Bridal Party & Attendant gifts . . .endless options

Buying a gift for the members of your bridal party sometimes can seem overwhelming.  A couple can walk into a mall and within a few seconds; experience the same anxiety as Holiday Season shopping.  Thankfully, there are quite literally endless options available to you for gifts for your bridal party.   The options available to you can be categorized as Wedding Related, Engraved Matching, Hand-made, Group and Personalized.

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Wedding related gifts are those that assist the attendants in looking and feeling their best on the day of your wedding.  What a nice surprise it would be for your party to learn that you’ve covered the cost of their hair and make-up!  For the gentlemen, a professional shave the morning of the event.  Little accessories of elegance can also be included in this category.  Pretty handbags matched to the ladies attire or a timeless jewelry piece and engraved pocket watches for the men.  These types of gifts are not only classic, but they will also be received very well.

Engraved matching gifts are some of the most common and are a fun way for your attendants to take something home that no one else has received and will be able to use for years to come.  Other gifts that are easily purchased in multiples and are engravable:

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• Charm bracelets (with your wedding date on a charm)
•  Multi-purpose knives (like Swiss Army)
• High quality pen sets
• Business card holders
• Key chains

 

Engraving is not limited to metal!  You can also have textiles embroidered.  A warm and cozy blanket, handbag, team specific merchandise (for the sports fan), and decorative pillows are just a few things.  Anything that is fabric can generally be embroidered or specialized in some way.  Or, you can consider doing the embroidery yourself!

Are you a crafty and artistic bride?  A hand-made gift is not only highly unique, but also can be viewed as a thoughtful and loving gift.  Granted, this does require some time commitment (something you may not have a lot of time for), but in the long run, your maids and men will appreciate the care you put into the creation of a beautiful gift.  Some ideas:

• Hand knit scarves and toques (Canada = cold winter)
• Covers for books, iPads and iphones
• Shopping and hand bags
• Cozies for anything!

Picture and work by Stephanie Hawes

Another fun way to thank your bridal party for being there for you is to pamper them in a fun group setting.  Before (or even after) THE BIG DAY, why not take everyone to the spa for a mani/pedi?  Other options you could consider are a drop in session at your local yoga, martial arts or dance studio.  Spending time together is good for the soul, so why not celebrate togetherness while taking sometime out and doing something unscripted and fun?

Finally, the last category is my personal favorite: Personalized gifts.  By personalized, I don’t mean engraved.  Personal gifts are gifts purchased specific to the person you’re buying for.  Nothing says “I thought about you and I want to thank you” like a gift that’s all about them.  The greatest advantage about this option is the gift is not unlike something you would get them for any other celebration.  What are their hobbies? If any are golf lovers, get them a box of Pro-V’s and an engraved divot repair kit.  Are they fans of the art scene?  They would be honored to receive a membership to the local art gallery or tickets to an upcoming hot theatrical performance.   Gifts for your attendants are a thank you from you to them for standing up for and assisting you on the most important day of your life.  The gift they receive can reflect who they are, and there’s nothing more thoughtful than that.  Giving a gift that doesn’t necessarily have your wedding date engraved won’t be necessary as you will have given them something that evokes emotion and they will cherish their little thank you as much as you do; their friendship.

Gift giving is a personal experience and with so many options available, this choice can sometimes be the hardest.   Your attendants will be appreciative of any gift you give them because it came from a person they love and care about.  Keep your budget in check with your gifts (no matter how large or small it is) and you will have no problem finding the perfect thank you to give your bridal party.

Stress Manageable Weddings - Part One "Us Time"

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    A wedding is one of the most beautiful life events a person can be a part of, however, the events leading up to your special day can be also one of the most stressful experiences in life. Managing your stress effectively while planning your wedding can be the difference between a bride or groom doing the Wedding March, and one doing the Imperial March. As the wedding date looms closer and closer, couples often experience stress, anxiety and a feeling of being completely overwhelmed: “My budget is out of control!”, “How do I find 200 favours that everyone will like?!”, “I don’t fit into my dress!” Most of these stressors are completely manageable and preventable. The brides and grooms can now take a deep breath because everything is going to be just fine. In this three-part blog post, I’ll take you through some tips and tricks to ensure your wedding is as timeless and wonderful as you are. Managing the stresses with your wedding is as simple as remembering to take time for each other, for yourself and then making sure you have a solid plan to refer back to.


You and your partner made a beautiful choice to spend the rest of your lives celebrating each other in union. Never forget that the celebration isn’t only for the day of your wedding. Couples have overloaded life plates: work, children, home and commitments outside of the home. Adding wedding planning into the mix can at times, be more than overwhelming. This is why it is vitally important to keep or bring back the romance in your relationship. Throughout the planning of your wedding, take time for yourselves. If your budget is tight, that’s okay! Making the commitment to spending at least one night a week doesn’t have to cost a lot. Sit down with your fiancé and grab a calendar. Put a big red heart on your first date night and then agree to each other that no matter what, this date night is important to both of you and you will commit to the night as you did to each other. Agree that when you’re on date night you will hire a sitter if needed, and make a promise that anything stressful will not be discussed. Date night is not the time to go over budgets, vendor meetings and who is going to pick up the kids from hockey. This time is for you to connect, to spend quality time and communicate in a loving and cosy manner.

Here are some ideas to get your juices going:

1. Be a Teen Again Night: grab a blanket, a couple of sandwiches and a beverage of your choice and go watch the stars. Drive the car out to “make-out point”! There are plenty of places in Alberta that are perfect for this. In Calgary, definitely check out Nose Hill Park.

2. Walk in the Park Night: put on your sneakers, grab a bottle of water and head out for a nice stroll in a park. Remember to take your camera and take some cute romantic pictures. In Stony Plain, I recommend Dog Rump Creek.

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3. Movie Night: No this isn’t renting any old video and sitting around. What was the first movie you watched together? Do you have a mutual favourite? Put the kids (or Fluffy) to bed, curl up on a bunch of pillows with a bowl of popcorn and have a nice romantic evening. This is a quiet night in, but with a romantic twist.

4. First Date Night: Nothing can bring back a sense of romance and thoughtfulness like recreating your first romantic date. (This is also a very good way for those planning an engagement or anniversary)

5. Couples Classes: Don’t worry, I don’t mean Pre-Marriage counselling or even Learn to Waltz. I mean take a class doing something you’re both interested in, and that has nothing to do with the wedding. The Edmonton and Calgary Outdoor clubs are phenomenal for their range of activities that cost on the low end at 2.00 and go up from there. The point is, do something fun that you will both enjoy and potentially learn something new and fun!

6. Something Different: Is there something that you’ve always talked about doing together? DO IT.

Weddings can be stressful; you can manage that stress easily and be that beautiful Princes Lea (sans head buns, unless that’s your thing). The last thing anyone ever wants is a couple to experience stress and potentially hard feelings while planning their wedding. If you are both making the effort to keep the romance there, it will remain there right up to, including and after your wedding day. March loud and march proud, you’re getting married soon!

Next weeks instalment in the Stress Free wedding is focusing on YOU time. Staying centered and balanced in life is necessary for both your physical and mental health. Tune in next week for some tips to keep your soul healthy while planning your wedding.

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