Gift Ideas

One of the great things about being a bride, other than marrying the man of your dreams, is that you get to be queen for a day. And in doing so, you get to haven an entourage of best friends and attendants that go through every step of the planning process and actual wedding with you. This entourage, of course, is compromised mostly of your bridesmaids, bridesmen, flower girls and general attendants. By agreeing to the honour of being included in your special day, they also agree to listen to you endlessly talk about wedding plans, complain about the caterer, help you plan your 'surprise' bridal shower, help you bundle up hundreds of tiny cake squares, and inevitably put up with late night, tearful phone calls over the fact that the tablecloths you ordered are all wrong. Now those are tried and true friends - and they deserve a little reward for their faithful servitude.

To show your gratitude, it is customary to give your bridal party a gift, but what do you give them that they will like and that won't break your already fragile bank account? Going out and just buying anything without putting much thought into it is not what you want to do. Besides, you know that they will just keep it in the closet and only take it out when you visit. It is a waste of money and doesn't show your loyal friends that you really are grateful for everything they have done for you.

The best thing to do is to personalize. Sit down with your groom or your mother; make a list of your attendants and think of each one individually. The big pay-off for you will be that giving a personalized gift will ensure that the recipient won't care about the pricetag and will feel special that you thought of her in that way. Even something as simple as a nice picture frame intended for a picture of you and your attendant enjoying the wedding is a thoughtful keepsake. Consider their hobbies and personalities and you won't fail. For example, tickets to a local concert or theater events are great gift ideas for someone who is outgoing and loves the arts, while a gift certificate to a nice restaurant is suitable for someone who enjoys dining out. Do they like outdoor events? Offer to take them camping - drive and bring the food. Other ideas include creative gift baskets, small vases, clocks, and spa items (bath oils, soaps, etc). Write a poem that expresses how you feel about the individual and put it in a nice frame. Whatever you choose to do, all your gifts for your bridesmaids should be of equal value, and all gifts for your hubby's groomsmen should also be of equal value whenever possible. A little creativity and thoughtfullness can go a very long way.

IT'S ALL IN THE PRESENTATION

Presentation of a gift is almost as important as the gift itself. First, be sure to enclose a short, personalized note thanking the individual for the important role he or she played in your wedding and mention any details that you especially appreciated. Second, be sure to elegantly wrap the gift. Nice paper, bows, and tissue paper help to make a nice gift even more charming. Some couples opt to incorporate the wedding colors into the gift-wrap, tissues and bows, which is a fabulous idea.

Due to the intimate setting of a rehearsal dinner with your family and closest friends, some couples prefer to present the gifts then. Other appropriate times may include a small gathering or party for your wedding group the week before the wedding, or in a private setting where you can express your gratitude to each participant individually.

Make room on your gift shopping list for all the other people who have given time and love to make your day unforgettable:

YOUR PARENTS

As a token of appreciation for all they have done in raising and supporting you, a special gift can symbolize your continued ties, even though you are now starting your own family. Only you know them best so think of what they might like to get from you that may not necessarily be of monetary value but rather sentimental. A nicely framed photo from the wedding, a letter expressing your gratitude, a silver or pewter plate or bowl with your names and wedding date engraved into it. Speaking from experience, I put together a DVD full of pictures of me and my parents and family over the years from the time I was a baby until the day close to the wedding, and set it to some nice music. It was inexpensive and was also a nice way to remind myself of just how much my family means to me.

FLOWERGIRLS AND RING BEARERS

These children add such a sweet touch of innocence to your wedding ceremony and they are usually thrilled to be a part of such an important event. While they generally do not play a large part in the planning aspects of the wedding, they do often spend a lot of time practicing for their 'big and important role' in your wedding. It is generally customary to give them a small token of appreciation to commemorate their special role. Ideas could include a framed photo ofhim or her with you on your wedding day, a small collectible, a small item of jewellery, a stuffed animal. or a pretty hair clip.

BEST MAN AND USHERS

These are the people who will throw the bachelor party, help your husband-to-be with his tuxedo, help with honeymoon arrangements, walk family and friends to their seats during the ceremony, and take care of whatever mental tasks that usually need to be performed. They may travel a long distance to make the wedding, and will most likely rent their tuxedo to match the rest of the wedding party. It is therefore a nice gesture to thank them with a small gift. The Best Man generally received a gift of greater value, but this is not mandatory. Ideas include deck clocks, business card holders, photo frames, key chains, pocker watches, Swiss Army products, high quality pens or pen sets.

As the saying goes. "the devil is in the details" and that includes giving thought to all the special people that will be part of this beautiful day and will live on in photos, videos and memories forever.