Our daughter's wedding is coming up in 2 weeks. We gave her and her fiance a substantial amount of money to use however they chose on the wedding and reception. We are now considering whether we "should" also give another substantial cash wedding gift, or simply a less expensive, but meaningful gift of some sort. Any suggestions/experiences anyone can share? Also, any ideas about meaningful gifts from parents to the bride and groom that are not too costly?
By Lynne
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I guess I would do what you can afford and want to do. My former in-laws gave their oldest daughter $100.00 to apply to a wedding dress being they lived so far apart that the mother of the bride couldn't make it. When I married their son we more or less eloped, everybody knew we were getting married on that date, but we met a pastor in his office and got married. I made my own street length white brocade dress. His parents gave us one $100.00 because that is what they gave his sister.
We gave our son (my step son) a good amount of money too and we didn't give them another wedding gift. The money we gave them was the gift. But of course we gave engagement, shower gifts too. If you wanted to give a token gift what about a beautiful picture frame for one of their wedding photos?
You are her parents whatever you do is meaningful. Your major gift to them was the money which they chose to spend on the reception. It's okay be happy they used it for something nice:) Now you can get them a gift (if you want), but since you are her parents I would buy the new couple something special so you don't regret it in the future. Maybe a nice dining set or even a large frame with a family picture including the groom is a very nice gift, that can even be hung at the wedding next to the cake. Remember the gift doesn't have to cost a lot of money to be meaningful plus you already gave them cash.
If I were you I would go to snapfish.com make an album and call it "Preparing for the big day" or something like that. Take pictures of him and her when they are least expecting it, when they are busy planning. The photographer is already making one for the wedding, but you can make an album when the lovely couple were planning the happiest day of their life which is way more meaningful. The quality is great and it's extremely nice to show to guests and an A+ on the coffee table. You can pick the color and border and picture format. It's a wonderful website and a great gift for any occasion. The quality is great, too. It comes in the mail. It's more meaningful when the couple aren't posing. This way when they see the pictures they laugh and value them more:)
As you have already been very generous I think that a small, token keepsake gift like the ones mentioned in other posts would be lovely. If you can afford to give even more than you have I think the best thing to do would be to put it in a savings account as rainy day money for the couple.
I'm from the old school; meaning I don't think parents owe their kids large expensive weddings and expensive educations. Helping out is one thing but when my kids wanted something bad enough they found a way to finance it. It may have taken longer to get it but what they learned in the process money can't buy.
Mary Hunt's site:debtproofliving.com has some books that will give them tips on saving money within the household or they also have books to save money and invest. These are great gifts for anyone graduating or getting married since we often don't have much help managing our finances and it is easy to get into debt way beyond what is possible to pay at a young age and on any income.
Since you have already helped greatly with funds to help pay for the wedding and reception I personally think all that is really necessary now are huge heartfelt hugs, sweet tears and well wishes on the wedding day and maybe two short handwritten notes from the heart, one for your daughter and one for your son in law, writing shared by both you and your husband and slipped in to their hands when they are leaving the reception for their honeymoon. :-)
The gift of money for the wedding will be a memory and a treasure for this couple; it is an honor to bestow upon a couple the money from their parents to give them a beautiful wedding and along with that comes gratitude and love from the couple which cannot be replaced in a parent's heart. Enjoy the wedding and the elegance of the wedding and the unity of this couple. Give the bride a family cookbook or a collection of family favorites and her husband's family recipes.
I think some family heirloom might be a meaningful gift. Maybe a piece of jewelry for your daughter that belongs to you and that she can pass to her daughter on her wedding day would be most appropriate. If you want to include your son-in-law, then maybe a quilt made by grandma or some family treasure your daughter has always loved would be good.
There are some great ideas here, love the recipe book,and heirloom pictures etc. I remember when one of my siters got married my parents paid for the wedding, because that is "old school" lol. However, my parent gave them my grandmothers China, they were so thrilled! Also it was tradition in my family that each of us girls (there were 5 of us) were given a Hope Chest when we were 9, then gifts for years after that to fill it. When I married in 1984 I had so many wonderful things!
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