Holiday Gifts for the Bride-To-Be
by Karen
There are many holidays ahead and if you’re anything like us, you’re probably already shopping for gifts for your relatives. If a girlfriend or close relative is getting married soon, this gives you a special reason to treat her to an extraordinary gift.
Choosing a memorable gift with personal meaning is not an easy task. It’s less about the money you spend than the time and thought you put into choosing the gift. Our ideas will help you find just the right gift for the bride-to-be.
1. Gift Certificate
A gift certificate is a thoughtful present that the bride-to-be can use at any convenient time. In addition to the timeless favorites of cosmetics, lingerie, and jewelry stores, you can present a certificate to a beauty salon or spa. The bride-to-be will appreciate the pampering.
2. Fulfilling the Dream
A wedding is a great opportunity to give your girlfriend something that she has always wanted, but has been hesitant to do for herself. Has she dreamed of learning to dance or how to parachute from an airplane, but has been too afraid to try? This is why best friends are needed! Give her the gift of a new experience and she will always remember it.
3. Professional Photo Session
Beautiful professional photos are a luxurious gift for any bride-to-be. Let your friend decide for herself whether to have her photos taken solo or with someone else. She could have the photos taken with her intended in the form of a love story, or choose her own theme. Some brides will choose to have the photos taken before the wedding. Others will want to wait until after the celebration when they will not be so busy and will be able to prepare for the experience.
4. Something Useful
We don’t encourage you to give your friend something too practical, like a frying pan or an iron: she will receive plenty of these. A functional gift can be useful without being dull and boring. Think of a skill or activity she and her future husband will enjoy together. Try a set for making sushi, a master class for cooking with a restaurant chef, or a picnic basket with dishes and a soft rug. The main things to take into consideration are the bride’s preferences.
5. Gift Yourself
Something handmade can be a special choice for the bride-to-be. The bride will appreciate a framed romantic drawing or a throw blanket with the embroidered names of the bride and groom. If you do choose to make a gift yourself, make sure it is professional quality to avoid embarrassment. One unique idea is to make a collage album of photos of the bride and groom with tips and wishes for their upcoming marriage written in multi-colored pens. These gifts are limited only by your imagination.
6. Underwear
If you are especially close to the bride, lingerie can be a special and traditional gift. Styles range from classic and elegant to passionate and romantic. If you are not sure of her size, you could limit yourself to accessories, from traditional garters to boudoir dress.
7. Wedding Travel
Make a big impression by contributing to the cost of wedding travel. If you can coordinate with the bride’s family and are sure the couple has not paid for the honeymoon themselves, you could purchase a ticket yourself. If you aren’t sure of their plans, an airline gift certificate can be used at any time. If you are purchasing tickets for overseas travel, make sure the couple can arrange for passports and visas.
8. Personalized Gift
Many items can be engraved with the bride and groom’s names for a personal touch. Glasses, mirrors, and pendants are a few examples. Such a gift can be used and enjoyed for many years to come.
9. Household Appliances
Although we don’t recommend buying an ordinary household item, it is worth looking into which large and small household appliances are needed. These include toasters, vacuum cleaners, aerogrilles, multivarques, and juicers. Coordinate with the family and other guests to make sure there are no repeat presents.
10. Box with Butterflies
Impress the couple with your creativity by giving them a box of living butterflies. Butterflies are the ancient symbol of the soul and of the Greek goddess Psyche. When the butterflies are released, they will bring the young couple happiness.
11. Money
The most traditional wedding gift is money: you can start with the amount that would cover a regular gift and go up from there. You can surprise the bride and groom with a round sum to cover some wedding and honeymoon expenses. It’s a nicer surprise to receive an envelope with a monetary gift than the 25th service or the 8th set of bed linens. If you decide to give money, try to think of a more creative presentation than the traditional envelope. You could tuck a bill into each opening of a photo album and make some suggestions as to how to spend the money. Some examples include a mink coat, a new refrigerator, or the down payment on a car.
12. Album of Memories
If you have a long friendship with the bride, surprise her with the warm and memorable gift of a photo album of treasured memories. Share the special moments you have experienced with her over the years.
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