Wedding Party Gifts
Whether you’re a betrothed couple wondering what sort of favours to buy for your guests, or wedding party, or a wedding guest, unsure what to buy the happy couple as a wedding gift, the market is full of great options. Often personalised, favours let your guests know that you appreciate their attendance and their support, while wedding party gifts can range from his ‘n’ hers towels to a contribution to the honeymoon fund. If the bride-and-groom-to-be have issued a wish-list or a gift registry notice, then buying the wedding present will be an easy enough job.
The happy couple themselves have plenty of gifts to buy, too. These can range from toys and games for any children attending the ceremony, jewellery for the bridesmaids or maid of honour, and of course something special for proud parents. Some couples also like to give out smaller, comedy presents at the stag or hen night, which are often tied into a party game or activity. Gifts don’t have to be expensive, either – as long as they’re personal, and chosen with love, your gift budget is irrelevant.
If you’re a guest invited to attend a wedding, then you don’t have too much to plan for – clothes and transport, and you’re just about finished. Don’t overlook the wedding present, though! Some couples will publish a wish-list – a collection of items they would like to receive as wedding gifts – or a gift registry – the same, but chosen from the stock of a specific retailer – which makes your job a lot easier! Simply pick something from the list, and present it to them on the special day.
Sometimes, couples will explicitly state that they don’t want wedding gifts at all – preferring instead that guests make a contribution to their honeymoon fund. A cheque or voucher might not seem overly traditional or personal, but it’s the decision of the bride-and-groom-to-be. If they haven’t made it that simple for you, however, then the same advice offered to the marrying couple below can help you pick out something meaningful.
Picking out the right favours for your guests isn’t always straightforward. Some couples prefer to choose something unique for each guest – but with time in such short supply when planning a wedding, this isn’t always practical. Seasonal favours are a good alternative, based on the time of year or location of the wedding. Beach weddings, for instance, or weddings held in the Summer might include miniature bucket-and-spade combinations for the children, starfish-shaped bottle stoppers for the men and carved seashell cardholders or stationary for the women. This is just an example of course, but these are the kinds of tasteful favours that can be purchased in bulk at a reasonable price.
Often the easiest guests to buy for are the children. Tiny champagne-shaped bubble wands, simple puzzles like rubik’s cubes, and ‘bridal barbies’ are all tried and true options, but ultimately it depends on the tastes of the children in question. If you’re unsure how a particular favour would be received by the child, drop their parents a line, and ask.
Some couples, aside from the generic gender-determined favours for guests, choose to pick out unique gifts for their wedding party – bridesmaids, groomsmen, the best man and the maid of honour. From the classic picture frame to jewellery, these small tokens of appreciation are often accompanied by a note detailing the newlyweds’ gratitude and love, and are often presented during the groom’s speech.
The parents of the happy couple also traditionally receive a special gift each, in return for their love, their help, and their support (both in an emotional and a monetary sense!) Often these tokes will mirror the wedding party gifts – jewellery for the mothers, cufflinks for the fathers – but it gives a special, more personal feel if the parents are given something unique. Potted orchids are an excellent choice – they make for a beautiful presentation ceremony, and (if properly cared for) are long-lived.
If you’re having a traditional lads-only stag night, or a girls-only hen ‘do, you might like to combine the giving of presents with party games or activities. Individual shot-glasses, inscribed or decorated, are a popular choice, since they fit the theme of the evening, and can immediately be used to toast the bride or groom-to-be.
Engraved gifts add a very personal touch to any occasion, and are a popular choice of gift for the wedding party. The recipient’s name is usually included with a message of thanks from the gift-giver, and sometimes the personalisation is extended to include details of the event, a personal message or a picture. Personalisation is just another way of showing your appreciation to your guests, or to your hosts.
As stated above, cost of a gift doesn’t matter. Obviously if you decide to splash out on jewellery or personalisation, you’ll be required to pay extra, but none of these options are essential. If your wedding budget is too tight to allow for extravagant gifts, there are plenty of cheaper alternatives that are no less meaningful. Why not have a favourite quote or song lyric printed and laminated, in the colours of your wedding? These simple, inexpensive gifts make perfect bookmarks, and are easily customised around the identity of the recipient.
The most important factors in buying wedding gifts, both from a guest’s perspective, and from that of the bride and groom, are personality and meaningfulness. Cost doesn’t matter, though traditionally a little extra is spent on the gifts for the wedding party, and there are plenty of effective gift choices that won’t cost you the earth. If you can afford it, think about having your gifts personalised, so that they mean that little bit extra – whether it be to a bride, a groom, a bridesmaid, groomsman, best man, maid of honour or a parent.
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