Common perception is that your Best Man and groomsmen are all guys. And based on 99.9% of weddings, this perception is true. However, selecting the people that are going to be standing next to you on the most important day of your life isn’t always that cut and dry.

Wedding party members should be chosen based on who you want to share this special moment with.  If your closest friend is girl or if you share a special bond with your sister, it’s perfectly acceptable to have her serve as Best Man (in a dress, not a tux).

We should warn you that your other groomsmen will surely tease you a bit for the decision, but let’s be honest.. who gives a crap what they think? Obviously, the most important thing to remember is to think all wedding party member decisions through thoroughly. Remember, for 50% of you, this is the only wedding you’re going to have – so get it right!

Chris Easter is co-founder of TheManRegistry.com – the leading online resource for engaged men. The site offers a unique wedding registry for men, groomsman gifts and a wealth of content aimed at helping men make it through the wedding planning process in one piece. You can check out The Man Registry on Twitter and Facebook.

Use your brains, guys.  It’s probably not a good idea to slap a fake diamond on her engagement band. Even if you can fool her on the day you propose, chances are that your luck will run out someday when she’s getting it cleaned or appraised.

That being said, some of the best advice I can offer you is that if you’re going on a honeymoon to a foreign country or on a cruise – invest in some C.Z. It may sound like a crazy notion, but we’ve heard horror stories of engagement rings being misplaced or lost on the honeymoon. What makes those stories even worse is that the groom hadn’t bought ring insurance yet.

We know guys; the last thing you want to hear about is another piece of jewelry you have to buy. But, by getting a “dummy” ring for the trip – you greatly reduce the potential loss if something horrible were to happen.  Consider it a long-term investment as you’re sure to go on many more trips over the years and get plenty more mileage out of your C.Z.

(photo source: www.cubic-zirconia-cz-platinum-jewelry.com)

We are pleased to announce Chris Easter as one of our guest bloggers! Chris is co-founder of TheManRegistry.com, an online resource for engaged men. He is also Editor of GroomsAdvice.com, The Man Registry’s blog. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Webster University in St. Louis, Missouri, and currently resides in Los Angeles.

Chris is active in the wedding blogging community, and is well-respected in the wedding industry. We’re so happy to have him onboard to offer advice from the groom’s perspective! Look for his Weddingish-exclusive posts!