Added: 01/13/2006 |
Wedding giftsBridesmaids and maids of honor have a great deal of responsibility in preparing for a wedding, so it is traditional for the bride to express her gratitude with thoughtful gifts.
You should keep a few things in mind when choosing wedding gifts:
-The maid or matron of honor usually receives something a bit more lavish, than the bridesmaids and/or flower girl.
-The rehearsal dinner is a popular time to bestow thank-you gifts upon your attendants, but you can also do so at a special gathering of "the girls."
-The bridal party can end up nearly as exhausted, as the bride and groom with all the planning and preparing for the wedding. Consider giving relaxation-themed gifts, like certificates to a local spa.
You should spend whatever you can afford on your attendant presents. Here are some innovative ideas for bridesmaid gifts that are sure to be appreciated.
A day at the spa - Give you maid of honor and the rest of the bridal party a chance to unwind with a massage, wrap or facial, either before or after the wedding.
Magazine subscriptions - Sure, it's not particularly a wedding gift, but giving your friends a subscription to their favorite magazines makes it easy to customize the gift to each person's individual taste. They'll surely appreciate this gift, that is more than a piece of jewelry or accessory that they'll only use on the day of the wedding.
Accessories they can use again - For example, give each member of your wedding party an elegant silk scarf in a different shade that they can wear at the wedding, and after the wedding. Cute purses can also be a fine wedding present. They don't necessarily have to be identical, as long as they keep with the overall decorating scheme of the wedding.
Customized photo albums - Buy a nice little photo album - or better yet, make your own scrapbook - for each of your attendants. Customize each one with photos of the two of you and the good times you had together - back in your single days. Each of your bridesmaids will appreciate the personal touch.
Personalized make-up kits - If you plan to have your attendants' make-up done professionally, note the colors that work best with each person's complexion, purchase the make-up, and then package each set in a cute gift box or a make-up bag.
As it was already said, it's important to remember the bridesmaids and maid/matron of honor, but what about the groomsmen? Sure, they either do not want to be buried in oblivion. By the way, groomsmen gifts are a way to express appreciation for their moral (or immoral, depending on what happened at the bachelor party) support.
You have to remember a few things about groomsmen gifts:
-Gifts are typically presented at the rehearsal dinner.
-The best man should receive something a little fancier, than the rest of the pack.
-Many grooms choose to give their attendants something to wear during the ceremony, such as cufflinks or watches (to make sure they show up in time!).
Groomsmen gifts can range in price from inexpensive to elaborate; it all depends on the groom's budget. Here are some ideas the groom could consider.
A day at the barber shop - The morning before the wedding, take your groomsmen to an old-fashioned barber shop and treat them to a hot lather shave and hairline trim. If they're secure enough in their manhood, they might even enjoy a nice manicure. This will give them time to chill out before duty calls, and also ensure that they look spiffy at the wedding. You can even give each attendant an old-fashioned shaving kit as a supplementary gift.
Silk ties - If your groomsmen will wear suits, present each one with a designer black tie to wear at the wedding.
Magazine subscriptions – This wedding present is even more useful for groomsmen that for bridesmaids, taking into consideration, that women have less time to read due to their housekeeping duties. Unless they are not burdened with marriage. Giving each of your groomsmen a subscription to their favorite magazine presupposes that you are a true friend and never forget about your pals’ tastes and favors.
Customized CDs - Put together a customized song list for each of your groomsmen, including songs that you guys may have partied to gather in the past, as well as other songs that you know they'd like, and burn them onto a CD. Print out custom covers for each CD case and present them to your friends.
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