Grooms, are you wondering what to get your bride for her wedding gift?  When trying to think of that perfect gift, consider one that will last a long time.  Clothing will wear out, watches will break and have to be replaced, and trips will soon be over with nothing but memories left as a keepsake.

On my honeymoon night, my husband presented me with a beautiful pearl necklace and earring set.  It is a cherished gift that I still have more than 33 years later.  I’ve worn these beautiful pieces at all of my children’s high school and college graduations as well as each of my daughter’s weddings.  Every time I put them on, they remind me of the look on my husband’s face when he gave them to me.  They have turned into a family heirloom that will be passed down from generation to generation.

A beautiful piece of quality jewelry that won’t go out of style is the perfect wedding gift.  If taken care of, it will last for many years to come and provide you with memories, not only of the day it is received, but new memories each time it is worn.

The amount you spend on a wedding gift ultimately depends on how close you are to the bride and groom and, of course, your finances.  You should never feel obligated to spend a set dollar amount just because it is the ‘thing to do’.  However, if you’re a stickler for etiquette, there are guidelines that you can follow.

If you are a very close relative or friend of either the bride or groom, a gift with a minimum price of tag $100 is not going overboard.   Friends or relatives that are not particularly close should look at spending between $75 and $100.  Distant relatives and coworkers can get away with a mere $50 - $75 gift.  According to some wedding experts, no one should spend less than $50 on a wedding gift. 

Whatever you decide to spend, it is important to remember that it is not proper at all to show up to a wedding without a gift at all.

Remember that these are only guidelines and not rules set in stone.  A gift from the heart that has cost you more time than money can be a treasured item to most newlywed couples. 

Since the beginning of time, girls have started preparing for their married lives long before they ever meet their groom.  Hope chests have been filled and dowries have been put together well in advance of any courtship, engagement or marriage taking place. 

Today’s brides are no different, and with the trend toward getting married at a later age, most women have their households pretty well set up before their wedding.  Therefore, it’s really not a big surprise when newlyweds prefer to receive cash as wedding gifts instead of toasters.

Although it is still considered poor etiquette to request cash on any invitation, it is not improper for close friends of the bride or groom to discreetly spread the word.   Most wedding guests will understand and comply. 

Bridal showers are considered different than weddings, however, and it is still fairly traditional to give a gift instead of cash for a shower.  Therefore, it is a good idea to register for gifts at your favorite local store.  No matter how well set up your new household is, extra towels, bed linens, or kitchen utensils can always come in handy.  If you do receive something you really don’t need, take it back to the store and exchange if for store credit.  The store credit is as good as cash and can come in extremely handy down the road on future necessary purchases.

Newlyweds need so many things when they first start out, such as towels, linens, dishes, glassware, and zillions of other necessary household items.  The choices are overwhelming and you may even worry about duplicating gifts.  The first rule of purchasing a wedding or bridal shower gift is to relax.  Anything you give the couple will be appreciated and if you do happen to duplicate something or choose the wrong color, the item can always be exchanged.  Most stores now give gift receipts which allow the return or exchange of an item without announcing how much was spent on the gift. 

First check to see if the couple has a gift registry at one or more stores.  Even if most of the gifts are already purchased, the registry can give you a good idea of the couples’ decorating preferences and styles.  One gift idea that never seems to go wrong is a picture frame.  I’m not talking about the wedding cake-shaped, white and silver frame that is good only for wedding pictures.  I’m referring to simple wooden frames, maybe even collage frames that allow the couple to decorate their walls with any pictures they choose.  Displaying happy moments from their dating days or their honeymoon is a great way to add character to any room and create a loving environment. 

Many couples have questions regarding the wedding gifts they receive, such as:

Q.:  “Is it proper to exchange gifts if we’ve received duplicate items?”

A.:  It is perfectly acceptable to exchange gifts that are duplicates.  It’s best to wait until after the wedding, and you’ve received most of your gifts before exchanging.  You may end up exchanging one duplicate gift for another duplicate gift.

Q.:  “How can I be sure the wedding gifts brought to the wedding reception will be safe?”

A.:  Most guests will send gifts prior to or after the wedding, however you may want to arrange for a special table or room for any gifts that are brought to the reception.  Ask a close friend to watch over them and periodically check on them.

Q.:  “Is it proper to display gifts already received before the wedding during the reception?”

A.:  Opened gifts may be displayed at the bride’s home, but should never be displayed at the reception.  Checks, of course, should never be displayed.

Q.:  “If we haven’t received a gift from someone we invited, is it proper to mention it to them?”

A.:  It is always improper to ask someone for a wedding gift, even if you feel they had intended to get you something and simply forgot.  Suggesting to someone that they’ve forgotten to give you a gift is more likely to cause hard feelings.  The wedding gift you may receive out of this kind of ‘reminder’ is hardly worth the strain on the friendship.

When purchasing gifts for your bridesmaids or groomsmen, personalization is a great way to express your love and gratitude.  It shows your attendants that you’ve put a little more thought, time and effort into choosing their gifts.  Whether you choose to personalize their gifts with their entire name or just monogram it with their initials, it turns an ordinary present into a true gift from the heart.

For your groomsmen, consider giving items such as keychains, Swiss Army Knives, tie tacs, or pens engraved with their names.  Any bridesmaid would love personalized items such as cosmetic travel cases, jewelry cases, flip flops, or tote bags.

Personalization adds that little something extra that will make whatever you choose to give a wonderful keepsake.

Photo coasters are a unique gift idea that you can customize to fit any celebration.  In a previous blog, I discussed using photo coasters to create a beautiful anniversary gift by framing pictures of special times in a couples’ life together.  Using that same idea, we can incorporate the use of photo coasters for nearly any special event.

If you’re looking for a bridal shower gift, consider using photo coasters and framing pictures that detail the ‘getting-to-know-each-other’ stages of the bride and groom that let to their engagement.

You can give your special Sweet Sixteen this same gift, marking the special times in her young life.  A few ideas can be a baptism, first date, parties, concerts, etc.

Your mother-to-be will love a framed ultrasound picture.  You can also frame pictures of the special mommy, but leave several coasters empty so they can be filled later with pictures of the baby. 

The best part of giving photo coasters is that they make such a practical gift.  They can be used daily, or even put away as part of a trousseau. 

Trying to think of that perfect wedding gift for your husband or wife-to-be can be difficult.  Here’s an idea that may just be what you’re looking for. 

Write a special poem, or if you’re writing your own wedding vows, you can use that.  If you know how to cross-stitch, or know someone who does, have it cross-stitched and framed.  You can even create an open space in the cross-stitch which can be used as a frame for your wedding picture.  Be sure to include names and your wedding date.

This not only makes a wonderfully sentimental gift, but it will be a lifelong reminder of those all-important vows you made on your wedding day.

If you’ve never had to set up a home before, you may have difficulty figuring out what you’ll need to begin your married life.  Any place you live, whether it’s a house or an apartment will need the essentials.  Here’s just a few ideas that you may want to add to your gift registries:

Kitchen ~ Cookware
Baking pans (cake pans, muffin tins, cookie sheets, etc.)
Frying pans (at least one large and one small)
Sauce pans with lids (at least one large and one small)
Cooking utensils (heat resistant spoons, spatulas, etc.)
Measuring cups
Measuring spoons

Kitchen ~ Dinnerware (best to start with a service for eight)
Dinner plates (large)
Salad or lunch plates (medium)
Bread & butter plates (small)
Cups and saucers
Water glasses
Juice glasses
Wine glasses
Serving platter
Serving bowls (at least 2 large)
Soup bowls
Sugar bowl and creamer set
Salt and pepper shakers
Silverware (including spoons, soup spoons, forks, salad forks, knives)
Additional silverware items (steak knives, gravy ladle, slotted spoon, pie server, etc.)
Good sharp knife set

Bathroom Linens
Large bath towels (best to start out with at least four)
Hand towels
Wash clothes
Shower curtain
Bath mat
Decorative guest towels

Kitchen Linens
Dish towels (4 - 6)
Dish clothes
Large formal tablecloth
Cloth napkins (set of eight)

Bedroom Linens
Sheet sets (flat, fitted, and pillowcases) at least 2 sets for each bedroom
Pillows
Blankets
Comforter
Mattress pad

Misc. Items
Coasters
Wastebaskets
Broom & dustpan set
Cleaning products (pot scrubbers, rubber gloves, buckets, etc.)
Clocks
Rugs
Organization tools (shelves, storage boxes, hangars, etc.)

Of course, this is not an exhaustive list, but they do cover the absolute essentials.  As time goes on you’ll discover many other items that you can’t live without.  Starting up a home can be an adventure.  Enjoy!

Photo tile jewelry has become more and more popular recently.  After all, everyone loves having pictures of their loved ones, and putting those same pictures on jewelry is a legitimate way of showing them off to others without being too pushy.  I myself own several photo tile pendants with my grandchildren’s photos and I even have a photo tile keychain with my cat’s picture on it.  Although not too many people comment on my cat, my grandchildren always evoke dozens of admiring comments each time I wear the pendant (which is quite often!).

Wedding Favor Reflections has been selling photo tile jewelry for over a year now and we’ve seen this item go from a novel curiosity to one of our more popular and best selling items.  This is totally understandable.  It makes the perfect gift for Christmas, Mother’s Day, graduations, birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, and any other occasion where a personalized gift would be appreciated.

The cost of these unique pendants can run fairly high depending on who you purchase from.  It’s always best to shop around and look for testitmonials.  Not all photo tile jewelry is created equal.  We’re pleased to work together with an Ohio-based company called Milestones~n~Memories for our photo tile jewelry.  Every piece is handmade and great care is taken to make sure the customer is pleased with their purchase.  Customers are contacted throughout the creation process of their jewelry.  Proofs are sent in various shapes and nothing is made until the customer has given their final approval.  Even with this incredible one-on-one customer service, the price of these one-of-a-kind pieces is extremely reasonable. 

Purchasing photo tile jewelry as a gift for someone else does take a little planning.  Since they are handmade, it can take up to 2 - 3 weeks to receive your item depending on the time of year, but it is well worth the wait.  Photo tile jewelry is definitely gaining in popularity, and with very good reason.  I can’t think of another gift idea that brings as much joy to anyone who receives it!