As anybody planning a wedding can attest, wedding planning would be a nightmare without the help of family and friends. These are the people who give you advice when choosing your wedding gown, help you assemble your wedding favors, and lend a sympathetic ear when the stress gets to be too much. Show your loved ones how much their help has meant to you by presenting them with a thoughtful gift as a token of your appreciation.
Here are some unique (and affordable) gift ideas for everyone from your parents and in-laws to your bridal party:
His or Her Parents
No matter how involved they have been, make your future in-laws feel special by giving them something memorable and unique to them. If your in-laws are wine connoisseurs, give them a bottle from their favorite vineyard along with a handwritten card. If you know that your future dad is into outdoorsy activities, you could give him an engraved swiss army knife. Likewise your future mother in-law might appreciate a scrapbook filled with pictures of a special event. Get creative and if all else fails, ask your future spouse what they like to do and you might get some good ideas on a great gift.
Your Parents
Your parents have probably been just as stressed with wedding planning as you've been. Aside from that, they might have to get used to the fact that they will probably have less time to see you on an individual basis. With that in mind, give your parents a night (or two) to spend with you doing something you all love without any wedding talk, whether it's playing a rousing game of scrabble or taking in a baseball game. Write them a heartfelt letter telling them how much you care about them and how much their help has meant to you and present it along with a picture of you and your parents at the end of your familial date. It's a great way to remind your family that you will always be around, even if you'll be officially married shortly.
Your Flower Girl or Ring Bearer
Since little girls and little boys have the tendency to lose things, give them their own personalized candy jars
with some jelly beans or chocolate inside. If you know their favorite color, you could even get the candy in all pink or blue. When the candy is finished, the kids can then use the containers for their small toys.
Your Bridesmaids
As the saying goes, "Diamonds are a girl's best friend." In this case, present your best girls with an affordable, yet worthy substitute. Swarovski crystal bracelets
would make great bridesmaid gifts
because most "girls" love jewelry and they are versatile enough to be worn for both the wedding and any other special occasion.
The great thing about choosing Swarovski crystals as bridal party gifts
is that they come in a variety of colors, so you can pick the best color for each girl and truly make them unique.
Along another line, you could also get your girls something that fits into their lifestyles. For example, if they like yoga, get them some personalized yoga mats or bags. For the bookworm, get her a first edition copy of her favorite book, or a novel you think she might enjoy, along with a personalized bookmark.
Your Groomsmen or Best Man
When choosing groomsmen gifts, be sure to keep their lifestyles in mind. Engraved cufflinks
are perfect for the young professional and are probably something that he would never buy for himself. Your fiance's college buddy would probably love to have some personalized pilsner glasses
and for the beer aficionado you could subscribe him to a beer of the month club or something similar.
Your Maid or Matron of Honor
Your maid or matron of honor has probably seen you through some of the toughest times in life, as well as throughout the planning process. When choosing her gift, make sure it's something extra special and that conveys just how much her help has meant to you.
If you're a crafty bride-to-be, assemble a scrapbook filled with pictures, letters, and tickets from your good times together. You might consider planning a weekend for you both to indulge in some best girl time, such as a trip to the spa or even something adventurous like some snowboarding lessons. If you're on a tight budget, get her a little keepsake that references a great shared memory and give it to her after some bonding time over movies and wine.
Whatever you pick for your bridal party, remember that it's the thought that counts. You don't have to buy designer products to truly show everyone how much they have all meant to you.