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She's stood by you through thick and thin, and now she's even going to do that in satin, chiffon and high heels. If that isn't friendship, what is?

She's not a girly-girl. Never has been. She doesn't squeal with dismay at a broken nail, she doesn't grow faint at the sight of mismatched clothing. What do you get her? No perfume, pedicures or precious pampering for this gal, what she wants is something practical.

Well, maybe a little pocket-knife (and tweezers and screwdriver, etc) isn't 100% practical -- but it's gadget enough to warm her un-girly heart. We hope she'll forgive you the pink ...

(If you're interested in more information on this engraved pocket tool, follow the link!)

From the ever-helpful people at The Kitchen comes this list of five important considerations when planning your reception menu. Whether you're doing it yourself, or planning with a caterer, whether you're having a dessert buffet or a sit-down, three-course dinner, these factors will apply.

1. Seasonality. Foods that are in season are less expensive and easier to find. Seasonal dishes make sense to your guests, too: people prefer lighter fare in hot weather, comfort food in cold.

2. Variety. Even if you're having a dessert buffet, as are the writers at The Kitchen, you can still provide variety in taste, texture, temperature, and color. With a less focused menu comes opportunity for even greater variety.

Money clip are one of those gifts that show up all the time on websites and in catalogues aimed at bridal couples. Looking for a gift for the men? How about a personalized golf ball, a silver flask, or a money clip? They're everywhere.

What this gift idea may lack in originality, it makes up for with its saying. It's a nice reminder, that the truly important, really valuable things in life cost nothing -- the love you share, for example. A sweet, romantic notion for the groom. For the father of the bride, who may be getting a little dizzy at how quickly his bank balance is receding, it might be just more than a little ironic. Could be the poor man will soon be thinking that the only things he ever will own from now on will be the ones that don't cost money.

Will you give it to him? Probably depends on his sense of humor ...

You've decided to honor your heritage by wearing a kilt at your wedding. Problem is, it's the very first time in your life you've ever worn a skirt a kilt something that's not pants, and you're just not sure how to proceed. With a kilt, it's not a simple matter of pulling it up over your hips. You could ask the salesman for pointers, but you'd really rather not. (You probably don't stop to ask for directions when you're lost, either, do you?)

Not to worry. Click on the following link, which, with pictures and everything, gives you step-by-step instructions for getting that kilt to go on -- and stay there! If you're going full-on with tradition, scroll down the page for further instructions for dealing with the sporran, socks, straps, and brogues. (If you have no idea what any of those are, you really need this page!)

When you're done, no one will know you're not a native. Until you open your mouth.

Everyone is pretty clear on what the bride and her mother will be up to for the duration of your engagement: planning a wedding! Some women give the impression that they've been planning this event in their head since the first wedding they attended at the age of six, and now the starting pistol has fired in real life, look out!

Thing is, your mom's a woman, too, and maybe she's been planning a wedding in her head, too. Only (in this wedding at any rate) she's got a son, not a daughter. What does the mother of the groom do?

While she doesn't do as much as the mother of the bride, there are a few things that are just for her.

What's a stud set? Can I wear a tuxedo for a mid-day wedding? Which is more formal, a tuxedo, a suit, or a morning suit? Can you wear brown with black? How do you tie an ascot? Can I wear a suit and put the groomsmen in blazers?

If you suddenly find yourself actually worrying about things you'd never even heard of before you popped the question, you'll be relieved to know that there are people who know this stuff. People who can give you the information you need, and can manage to be down-to-earth about it all. People who understand that for you, this is important for one day, not as a way of life.

We're kind of partial to the Style Guy at GQ. He's smart and fashion-wise, but he's not a fashion slave. Fashion sense with an edge: perfect for the groom who is never going to be a high fashion guy -- he just doesn't want to spend his "big day" making an ass of himself.

You've agreed to propose the toast to the bride. Even though you've known her for years, when you start to consider what you might say, you draw a complete blank. You've never been great at public speaking. Where do you start? Gary Drevitch at Freelance Dad consulted with experts as Toastmasters International, and came up with these tips:

Brainstorm. Jot down everything you can think of about the bride. List her good points, special memories you have, why she and her beloved make a good couple. The brainstorming will give you a general outline for your toast. Research will fill in the gaps.

Know your audience. Don't say anything to annoy or embarrass the bride and groom, and keep it clean.

Write it all out so you can practice it, but when the time comes, use short notes. A cue-card or two should be enough; ten typed pages is too much!

Sound like yourself.

Start with a joke, end with sentiment. As Drevitch notes, "One of the classic rules of wedding toasting is to end by tugging on the heartstrings. If you can't be sentimental at a wedding, where can you?"

Keep it short. Toastmasters suggests three to four minutes, but we can guarantee that if you want to make it shorter than that, your audience will not object!

All along you've assumed that after the big day your bride will become Mrs. Groom. You're sitting in the kitchen, chatting with her sister, and she very casually mentions that she will not be changing her name. Most women in the US do change their names, but a certain percentage (10 - 20, depending on who you read) do not. For some men, this is not a big deal: she's agreed to marry you, after all, live with you forever, put up with your goofy sense of humor, maybe even have your babies. That's plenty!

Others, the traditional sort, might find this a bit hard to take. They might see it as a personal rejection, and react accordingly. Of course, it's not a rejection. She's agreed to marry you, live with you forever... (you know the drill, we just said all that). But it can feel that way, anyway.

You might need to have a conversation. Not a conversation so that you can change her mind, a conversation so that you can understand why she's made this choice. Before the conversation, though, think for a bit -- really, really think -- about how it would feel to have to change your name to hers. Never mind that it's not "traditional", and thus "stupid". What would it feel like? And if even a teeny little part of you says, "I couldn't do that! It's my name!", you don't need to have the conversation with her. You already understand why.

The wine-kind, not the kitchen appliance.

One of the traditional duties of the male contingent, toasting can be done either by a specially-appointed (or even hired) MC, but most often it's done by the best man.

Anywhere you look, you can find a list of who toasts whom, in what order, and with what. Thing is, all the lists are different. Who toasts whom, in what order? Who knows?

This can be a good thing. With so many possibilities, you can do it any way you like! Another piece of even better news:

Fathers of the bride are often given no more than a passing sentence in the etiquette books, and it's an expensive one: "Traditionally, the wedding and reception are paid for by the bride's family." As bridal couples are more and more likey to have been living independently (and, most of the time, together) for some while before the wedding, they are also more and more likely to be paying for their own wedding. An increasing percentage of brides escort their own selves down the aisle.

Which leaves dad doing ... what, exactly? Some dads don't want anything more. Some are perfectly content to wear what they're told, show up when and where they're told, and otherwise stay out of the limelight.

If you'd like more input than that on this most important day, there are a few things you can be doing that your daughter will truly appreciate. Experienced FOTB Ken York has a few pointers for you. The first one starts with not your daughter, but her mother. Give her something (Ken suggests jewelery), and with the gift say something sweet and thoughtful about all her hard work in raising this lovely young woman. If that doesn't make you Man of the Year (or at least the Hour) in her heart, we don't know what will.

Other tips?

Weddingbells, a Canadian wedding magazine, invited its readers to share some stats about their wedding. Fifteen hundred of them obliged, resulting in the following facts and figures:

The Canadian bride is 29 years old when she gets engaged, and close to three-quarters of all brides-to-be are living with their fiance when he pops the question. Most proposals occur between December and February, with the weddings following up to ten months later, most between July and September.

Close to two-thirds of couples pay for their weddings themselves, and though they thought it would cost them around $17,000, in fact it generally cost something over $25,000. Isn't that always the way?

If you're a Canadian bride, check out the full list of statistics at Wedding Bells, and see how your plans and budget compare!

via: Canada.com

It's a ... veil??? Whatever it is, it can't be comfortable. And, unlike those shoes which are worth the pain because they're just soooo gorgeous, it's not even pretty. In fact, this is just ... silly.

Which is a shame, because the Jean-Paul Gaultier gown underneath that monstrosity is worth a second glance. Which it won't get. How could it, when no one will see anything but the wires and the crash helmet?

Oh, well. At any rate, she won't have to worry about her wedding hair. Though honeymoon hat-head might be an issue...

via: Oddly Enough (Check out the link. It's funny!)

If you're going to do the traditional mother-son dance, you'll need to be considering just your musical options, and as you do you'll want to take mom into account. No fair forcing her to dance to music that you forced on her as a teen (which we're pretty sure you've outgrown by now anyway, right?). Nor should you be trying to get her to groove to stuff you love which leaves her cold.

Though there's room for musical compromise, the odds are good that you'll be dancing to something that sits firmly on the "Oldies" section of the shelf. And that's all right. Cool and cutting-edge though you may be, if there's a time to trip the very traditional fantastic, the mother-son dance is it. Besides, that oldies stuff is generally pretty easy to dance to, which could save you both a heap of embarrassment. We doubt you and mom have spent many hours dancing together, at least not since she gave you a few pointers the night before your Senior Prom.

Okay, guys, it's your turn. Will you be having a mother-son dance? And if so, what music have you chosen, or are you considering?

Those of you who dream of being the perfect fairytale princess will be thrilled to with Disney Bridal. Designer Kirstie Kelly has devised a collection of gowns based on the six "Disney Princesses": Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, Jasmine, Ariel, and Belle. Each princess has inspired two or three styles of bridal gown, two or three gowns for bridesmaids (called "maidens"), and for flower girls (aka "blossoms").

(And the men? Sorry. There are no fairy-tale princes in this story. And maybe, not being one for peach satin tights and knee pants, you're just as pleased about that, Sir Groom-to-Be...)

The bridal gowns are all full-length, but the bridemaid and flowergirl dresses come in long and shorter styles -- though not each style has both lengths. Check out the gallery for a taste, and then hop over to Disneybridal.com for the full range!

via: Canada.com

Weddings have always been the bride's Big Day. Down through the generations, women have ruled this day, and the men nodded and smiled, wrote checks, and showed up on time wearing what they were told. Lots of men still do that, and are perfectly happy to be out of the craziness.

Not all men, though. Some men, more of you each year, want to be more than mere props in what is, arguably, one of the most important days in your life, too. You might not approach that day exactly like your bride does -- and vive la difference! we say -- but you're interested, and you want information.