Wedding Ideas and Inspiration Blog

Gifts and Favors ( Page 8 )

Holiday Gift Ideas for the Guys in Your Life

It may be because I grew up with four sisters but I think men are notoriously hard to buy for; there are only so many books and CDs you can buy before it looks like you’re not even trying…

So, we’ve put together a few ideas to get you going, but, please, offer up your suggestions in the comments. I need all the help I can get!

For the Beer Man
Sometimes drinking beer is just not enough. Brooklyn Brew Shop’s Beer Making Kits include everything he needs to get started, including a glass fermenter so he doesn’t have to mess up the bathtub. And even if he’s not making his own home brew, Beer Savers, (which come in six different colors) act as “cap charms” and tell other folks, “Hands off! This one is mine.”

For the Man About Town
Of course he’s going to…

Handmade Accessories, Gifts and Décor from EmersonMade

Emerson has got it going on. She’s a former New Yorker who moved to a farm where she hangs out with her ducks and chicks (and handsome husband), generally looking fabulous in outfits that are simultaneously cool and quirky. She also makes things, like flowers, jeans, table runners, necklaces, even shoes, for her line EmersonMade.

Fortunately, she has a line specifically for weddings (although a lot of her non-wedding line would be perfect for your big day too). I’ve gone through and pulled out a few of my faves, but keep checking her site because she adds new items all of the time.

Her Something Blue ring pillow is modern, fun, and looks like it will keep your rings very, very safe. If this version is a bit too vintage-y for your taste, she also sells one in cream that would be perfect…

Charitable Gift Ideas for Your Holiday Gift List

Earlier in the week I told you about our partnership with the JCPenny/Salvation Army’s Angel Giving Tree (by the way, Friday is the last day for giving gifts so if you’re planning on doing it, don’t miss out!) and it got us thinking about charitable gifts you can give over the holidays. Because while it’s very nice to get an iPad (hint, hint), it’s also a great opportunity to give a meaningful gift that will literally keep on giving.

Here are a few of our favorite non-profits, chosen because when you give them it still feels like a tangible gift (although donating to your favorite charity in someone’s name works just as well…).

Heifer International
A staple among holiday charities, Heifer International lets you gift an animal to a community where it will make a big impact (a flock of ducks, for example, is the equivalent…

Canvas Wall Art Featuring Your Vows and Photos

The holidays are coming up fast (but you don’t need me tell you that, do you?) and one of the more meaningful gifts you can give your new husband/wife is something that commemorates the Big Day. And take it from me, your first holiday together is a great time to do it. The wedding and all of the surrounding excitement is still fresh in your mind; your probably still know where your wedding photos are; heck, you probably still look like the people in your wedding photos (can you tell I didn’t take my own advice, opting instead for good intentions?).

These customized canvas art pieces from esty seller GeeZees may be just the thing. She has several options available, but my favorites are the ones that feature your wedding vows (because I don’t know about you but mine passed in a blur…). Hanging up in…

Cyber Monday Wedding Deals Round-up!

Yay, it’s Cyber Monday! (Big surprise, right?). It’s one of our favorite shopping days because, for all the hype, it’s a great chance to save big on wedding items you’ll probably be purchasing anyway. We’ve rounded up a few of our favorites but be sure to let us know what deals we missed!

These eco-friendly wedding favors include a flower pot with peat pellet and take just a bit of water to turn into a plant. 25 sets from Nature Favors – 25% off

How I wish I would have know about this Etsy seller when I was getting married! Instead I made 150 of these suckers by hand while slowing eroding my brain with reality TV… 8 Tissue Paper Poms from PomMagic – 15% off

ModCloth is having a crazy sale over on their site – I saw (and, ahem, maybe added to my cart)…

Pendant Necklaces for Engagement and Bridesmaid Gifts

One of the questions that always comes up around engagement season is the best way to handle the engagement ring if you’re planning on proposing but want her to be able to pick it out. There are lots of stores that will give you a “loaner” ring, which you can then exchange when she’s back by your side, but for a creative option that she can still wear for the rest of her life (and that’s very inexpensive), these ring pendants from Polli might be just the ticket.

Offered in stainless steel and gold versions made from brass, they’re quite dainty (you can see a model wearing one here) and have that slightly quirky Australian vibe that is cool while not being over-the-top. They also offer a huge range of other designs, everything from Brooklyn brownstones to

William and Proper Wording for Cash Gifts, Blended Families and More

Is there a proper way to let your guest know that the only gift you need is money??? We moved into our home this summer and we have double of everything! Blenders, china, coffee makers, pots/pans, everything is decorated and furnished etc. We dont need anymore of those Things! We would like to fence our backyard which is costly. Is there a non tacky way to request only money?? – Chloé Brown

Miss Brown,
Today there are a multitude of options where brides and grooms can register and get exactly what they want for their wedding gift. If you only want cash consider an online registry such as Wishing Well or Deposit a Gift where your guests can gift you with cash or help you towards a large purchase.

Or consider registering with a non-traditional registry to get the items that will help you the

…

Register for Wedding Wishes with Upon Our Star

There’s a good chance if you’ve been living on your own for any amount of time you and your fiancé probably already have a toaster. And a mixer. And all of the other home items that folks usually register for. So while it doesn’t really make sense for you to register for more home goods, there’s a pretty good chance that the two of you have a dream that you would like help with.

UponOurStar is set up to do just that. Letting you register “for wishes, not stuff”, it lets you break down your wish into manageable and affordable pieces that guests can then purchase to get you one step closer to your dream; they still get the pleasure of purchasing you a specific item (paint for your new house or backpacks for your round-the-world trip) while helping you achieve a larger goal.

I’ve included a couple of sample…

Nesting Bowls from Sara Paloma Pottery Make the Perfect Registry Gift

When my husband and I were registering a very dear friend gave us some excellent advice. “First, Kara,” she said, “you have got to chill out.” (She was right – I’d gotten myself all stressed out about the idea of people spending money on us and I was, ahem, not very much fun with the registry gun.) “And secondly,” she continued, “you’ve got to think of this as a wish list. People don’t have to buy you things off of it but if they decide to, they want to get you beautiful items that you really love and are excited about. So register for some gorgeous items you might not otherwise buy.”

It seemed like pretty solid advice to me so I changed my attitude, started having fun, and registered for the most heavenly dishes you’ve ever seen (I swear my food tastes better when I eat off…

The Perfect Wedding or Anniversary Gift from Mr. Jones

I don’t know about you but, personally, I find buying a meaningful gift for the men in my life very, very difficult. It seems like you either go the X-Box style route and get something fun but not particularly meaningful or you go the photo album route and do something very meaningful but that doesn’t get used every day. Throw in the pressure of a wedding or anniversary and suddenly my head is spinning.

Well, today, my dear readers, all of our problems are solved! May I introduce you to the perfect wedding or anniversary gift? Fun, meaningful and useful, the Everyday Special from Mr. Jones Watches is a true triple whammy! (Plus, it’s killer-looking.)

On first glance, it looks like just a nice looking watch. But upon closer inspection, you will notice that the hands actually feature a date. A very special date. Your wedding date, perhaps?…