Gifts from the Bride and Groom: The Personal Touch

(BNN) From shower presents to registry items, your wedding will undoubtedly bring a deluge of gifts. However, the most memorable and special gifts you’ll receive will not arrive wrapped in boxes. The members of your wedding party will give you the most valuable gift of all – the gift of their time and support. In return, it is important to present each of your attendants with a token of your gratitude.

Your bridesmaids’ and groomsmen’s gifts should be carefully selected to show the depth of your appreciation. However, gifts for your wedding party do not have to be wildly extravagant. A small gift that is thoughtfully chosen can express how much their support has meant to you just as eloquently as a large, expensive one and may be presented to your attendants as a group at the rehearsal dinner, or separately at the bachelor’s dinner or bridesmaids’ luncheon.

There are no set rules regarding whether you should buy the same gift for all of your attendants or a different one for each. Whether you opt for uniformity or find the perfect gift to suit each attendant’s individual personality, engraving a name or a personal message on each item is an easy way to turn your gift into a treasured keepsake. An extensive selection of superb personalized and customized gifts can easily be found at the online retailer, Exclusively Weddings (www.exclusivelyweddings.com), an authority and source for discriminating brides and grooms.

There’s quite a variety of appropriate choices. For instance, jewelry has always been a favorite thank-you gift for bridesmaids and will be worn and appreciated for a lifetime. Engraving your bridesmaids’ initials on bracelets or necklaces leaves them with a precious reminder of their cherished friendship. Other special mementos such as silver jewelry boxes, compact mirrors, candle holders, picture frames and charming lace trimmed hankies can also be inscribed with a bridesmaid’s name or monogram, or a brief, personal note of thanks.

If your flower girl has been thrilled by the experience of dressing up in frilly formal wear, chances are she, too, will delight in a coordinating piece of jewelry with her name on it. And a personalized picture frame, mug, or bank is a great gift idea for any youngster in your wedding party, regardless of gender.

Groomsmen’s gifts can also be personalized. As David Stubbs, general manager of Exclusively Weddings points out, "Traditionally well-received gifts such as cufflinks, money clips, pens, pewter steins and flasks, are all greatly enhanced and enriched with the addition of a monogram."

Once you’ve selected and personalized the gifts you’ll give those who will stand beside you on your big day, you’ll want to devote some time to selecting a gift for the one you’re about to marry. While tradition regards wedding bands as the primary gift a bride and groom give one another, it has also become customary for couples to present each other with another gift, such as a wristwatch, clock, or picture frame, at the rehearsal dinner or shortly after the ceremony. At Exclusively Weddings, these, too, can be personalized with a monogram and the date of your wedding.

Whatever choices you make, your gifts will serve as valued memories of one of life’s most meaningful occasions. Personalizing each piece is a simple but powerful way of ensuring that the gifts you give to your attendants as well as to each other will add a special touch of endearment and be a lifelong symbol of your love and gratitude.