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For the parents, maybe theatre tickets, dinner out at a posh restaurant or, a day at the races.
For those extra special gifts for your bridesmaid, best man and ushers, your local jewellers and specialist gift shops will help you choose items suitable for engraving or that can be personalised as a unique memento of your wedding day. For example, for your bridesmaids: an engraved enamelled trinket box, an item of jewellery or a silver lipstick holder. For the men: silver hip flasks, crystal tankards or engraved cufflinks. For the younger bridesmaids and pageboys, maybe a teddy bear or a rabbit dressed to match their wedding outfit or tickets to a theme park.
BRIDAL FAVOURS
You will want to give a gift or keepsake as a thank you to all your guests.
The giving of a bridal favour, or bonbonniere, by the bride to her guests is Italian in origin. The traditional favour is made up of five sweet almonds representing, health, wealth, happiness, fertility and luck and is wrapped in net, lace or tulle. The choice of design and colour can create an excellent way of following through a theme.
In fact the favour, or memento, can be whatever you want; miniature bottles of spirit, boxed chocolates, candles, key rings, crackers or party poppers, ceramic pots of tiny flowers in bud.
Personalised with your names, all these will make a lovely memento of your wedding.
DISPOSABLE (SINGLE USE) CAMERAS
It is the fly-on-the wall shots of your reception that will give you the most surprises. You are sure to miss things going on, but someone quick enough will capture it for you.
Leaving a disposable camera on each table gives your guests the opportunity to add their contribution to your special day. Always nominate someone to be responsible for collecting them up at the end of the day and arrange processing whilst you are on honeymoon, itll be another treat to look forward to on your return.
WEDDING GIFT & WISH LISTS
Your Wedding Gift List is your chance to fill your home with coordinated things. Take time to choose the styles and colours you will love for a lifetime.
Traditionally, the Gift List helped couples to set- up home together. However, nowadays, with many couples already living together, organising a list is essential to avoid receiving something you already have. Sending your list with your invitation is quite acceptable as not only do you create a worry free, more enjoyable shopping experience for family and friends, you are also more likely to receive your preferred gifts.
You can set up a Wedding Gift List with independent
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retailers, department stores, DIY outlets, and through specialist on-line wedding gift companies. From their product ranges you choose the gifts you want to be included on your individual list. Family and friends can then either visit the store, order on the phone or on the internet.
The supplier will then administer this list for you, deleting gifts purchased and noting who bought what, ready for your thank you cards. Gifts will then either be delivered to your guests or to you. (Most specialist wedding list suppliers will allow you to exchange items before they are delivered to you.)
Not all your guests will choose to buy from your Gift List; they may already have a gift in mind for you. But at least youve made it easier for everyone else.
Alternatively, rather than a gift list you could have a wish list where monetary contributions are made to a special project, for example, a garden landscape or a professional interior design for a room in your house. Another idea is to contact your travel agent; many offer a personalised gift card service where guests can make contributions to your honeymoon.
They administer the list for you and may even give discounts off your holiday booking.
To the couple who really do have everything, consider setting up donations to your favourite charity and ask a representative of the charity to collect the monies on your wedding day.
So, whether you have a gift list or a wish list or, one of each, accept all gifts with good grace.
GIFT/WISH LIST TIPS
| | Decide on who will provide your Gift List/Wish List well in advance as some companies take only a limited number of clients | | | Decide on the gifts/wishes to be included at least six months before your wedding day and definitely before sending out your invitations | | | Choose gifts from all price ranges. Include some from your wish list - several guests could club together to buy you that sauna for the garden! | | | Ask your venue to provide a safe place for gifts brought along on the day and for a safety deposit box to store any cheques or vouchers you may receive | | | Appoint someone, usually the Best Man, to be responsible for transporting your gifts from your reception to your home | | | Thank you cards should be sent as soon as you receive a gift and certainly within a month. It is more thoughtful to make mention of the specific gift. (Incidentally, thank you cards should also be sent to everyone who played an important part in your wedding day arrangements.) | | | With all these new possessions make sure you are well covered with your household insurance |
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