How to Choose Gifts for Your Wedding Party

Many couples present gifts to show their appreciation to the wedding party. Often presented at the rehearsal dinner, these gifts are frequently the same for everyone. But you can make it more meaningful by picking personal gifts and opting to give them at other times, when the moment is better shared.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Embroidered Robes
• Journal
• Jewelry Boxes
• Picture Frames
• Piggy Banks
• Boxes Of Chocolates
• Cocktail Shaker
• Magazine Subscriptions
• Event Tickets
• Gift Certificates
• Stationery
• Children's Cameras

1. Make a budget and stick to it. If you give different gifts to each person, make sure they're all in the same price range.

2. Keep the person's interests in mind. Your best man who owns a closet full of T-shirts might not have much use for monogrammed cuff links - but he might really love a pair of tickets to a hockey game.

3. At the bachelor party, give each groomsman an engraved tankard, leather wallet, magazine or club subscription, monogrammed coasters, or event tickets.

4. Thank each bridesmaid with a birthstone locket or earrings, a fancy journal, a personalized jewelry box, a day at a spa, a cookbook and a neat kitchen gadget, elegant stationery, a charm bracelet, or some decadent chocolates in a pretty box.

5. Reward your ring bearer or flower girl with a unique gift that's suited to the age and interests of the child. A camera, watch, personalized piggy bank, stuffed animal, charm bracelet, or tickets to the movies, circus, or a baseball game are just some ideas. Ask the parents for their thoughts.

6. Present your maid of honor's gift at the final dress fitting and the best man's at a special guys-only outing. Jewelry is a safe bet, but also consider engraved cocktail shakers, a monogrammed watch, an embroidered robe, a frame, crystal decanters, a sculpture or framed print from a favorite artist, or a monogrammed set of bath towels.

7. Do something special if a couple has helped you out. Make a basket for them with a pair of big mugs, hot chocolate mix, lift tickets, and a bottle of peppermint schnapps, or set them up in a bed and breakfast for a nice getaway.

Tips & Warnings

• Fall back on gift certificates for the really hard-to-buy-for.
• Don't forget item-of-the-month clubs (beer, chocolate, flowers, etc.). These make enduring and unforgettable thank-you gifts.
• You know your friends better than any gift guide. Use your creativity to make your gift unique.

on 11/22/2005 Buy fancy bathrobes and slippers for the girls to wear to get their hair done the morning of the wedding and to enjoy long after the wedding is over.

on 11/22/2005 I was able to find a good quality (and cool) earings for all of my bridesmaids by shopping around for a few months - had I waited until the last minute I would have had to spend alot more money.