Weddings seem to be the perfect time for gifts – both to give and to receive. Often, the to-be-wed couple is showered with gifts. And, many times, the couple gives presents to the people they love as a way to say thanks for the significant roles those people have played in their lives.
Sometimes, gift giving from either said can be tricky (and we mean gifts other than those that can be found on the registry). The bride may have everything, the groom may want nothing. And, every wedding party member in between has a style and taste all his or her own. So, in light of all this craziness, here are some ideas to get your gift giving ideas flowing.
For the Couple:
Luggage – While some couples register for a nice set of luggage, not everyone does. If you’re looking for a gift for a couple that loves to travel or is about to take a fancy honeymoon, this might just be the perfect idea.
Art – I’m a personal fan, but that’s not the case for everyone. If you have a couple that loves art, or is moving into a new place (or redecorating an old one), a nice piece of expressive art could give them a new focal point for the living room or if nothing else, give them a little reminder as to how much you love them every time they look at it. If you go this route, you may want to check out the couple’s new place before making a purchase, or at least get a good feel for their style.
Hobby Items - Is your couple into hiking? Maybe camping, cooking, or water sports? Giving a present that the couple can enjoy together while spending time together is always a plus.
For the Groom:
Work Items - Is the groom you’re shopping for a workaholic? Or maybe he just loves his job! Work-related items like briefcases or super nice pens are great to give and to receive.
Outdoor or Sports Items – Is your groom a nature nut? Sports nut? If you’re a groomsmen or other guy friend of the groom’s, giving a gift that says “hey, you may be married but we can still chill” is always nice – things like camping equipment, fishing gear, or anything else you and your group of guys enjoy together.
For the Bride:
Work Items – If your bride is into her gig, work-related items might be a great option. A laptop case or briefcase, a nice frame or two for her desk, a nice pen or set of stationary…the list goes on. Office supplies are just too much fun, aren’t they?
Hobby Items – If the bride you’re shopping for is into crafts, get her something related to her favorite (knitting, scrapbooking, sewing, etc). Is she the outdoorsy type? Maybe she would enjoy some new gear. You know her better than we do, so go with what you think she would love the most!
For the Groomsmen:
*See “For the Groom”. The ideas are too-easily applied here.
For the Bridesmaids:
I have to say, these are my favorites. Bridesmaids are so fun to shop for because you can go in just about any direction! (Here, we’ll assume you don’t have a sky’s-the-limit budget.)
Unique Jewelry - Unique or not, jewelry is always the perfect gift.
The great thing about it when it comes to bridesmaids is that you can get something different for each woman but stick to a specific price range (there are just SO many options available). I recently heard about The Leakey Collection that has some great pieces for a bridesmaid with eclectic taste!
Pampering Gifts – Your ‘maids do a lot for you. Help them take a load off by giving them a little somethin’ somethin’ to help them relax and destress. A massage, mani/pedi, or even a little basket of goodies (filled with things like bath bombs and sea salts, lotions, candles, etc.). Who doesn’t need and want a little pampering now and then?
Donations - If one of your girls is a die-hard WWF supporter or a Greenpeace member, make a donation in her name. Or perhaps she’s crazy about babies or animals. If the organization’s purpose is something she is passionate about, it may mean more to her than a little something she can wear or use.
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If you’re planning on waving good buy and so long to your guests as you’re leaving your reception, consider doing it in STYLE! Here are some of my top pics. (And please keep in mind, while I like to look at cars now and then, I don’t know too much about them. It may be physically impossible to get your hands on a few of these… unless you have the cash and the connections! Let these simply serve as a little get-away inspiration.)
Vintage Rolls Royce

If you saw one of my
“favorite things” post, you saw this little number. One of my absolute favorites! A 1960 Rolls Royce. Delicious! Picture from
Advanced Limos.
New Rolls Royce

Perhaps you’re looking for something a bit more modern. How about this nice Phantom Coupe? Lovely. (Really, can you go wrong with a Rolls? Actually, yes. Don’t go with something from the 80s…but then again, I’m no expert!!)
Lamborghini

This is one of those “out there” ones. It’s a (or the?) 2009 Edo Competition Lamborghini. Nice and sporty.
Vintage Ferrari

Unless you have a spare $11 million or so, this one may have to stay a dream. This 250 GT California Spyder was in fact purchased for $11 million. Picture and info from
Elite Choice.
Ferrari

Here is a newer Ferrari, a 2009 California.
It’s nice to dream, isn’t it? What kind of vehicle do you see yourselves ridding off into the sunset in?
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I’m not much one for smoking…anything, really. But I do, as much as I may not wish to admit it, like the idea of a cigar bar for a wedding reception.
So what exactly IS a cigar bar? Well, you can kind of fit “it” to your needs. Bring in a cigar roller and have him (or her) work throughout the reception making cigars for your guests (usually the males…). Or, bring in a few boxes of different cigars and set them out, almost like you would a dessert table, and allow guests to brows. If you want to go all out, have an attendant there to assist guests in selecting and preparing the cigars.
Here is an image from Our Wedding Plus showing a roller in action:
And here is a great example of a cigar bar…except these happen to be cookies…made to look like cigars! Fabulous (as cookies OR cigars)! The image is from The Flirty Guide, a fun and flirty wedding and lifestyle guide. The cigar cookie bar idea actually comes from Lea McIntosh.
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Sorry for posting so late in the day! I hope you enjoy. I LOVE this color combination and I think I always will! This color scheme also works well for bridal shower (and baby showers)!
Vida Wedding Dress by Monique Lhuillier, Frill Collar Tunic from Forever 21, Rodarte Pleat Chiffon Dress from Browns Fashion, Light Pink Ombre Beaded Dress and Light Pink Side Sash Dress from Debenhams, Ballet Pink Stretch Linen ‘Mikka’ Shift Dress from Bluefly,Sunset LA Pumps in Green from Raffaello Network, Green Patent Buckle Mary Jane Heel Pump from Ami Club Wear, Kiwi Green Satin ‘Wrap’ Ballet Flats from Bluefly, Topiary Banner from Martha Stewart, Mens’ Suits from Jaeger, Four Tiered Wedding Cake from Enchanted Wedding Cakes, Apple Green Flower Girl Dress from Pink Process, White Lilac, Green-and-White Parrot Tulip, and Ranunculus Arrangement from Better Homes and Gardens, Dandelion Dream Wedding Invitations from Wedding Paper Divas, Silver Glass Charger from Zara Home, Polished Iron Chair from Design Within Reach, Shades of Pink Rose, Lily, and Carnation Arrangement from TeleFlora, Glittra Set of Three Scented Candles from IKEA, Peonie, Fritillaria, Hyacinth, and Sweet Pea Arrangement from Belle Fleur for Vivre.
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It’s preppy. I love it. Check it!

”
Sources: Men’s Suits: Jaeger, Merona Bar Stripe Necktie: Target, Wedding Dress: Vera Wang, Cake: Martha Stewart, Green Dresses: kaboodle, Bellas Florida, Net-A-Porter, Liz Claiborne, Navy Shoes: Kate Spade, jildorshoes.com, Candy Says, Dorothy Perkins, Headband:Target Lilly Pulitzer, Stationary: Crane & Co, Tiny Prints, Grosgrain Ribbon: mohop, Vintage Car: Tweed Limousines, Bouquet: Chestnuts in the Tuileries, Candle Arrangement: Crate & Barrel, Chivari Chair: 1 Stackable Chairs, White Flower Arrangement: teleflora, Gold Charger: Crafts Etc!
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I’ve recently come across some fabulous things in my never ending quest to discover all things wedding that I wanted to share with you.
First, some great wedding party stuff ! Needing a little something for your ladies? Check out this fabulously preppy, monogrammed tote (props to Amanda and her first post!) Fill each with a towel, flip flops, snacks and sun screen and give to your ‘maids right before a relaxing day in the sun on the beach.
Or perhaps you’re looking for some cool groomsman gifts? How about this fabulous Cherry Wood Humidor. Stock full before giving. Enjoy together before the big day.

And finally, maybe you’ve already thanked your wedding party and are looking for a way to show your guests that you love them. Enter: fabulous favors! Need some fairy tale favors? I’m a particular fan of these little pretties that you can use as place card holders and then let your guests take home to use as a photo holder. (I think your female guests might like these a little more than the guys…)

What about for a wine themed wedding? A bottle stopper would more than fit the bill!

And lastly, if you’re looking for any fall wedding favors, check out some more place card holders! (Can you tell, I love these things!) Send them home with your guests!

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Let’s face it. I love stripes. In fact, I love them more than *gasp* polka dots. So, to be fair to my favorite pattern, I had to do a little WeddingFanatic tribute.
Set the mood with the invitations. Stripes often have a formal vibe to them, but mixing up the colors can give them a little funkiness.

Of course, the most delicious part of your wedding day can contain this fabulous pattern. For a more formal affair, try vertical white on white stripes. For a less formal event, keep the white on white and have horizontal or diagonal stripes, or, stick to the verticals but mix up the color.

Why have only cake? Tie in stripes in more than just decoration. These little desserts naturally form stripes. Look for more natural stripes in things like candy and other little treats.

Is there anything better than a guy in formalwear? I think not! If this ties into the look of your day, consider decking out Mr. Perfect in a subtly stripped tux. If you still want him in stripes but the looks just doesn’t work, go for something a little more creative like stripped cufflinks or socks.

Have a wild side? Want to do something different? Like standing out from all of the other brides? Try walking down the aisle in a pair of striped shoes. A ton of brides use their shoes as their “something blueâ€. If they can pull that off, stripped shoes should be a breeze.

A tip from WeddingFanatic: Don’t overdo it. While yes, stripes are a very good thing, too much can be overwhelming. Think of it like this. If you walked into a room with thirty different floral patterns on the walls, furniture and accents, you’d think to yourself, “Who DOES that?!â€. And, be aware of your stripe combination. Don’t use too many at the same time.
Wedding planning is not simple, but finding wedding bands and the best engagement rings can be made simple thanks to Danforth Diamond. They have a huge variety of wedding jewelery and diamonds, and their anniversary jewelry is second to none. Many have positive things to say about their affordable diamonds
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