Wedding Gifts to Remember

There's a proverb about gifts and that is, 'It's better to give than it is to receive.' Now if you ask couples who have had weddings, they'll likely tell you that on their special day, they received some of the nicest gifts ever, so these persons might not concur with this proverb. But whether it's for better or for worse, gifts given by the bride-and groom-to-be are surely part of the wedding tradition.

So who makes up the group lucky enough to be given a gift from the bride and groom? Members of the wedding party top that roster. That includes everybody: best man, maid (matron) of honor, bridesmaids, ushers, groomsmen, junior bridesmaids, flower girls, and ring bearers. It's also a kind gesture for the bride to give a gift to the groom and vice versa, although this is not obligatory.

Nowadays, the bride and groom also include each set of parents on the gift giving roster. And lastly, it's certainly a pleasant gesture to provide a gift to any other individual who did something special during the occasion. On occasion someone will be asked to do a special reading at the ceremony, or to step in for the bride's father and walk the bride down the aisle and these persons should be acknowledged.

The objective of these wedding gifts is to demonstrate your appreciation, not break your wedding budget. A gift that has been specially picked out shows you put thought and consideration into the gift. Including a personalized message with the gift thanks the person for whatever part he or she played and it is definitely a pleasant touch when having the gift engraved with the wedding date and couple's names or initials.

Make sure you have the gifts purchased about 4 weeks prior to the wedding date. That gives you sufficient time to have them engraved and to create your personalized messages. To help the gifts make an even bigger impression on the recipient, take particular care in wrapping them. Use decorated wrapping paper and elaborate bows using colors that complement the wedding colors. The best time to give your gifts is during the rehearsal dinner, as it's intimate, and the people to whom you're giving the gifts should all be present.

Need several gift ideas? Well first check your wedding budget to see how much you have allocated to this category. You've likely spent quite a bit of your cash by this stage, so it's significant to take a practical look. Brides commonly give each member of the bridal party a piece of jewelry or a hair clip that the bride would like her to sport on the wedding day. Other gift ideas include bud vases, picture frames, bath oils, a collectible item or a gift basket. The men in the wedding party like to be given engraved pens, pocket watches, cigars, business card holders, a clock for their desk, or key chains. For the parents, a professional wedding photo in an engraved frame is perfect as is a personalized letter describing your gratitude. For each other, anything that conveys your love and devotion is ideal.