Gift to Groom and Bride

Glen_Quagmire

I am a groomsman at my friends wedding in the summer and trying to think of good gift for the groom and bride.

The obvious choice is money in a card but I imagine 95% of people will be giving money so I was thinking of getting something more memorable which they could have for a long time or use and have fun with.

Also, what would be the norm to be spending on the gift from a groomsman to the groom and bride?

Any suggestions?

joeyboy12345

I think cash is king these days!i know id prefer it,its very hard to buy something that the couple will love so save your money and give them the cash!
And dont be fooled,some of their guests will give them neither cash or a gift so they could be very glad of yours!

Arbiter of Good Taste

Glen_Quagmire wrote: »

I am a groomsman at my friends wedding in the summer and trying to think of good gift for the groom and bride.

The obvious choice is money in a card but I imagine 95% of people will be giving money so I was thinking of getting something more memorable which they could have for a long time or use and have fun with.

Also, what would be the norm to be spending on the gift from a groomsman to the groom and bride?

Any suggestions?

Go with cash. I've just spent half the morning dusting in the sitting room as I've had to pick up and dust around way too many candle holders and picture frames because so many people gave us a "thoughtful" gift.

Alternatively, a blue book voucher is always nice and will give them an opportunity to go stay somewhere nice once the honeymoon is over.

Give what you can afford. Amount really depends on how close you are to the couple I would say. Also, if the couple are covering costs like your accommodation and suit, then you might want to give a bit more.

Glen_Quagmire

I was thinking maybe a watch for each of them or book a weekend away with a hotel for them?

Arbiter of Good Taste

Glen_Quagmire wrote: »

I was thinking maybe a watch for each of them or book a weekend away with a hotel for them?

Watch is a terrible idea. People have their own tastes and may not like what you choose. Also, unless you are planning on stretching to an Omega or Tag Heuer, why would you assume they would prefer something you give them to something they probably already have.

Hotel is better. But why not go with a blue book voucher? Then they can choose where to go themselves. While one person might think a weekend in, say, Kerry, is great, others might hate battling the weekend traffic and prefer something closer to home.

blondchick

If they don't already have one would you consider a good camera. They would have it for honeymoon and all other events in their future life together.

stickybookmark

We got some vouchers as wedding presents including one for a Spa hotel. Great idea for a present in my opinion.
We got a 150 voucher for Arnotts, a 200 voucher for Kilkenny shop, a 200 voucher for a spa hotel and a 250 voucher for a consultation with an interior designer (all from different guests obviously). We have a kid so the hotel was close to babysitters (i.e. grandparents) perfect for us but if they don't have kids you could pick a spa hotel anywhere in the country really.

The hotel voucher was great coz it forced us to have a night away, money is also very much appreciated as a present but it gets swallowed into paying for the wedding whereas the hotel voucher forces you to spend it on some quality time away!
I also really appreciated the Arnotts, Kilkenny & Interior designer vouchers but we're buying a house so have a whole house to fill
In terms of the amount depends on whether you're going on your own or as a couple and also depends on your means. People can only give what they can afford!

whiskeyman

stickybookmark wrote: »

The hotel voucher was great coz it forced us to have a night away, money is also very much appreciated as a present but it gets swallowed into paying for the wedding whereas the hotel voucher forces you to spend it on some quality time away!

I'd go with this.
Unless you think they are financially strapped, treat them on a nice hotel / restaurant voucher.
As said above, this will 'force' them to enjoy their time together
It really is lovely, because after a wedding, they'll probably be watching their money, but can then go and treat themselves and also give them more time to talk about the wedding / honeymoon etc...

Milly33

Thinking of gifts that we got I must say one we got that no one else had given us was Mr & Mrs tea mugs love them and use them all the time..

lorenzo87

Glen_Quagmire wrote: »

I am a groomsman at my friends wedding in the summer and trying to think of good gift for the groom and bride.

The obvious choice is money in a card but I imagine 95% of people will be giving money so I was thinking of getting something more memorable which they could have for a long time or use and have fun with.

Also, what would be the norm to be spending on the gift from a groomsman to the groom and bride?

Any suggestions?

Cash.... I am getting married soon myself and although all presents will be greatly appreciated, the cost of a wedding, all the extras and the honeymoon is a huge expense and I think every bit of cash helps an awful lot.

jon1981

Cash. Some might pretend they'd like something memorable just to not sound money hungry but ultimately cash.

*waiting for the "it's their choice to spend the money comments" *

kildareash

One of the best presents we received was a hamper of little things, but so much thought and effort had been put into it. It was funny and personal and useful. Everything had a little tag with the reason it was in the hamper or what it was to be used for written on it.

I can't remember everything that was in but it was stuff like paracetamol (for when we give one another a headache), a minature shopping trolley (so he could practice doing the weekly shop), tea lights and holders (for romantic nights in), matching mugs, 2 little framed pictures of us taken from facebook for our desks in work, how to be a good wife/husband book and a ticketmaster voucher, but you could substitute this for cash or hotel voucher.

Redser87

If they are going somewhere on honeymoon where there is a different currency, you could order whatever you can afford in that currency and put it in a card. It is still immediately useful but shows that you put some thought into it.

cactusgal

A couple ideas:

1. Framed maps. A friend of mine and her now-husband are from different US states. She was given framed antique maps, one of each state. They looked really cool on their wall, and it was a nice symbolism of two people from different places joined together in marriage. This could work if the couple are from different counties.

2. Framed photos. This depends on their family situation, but for my cousin's wedding, I found old black and white photos of her mom and dad's weddings and got them nicely framed, she was very happy with it.

3. Cartoon strip. I haven't actually seen this myself, but a friend was describing it to me and it sounds class. She knows a cartoonist who (when given pics of the bride and groom) drew a cartoon strip of how they met, kind of their love story if you will, and this was framed and given as a gift.

Money is always welcome, but keepsakes, esp something that you'll see every day, is nice too.

Mimojo

Recently got married & we got a few one for all vouchers and store vouchers, and also a voucher for a spa hotel. They are great gifts I feel, and we enjoyed spending the vouchers after the weekend, and will really enjoy getting away for a weekend with the hotel voucher.

Cash is also a good way to go, with all the costs associated, cash gifts were very much appreciated to cover all the expenses.

sillysocks

We got some local currency for where we were going on our honeymoon which felt a bit more thoughtful than 'normal' cash (not that we minded getting cash!!).
Or I've heard of people getting something honeymoon related-maybe arranging a trip or dinner out somewhere that they are going for the honeymoon. If you knew their flights weren't going too early you could book them into the business class lounge in the airport (if it's too early in morning they probably wouldn't want to be getting up even earlier!)

willow tree

A friend of mine was bridesmaid and she rang the hotel the couple were going to on honeymoon and upgraded their bedroom to a suite..i thought that was a really nice surprise. She also organised a few other honeymoon surprises.

Minera

Our groomsman got us a slate with both our surnames and coat of arms on it with the date of our wedding engraved on it! We love it absolutely a most thoughtful and memorable gift. I plan on getting it permanently put onto my kitchen wall whenever I get my house built.

Glitter

Cash is most definitely king, especially if the bride and groom are covering all the wedding and honeymoon expenses themselves.

If you don't want to be too impersonal and are very close to the couple you could offer to pay for a small aspect of the day itself though.

Myself and one of my best friends both paid for the bridal party's hair at each other's weddings. This is nice as it was something we did together then on the morning as we were each bridesmaids for the other.

And one of my wife's bridesmaids paid for the fancy vintage car to take her to the venue as her present. That was really lovely as it was something we had ruled out of our budget as an unnecessary luxury item, but it was totally awesome to have it on the day. And it was kept a surprise til the morning of.

Glen_Quagmire

So the big day is getting close and I still haven't made up my mind.

I'm thinking cash in a card is what they would appreciate more.

Question is how much??

As mentioned before I am the groomsman at the wedding

shortstuff!

Give what you can afford or are comfortable with... my partner was best man last year, we gave 500

SarahMollie

shortstuff! wrote: »

Give what you can afford or are comfortable with... my partner was best man last year, we gave 500

Wow, I guess I've never really thought about this before but €500 is generous, but if its your best friend then maybe.

Did the Bride&Groom pay for the wedding parties accommodation?

Glen_Quagmire

SarahMollie wrote:

Did the Bride&Groom pay for the wedding parties accommodation?

No but they are buying me a tailored suit.. I was thinking about 250 to 300

DavyD_83

Milly33 wrote: »

Thinking of gifts that we got I must say one we got that no one else had given us was Mr & Mrs tea mugs love them and use them all the time..

Was going to suggest this too. Looks like you've decided on cash, but could still tag on something small, personal and useful.

It's something practical that they will have and use (until they eventually break). I think it's nice to actually give something as well as the money (which admittedly is often most wanted/needed).
I have bought these on Amazon, they are nice basic mugs and still get used regularly.

Obviously they're not expensive, so wouldn't suggest giving them as the present.
They'll definitely get enough candle holders, photo frames and things to go on shelves from well meaning relatives, unless you have something specific and meaningful in mind would avoid anything that is intended to be 'displayed'.

Glen_Quagmire

That's a good idea actually, something small and personal with the cash. Just need to see what small gift would be good now...

lainey316

We received a lovely framed graphic with our names and wedding date on it - you'd find similar on etsy quite easily.

donegal.

what an appropriate amount for a bridesmaid or bestman/groomsman to give ?

GingerLily

donegal. wrote: »

what an appropriate amount for a bridesmaid or bestman/groomsman to give ?

What are your Wedding party related expenses (minus stag/hen)?

stickybookmark

My husband was best man for his best friend 2 years ago and we gave 400 from us as a couple. I take it OP you're going on your own so 250/300 would be generous to give if you're going solo, sounds about right to me.

witchgirl26

When my other half was groomsman for one of his close friends we gave about €300 cash but also got a photo of the wedding done up in a really nice silver frame for the couple. It was a personal gift (and we sussed out the type of frames they liked by looking around their apartment first!) but also the cash that was what they wanted too - having lived together for 5 years they already had all the bits and pieces.