer, and officiant that’s just right for you. Most wedding destinations will provide a package deal with everything you need for the day, so you can stop hunting through Yelp reviews for that one magical florist and focus on your time with your significant other. And since your hotel will likely serve as your wedding location and reception hall, the planning gets a lot simpler.

Con: Options May Be Limited

The flowers, cake, and officiant are included in the package, sure. But if you want a different type of cake (or perhaps a doughnut bar instead), or nontraditional flowers, or for your best friend to be your officiant, you might be out of luck. Not having to plan the ceremony means that you’re handing over at least some degree of control of how the ceremony plays out. You’ll have to ask yourself if you’d rather control every detail of the wedding, or if you’d rather not have to worry about it.

Pro: You’ll Save Money on the Reception

A smaller guest list means you won’t be renting a reception hall and providing a meal for 200 people. Bar tabs and catering costs will be lower.

Con: You’ll Spend More on the Guests That Do Come

Wedding etiquette stipulates that the wedding hosts should pay for their guests’ hotel rooms, food, and most other expenses. While guests should be responsible for their own airfare, that’s still a substantial amount of commitment to each person who attends.

Consider: Red Tape

A couple of friends of mine had a beautiful destination wedding in Costa Rica a few years ago. After a couple of years, though, their relationship deteriorated and they filed for divorce. When they filed, they discovered that the marriage was legal in Costa Rica but never ratified in the United States. In the eyes of U.S. law, they were not married and never had been. If you’re not doing a package deal with a resort, make sure to do your homework to make sure your wedding actually legally marries you and your spouse.

Consider: Protect Your Couple Time

If you’re flying out friends and family to a destination wedding vacation that will also serve as your honeymoon, make sure to plan plenty of time for just the two of you as a couple. It’s fun to take a vacation with friends or family, but might be less fun to have your new father-in-law tagging along on your snorkeling trip. In the whirlwind of a destination wedding, it’s even more important for the couple to take time to connect.

A destination wedding can be a great start to a happy marriage, provided the couple takes the time to research and make sure it’s what both of them want. As with every part of the planning, communication and research is key to make sure you know what you’re getting into and what you’ll get out of it.

Sparkler Tip #6: Have Good Timing

As with most things at your wedding, making sure you have the right timing with your wedding sparklers is very crucial. Depending on how you are planning to use them, every detail from how you hand them out to when you hand them out are important details when trying to get the timing just right. Here are a few tips that should help you plan out your strategy and get the timing right for your guests to get the most enjoyment possible out of their experience while using their wedding sparklers.

Sendoff Line

One of the most common uses for wedding sparklers is as part of the sendoff line. If you are trying to make sure everyone is coordinated for this type of display, you’ll want to either have a sign or make an announcement about where they should line up and how they will light their sparklers. That way, everyone can get lit at the same time so the timing is right to pull it off.

Wedding Favors

If you are just going to place some sparklers on the table for your guests to use at their own leisure, you probably aren’t too concerned about the timing. However, there are probably certain times you’d prefer them to not be using the wedding sparklers or only certain areas where they can be used. A good way to make sure the guests are informed is to put a little tag at each table the nails down this type of information so there isn’t any confusion.

Choreographed Photos

If you are going to choreograph some photos with things like writing in the air with the sparklers, hopefully your photographer will know what to do. If not, you’ll want to make sure to do some dry runs before everyone lights their wedding sparklers to ensure that the timing is right and you won’t have to abort the photo only seconds after everyone’s sparklers are lit.

De Beers: A Legacy of Diamond Engagement Rings

De Beers has long been considered the largest name in diamonds, and they have a long and stories history when it comes to engagement rings. In fact, they created many of the most loved diamond engagement ring styles of all time and they continue to be a driving factor in the industry. Though most people believe them to be one company, De Beers is actually a group of companies that are combined to make the largest diamond coalition in the world. With unsurpassed quality and cutting edge styles, the most elite women in the world are commonly seen wearing a De Beers diamond engagement ring on their finger.

Diamond Quality

When trying to find the best quality engagement ring possible, the quality of the diamond is always first and foremost. In this area, no other diamond supplier can hold a candle to De Beers when it comes to the “4 C’s” standard (carat, cut, clarity, and color). In fact, many people in the industry cite De Beers for creating this standard as nearly 90% of all diamonds on the market are graded by them. Today, nearly every diamond retailer strictly adheres to these standards when grading a particular stone.

Symbolism

Diamonds have long been considered the ultimate symbol of love, and this is in no small part because of De Beers. Before diamonds were the popular choice for engagement rings, women were still given rings made from precious metals as a sign of love. Once the art of cutting diamonds became perfected, their preciousness was added to the sought-after metals to make the ultimate combination of beauty and scarcity that perfectly reflects the sentiment of love.

How Pricing Stacks Up

Like most things in life, you can certainly expect to pay more if you want the best name in diamond engagement rings. De Beers is widely considered to have the best quality mines and thus best quality diamonds, so to get your hands (or rather finger) on one of them is going to cost you. This also protects their brand and keeps it among the most cherished in the world because not everyone can afford a De Beers diamond; so the celebrities find them even more appealing. While much of the diamond market is driven by rarity and demand, De Beers also brings the allure of the quality you can only get by purchasing one of their fine quality stones.

Color Cake and Bottle Sparklers – Exclusive Items

Wedding Day Sparklers is proud to announce the newest addition to our catalog of wedding sparklers – color bottle sparklers and color wedding cake sparklers. We are the only company to offer these great new items, and as always we offer free shipping on all orders over $50!

Though our color bottle sparklers are fantastic for weddings and other romantic events, they are also a perfect choice for champagne bottles on New Year’s Eve. Bars, restaurants, and nightclubs from Los Angeles to New York and all the way down to Miami are going crazy over our exclusive color bottle sparklers. Compared to the cheap bottle sparklers sold by our competitors, ours burn longer and feature five amazing colors. Everyone else is selling a generic gold bottle sparkler which is why our color items are topping the charts and out-selling everyone else by a wide margin.

Also, we are also proud to be the exclusive seller of color wedding cake sparklers for your cake topper or each tier of your wedding cake. Each cake sparkler has a little red spike that allows you to stick them right through the frosting. They are 100% food safe and will not ruin your cake, plus they are very colorful so you can get much more attention compared to using the typical gold ones that other companies offer. No one else in the United States offers these color wedding cake sparklers, so don’t miss your chance to bring them into your venue or wedding reception.

Exclusive items such as these are why Wedding Day Sparklers is still the #1 wedding sparkler company online. No other company can even come close to our prices, selection, or level of customer service including the fastest shipping at the lowest cost possible. Checkout our site for all of our great options, and from everyone at Wedding Day Sparklers; we hope you have a fantastic wedding!

Where to Buy Wedding Sparklers in Kansas

Kansas hosts thousands of wedding each year because of their geographical location on loose laws on sparklers and other fireworks. Positioned in the very center of the United States, all roads lead to Kansas which means that it is bustling with activity during the wedding season. Also known as the “Sunflower State”, Kansas is a rural state that is well known for its agricultural contributions to the United States including its #1 export; sunflowers. With so many beautiful landscapes with bright yellow sunflowers dotting the backdrop, it’s easy to see why so many people are wondering where to buy wedding sparklers in Kansas to bring out the natural colors and beauty that surround nearly every plot of land.

Navigating the Different Sizes of Sparklers

Sifting through the dozens of varieties of sparklers that are available to buy can seem a bit challenging, but it can be a quick task if you know what you’re looking for. If you want long-lasting sparklers, than simply pick a variety that has a longer length. The longer the length of the sparklers you buy, the longer they will burn and the more impressive they will be. Conversely, if you want just some quick fun, you can buy sparklers that are short and they will last only 30 seconds or less. Regardless which length you buy, make sure you buy from a quality retailer or you may be disappointed with the results.

Pay Attention to the Laws

Though Kansas has some of the loosest regulations regarding the sale of sparklers and other fireworks, they still regulate their use depending on location and weather conditions. For this reason, you want to check the Kansas fireworks laws before deciding to have sparklers as part of your wedding. These variables include times of drought and the local ordinances that your city or county may have enacted, so make sure you contact all the proper authorities before you proceed. Lastly, check with your venue to make sure that they allow using sparklers. Some venues are in a location that prohibits their use or just have a personal preference that they not be used, so checking ahead of time is always the best course of action.

Origin of Kansas’ State Name

The state of Kansas has officially been part of the United States since 1861, but the culture that gave the state its name dates back much further. The state is named after the Kansa Native American tribe which was the first culture to be settled in that area. Both the state and tribe’s name means “people of the wind” or “people of south wind”, which makes a lot of sense considering that Kansas is directly in the wind belt and suffers from one of the highest tornado rates in the world; though this translation is probably not the original meaning of the term. Furthermore, residents who live in the state are referred to as “Kansans”, which is rare because most states use a suffix rather than just making the name plural to describe their resident’s citizenship.

Irish Wedding and Engagement Rings

Millions of couples throughout America have ties to an Irish heritage. With so many people representing the Irish culture, the demand for traditional style Irish rings has steadily been on the rise. Depending on whether you want an engagement ring or a wedding ring, there are two classic styles for the consumer. For engagement rings, the Claddagh is the historically accurate choice that most couples opt for buying. For wedding rings, the classic Celtic knot design is the overwhelming winner in popularity. Whichever way you go for your Irish ring design, there are benefits and drawbacks to each style just like any other style of ring that you might purchase.

The Claddagh Design

Usually designated for use as an engagement ring, the Claddagh is a traditional design that is specifically for women. Traditionally, the design depicts two hands holding a heart, but the design can vary depending on region and the artist’s particular style. The intent of the design is to symbolize the dedication and pledge that one takes when making their wedding vows and this has led to it being the most popular choice for Irish engagement rings. The design is one of the most traditional in Irish culture, and just by wearing it a woman can display her relationship status whether it is love, loyalty, or friendship. What the ring indicates precisely varies depending on how the ring is worn, and those are as follows:

• If the ring is on her right hand with the point of the heart away from the body, it means she is single. The Claddagh is one of the most popular Irish wedding rings, but it can also be passed down from mother to daughter and can be worn by single women.
• If the ring is on her right hand with the point of the heart towards her, she is in a relationship, but not yet engaged. Having the heart inwards, so it appear right side up from the wearer’s perspective, means the woman’s heart has been captured.
• If the ring is on her left hand with the point of the heart away from her body, she is engaged.
• If the ring is on her left hand with the point of the heart towards her, she is married.

The Celtic Knot

Undoubtedly the most recognized of all Irish wedding ring styles, there are countless variations on this classic style. While they all appear similar and are instantly recognized if seen alone, you can certainly see the variations if you compare a few rings next to each other. The most common design for an Irish wedding ring is the “infinite knot” which is a very old and traditional Christian symbol that stands for the intertwining lives of bride and groom that lasts for all of eternity. Most couples end up purchasing their Irish wedding rings with the “infinite knot” style of Celtic knot because they are the most common, most traditional, and offer the most variations from which to choose.