One of the things a bride has to worry about when it comes time to get married is attendant gifts. The groom will also want to get these for the guys he asked to stand up with him on his wedding day. There are a lot of things you can get, and you really have to take some time to consider your attendants before you buy for them. They may like the traditional attendant gifts, but they may also really appreciate something different. In reality, you don’t have to buy something that everyone usually buys, you can get them whatever you want.
When I was a bridesmaid for one of my friends, her attendant gifts were pretty traditional, but I loved them all the same. She got us each a necklace and earrings that went with our dresses. The color was a good one, and I have used the necklace time and time again. My husband stood up with the groom, and his attendant gifts were gift certificates to Red Lobster. Again, another great a useful idea.
When you are looking for attendant gifts, don’t be afraid to go with something that you know will be useful. Some people like to give beer mugs and wine glasses with the names of their attendants on them, but make sure you aren’t giving these to people who don’t like to drink much. Just the same, if you have a lot of girlfriends who never wear makeup, gift bags from Mary Kay might not be a good idea either.
If you like the idea of gift certificates as attendant gifts, you are going to make everyone pretty happy as long as you give them something useful. Restaurant certificates are always a good idea, just make sure you choose a restaurant that is near everyone. If you want to go with a gift certificate for shopping, choose a national chain that you are sure everyone can get to or they won’t be able to use their gift.
To give unique and special attendant gifts, you can make up a special gift basket for each one that is made just for them. Think of things they like to eat or things they like to do, and fill a basket with related items for each one of the. When you do this, you are giving a gift that was obviously made just for them. Not only will they love it, they may also remember how wonderful your gift was when it comes time to give you something for being in their wedding.
One of the worst things about receiving a wedding invitation is to discover that there isn’t anything indicating where the couple has registered. It is even worse when you do some research and a friend or relative says that they have decided not to register. Now, you’re faced with the task of shopping for wedding presents. You may not have a clue as to what the couple already has or what they would need as a gift.
Perhaps you are all too happy to end up getting a gift certificate for the couple. Speaking from personal experience, getting gift cards and certificates as wedding presents is actually rather pleasant. My husband and I are so intent on saving money and paying off our debts that we rarely enjoy an evening out of the house. We received so many gift certificates as wedding presents that we could eat at different restaurants throughout the year. I always recommend getting a gift certificate for a restaurant. Give the couple an evening out and a night free from cooking and washing dishes. Gift certificates to a particular store or a mall are always welcome but often times the guests hesitate to go with that gift idea because it doesn’t seem personal. That is true, giving money or gift certificates isn’t always as personal as a gift. However, giving a gift that will go unused or become a duplicate certainly isn’t ideal either.
If you simply don’t know what might make an ideal gift, you can get gift certificates for things other than shopping or a restaurant. If you know that the couple enjoys theater, perhaps you can get them tickets to an upcoming show or event. A certificate for an overnight stay at a romantic bed and breakfast would make for some wonderful wedding presents. If there is a spa nearby, see if you can purchase a package for couples to be pampered together. There are lots of places that will eagerly give a gift certificate if you have the creativity to look around you and be resourceful. What about a class for cooking or dance? Perhaps there’s some sort of class that they would enjoy taking together but never bothered to look into taking.
Other people like to take the more traditional approach to wedding presents. They’ll buy unique candles or picture frames, perhaps something personalized for the couple. Those traditional items are always appreciated as well but they might be given in an overabundance. In my household, I can’t ever have enough of candles or picture frames but personalized items are a bit strange to me.
Shopping for wedding presents can be a challenge. You just may end up finding the perfect gift that will be appreciated for years to come. Of course, you need to put a bit of thought and research into finding that gift.
