brutal

Kante

there is no decent advice on this forum regarding the purchase of wedding gifts.

Looking to buy something personal for friends in the 100-130 range.
I think it's best to stay away from the department stores. I think it's best to stay away from the cliched wedding brand names...

ports of call
antique stores
art gallerys(i know only 100 - 130 i'LL be lucky)




any other ideas..
surely there should be a sticky with gift ideass...beerrrrreft is not the word

Seoid

If you want something personal, surely it depends on the couple?

Do they need typical housy gifts? If so but you're not sure, maybe find out from bridesmaids or groomsmen or parents (whoever you know) what they need.

If you're thinking wall hangings, maybe see if you can find a print that suits their personality online? Don't think you can't bargain in the art galleries either - they have a huge mark-up and they've lost a lot of business with the recession so I'm sure you could bargain down a lot if you see a painting you're interested in.

You have to be so careful with art and antiques though as it's such a personal thing.
Handcrafted stuff can be nice too - like a clock or maybe a wine decanter and two goblets?

Kilkenny Design centre is also worth a look.

prinz

Kante wrote: »

there is no decent advice on this forum regarding the purchase of wedding gifts...
...beerrrrreft is not the word

Bereft is the word. beerrrreft is not as you quite rightly pointed out. Ever think of starting a thread on gift ideas? There is a lot of good advice on this forum on gifts etc by the way.

smelltheglove

Theres always something you can get them, I often do something special for them whilst they are away on honeymoon, with my sister I created a fabulous photo book for her which she loves. My best friend became Mrs. Smith and I had a picture made out of the Mr & Mrs Smith billboard poster where I inserted her face into Angelina Jolie and his into Brad Pitt and put it into a box frame.

There are many many different things you can do but it all depends on the couple really and their tastes. If you really want to give them something ont he day how about some sort of memory box? I tend to do a lot of crafty things rather than whopping purchases to show affection and often people will say it is the small things that make a difference.

Are they close? Do you know a lot about them? For my two seperate celebrations I wrote a limerick style poem about the person and included funny pictures of tehm also, this was printed onto an a5 size card and given to all the guests. The second time I had multiple people hand out the cards and explain to the guests not to open them yet, just wait as there would be a speech, the dj handed me the mic and I went on to get everyones attention, the person was unaware until now, and started reading out the poem, this ran into a song that related to the style which was sung by a guest, my husband in fact and the mood just lifted, everyone was laughing and dancing and a great night was had by all.

These things take a lot more thought and work than going to the shop to buy a gift or putting money into a card so they tend to be hugely appreciated also.

whatdoicare

If you want to buy a nice gift for a couple- I always find that a crystal or whatever goes with whats in their house frame for a special wedding photo is always appreciated- though getting married myself I'd appreciate the money more haha.:D My friend gave me a beautiful frame thats a box with lots of panels- I'm saving it for the unusual photos friends and family always manage to take- a lovely reminder of memories without the formality

Repolho

whatdoicare wrote: »

I'd appreciate the money more haha.:D

Do you really though? Sure its great at the time, but I now find that 2 years on we look at the gifts we got and remember "oh yes, X gave us that"!

I usually give a gift and include a gift receipt!

whatdoicare

Repolho wrote: »

Do you really though? Sure its great at the time, but I now find that 2 years on we look at the gifts we got and remember "oh yes, X gave us that"!

I usually give a gift and include a gift receipt!

TBH we have our home and it's fully furnished, so we'd prefer the help with paying for the wedding ( I know it was different before when couples were married and then getting a house after that and gifts were welcome and needed!) - most presents we've gotten from family members and friends (for engagement/ house warming) although appreciated were really useless- We've an engagement vase and two candle sticks which we have no room for (and go with nothing in my sitting room) and will have to lock away once kids come along and one aunt of hubby gave us a dinner and silverware set my nana would have thought was old fashioned (not to sound mean or ungrateful) but that too is in the back of the press as it's far too delicate to use functionally and we don't own a cabinet to display these things ( I don't have the room for one either). Even if they give receipt- you can't really give it back as that relative will notice and be upset- and that's not worth the aggro, lets face it.

The best things we have from that experience is the bed suite hubbys mam gave us money for, couches parents gave me money for and the kitchen table and washing machine/dryer my uncle gave us money for. They were very appreciated and welcome gifts that we bought ourselves from money gifts.

If I want to remember my friends on my wedding I'll do what my friend did and lay out disposable cameras for everyone at each table and then we'll have personal memories of everyones point of view of the day much better! (Her fave photos were ones a very young cousin took of his family and their reactions to the speeches! haha) Also we'll have the relief of being that bit closer to paying off the big day

But sure thats just me and the fiancees experience and thinking on it- I'm sure everyone is different.