Gifting the Wedding Party
It's not enough to simply include people in your wedding party; you also have to thank them for their service. When shopping for gifts for your wedding party, consider a memento of the occasion — something useful that they'll have forever. Whenever they use this item, they can say, “I got this from Jane and Tom for being in their wedding. What a great gift this was!” You'll seem wise beyond your years.
For the Bridesmaids
Think about what your bridesmaids are doing for you: They've planned your shower, they've agreed to purchase a dress for your wedding, they're taking time off to spend with you the week before your wedding, they're traveling to your chosen locale to witness your vows and they'll be there to calm your nerves on the morning of the wedding. They're pretty good eggs, these girls, especially if they've done all of this with nary a word of complaint. They deserve a nice reward.
Consider:
Jewelry (earrings or bracelets are especially nice)
A leather-bound, refillable datebook
Monogrammed key chain
Monogrammed note cards
Silver (or leather) picture frame
Gift certificate for a restaurant or favorite shop
Appointment for a massage or pedicure (or both) at your resort
This list includes several potential monogramming gifts. Customizing gifts in this way is a great option, and honestly, a lost passion. When in doubt, monogram it.
E~ssential
Traditionally, the bride also takes her attendants out for lunch in the weeks before the wedding as another means of thanking them for their hard work. If this has to wait until everyone arrives at the resort for the wedding, that's okay too.
Massages and pedicures are more modern ideas for bridesmaids' gifts, but they're a fun twist on a classic tradition. True, your bridesmaids can't pull out the massage years from now and reflect on its appropriateness, but it
For the Groomsmen
Your fiancé should also be prepared to show his appreciation toward his groomsmen for all of their hard work, which probably mostly consisted of listening to the groom talk about how great you are and how lucky he is. They may have planned a killer bachelor party, as well, and they are going to have to travel to the wedding and act charming while they're there (or so you hope).
Some nice gifts for the groomsmen include:
Money clip
Watch
Manly looking picture frame
Travel or shaving kit
Essential sporting or hobby equipment
Again, the goal is to choose something useful and timeless. Talk your fiancé out of the case-of-beer-as-a-thank-you idea. Although it may be useful, it's not timeless. (It also can't be monogrammed, which pretty much says it all.)
E~Fact
Gifts are usually given to the attendants at the rehearsal dinner, but do what works best for you. If you don't want to have to pack the gifts, then plan on handing them out
Parents Are Important
Don't forget about your parents and your fiancé's parents, too. It's a nice gesture to take them out to dinner or to otherwise show your appreciation for all they've done for you during your engagement. Parents sometimes get the short end of the stick here, so make sure you take the time to acknowledge their help and their support. Consider buying them a piece of nice artwork or something for their garden, like a sundial or a birdbath — something that will remind them every day how lucky they are that their children grew up to be so sweet and thoughtful.
Don't Forget the Younger People
Your ring bearer and flower girl also need to be thanked. We're going to forget about timeless and useful gifts and instead focus on something appropriate for the children in question. First, you have to take the child's age into consideration. A typical three-year-old flower girl isn't going to
You might reason that unlike a plastic doll, those earrings are something that she'll have forever, but to her, forever consists of right now and next week. And she
