While your wedding is unlikely to bring London to a standstill and generate an extra Bank Holiday for the UK, as the marriage of Prince William and Kate Middleton did, it's no less important to you, your family and friends.
No matter how grand or intimate they are, weddings can be a major event to organise and it's rare for the bride and groom to do everything themselves. The following article not only offers a reminder about who you should thank at your wedding ceremony but also gives you some useful hints and tips for choosing thank you gifts for weddings.
Thank you gifts for bridesmaids
If you're following a traditional wedding ceremony then the bridegroom will thank the bridesmaids and present them with a small thank you gift as a token of the bride and groom's appreciation.
Jewellery is always a welcome bridesmaid thank you gift and can be tailored for bridesmaids of all ages. Necklaces, bracelets and earrings can be tailored to the taste and age of all your bridesmaids. If you're trying to keep costs down then fashion jewellery can be a relatively inexpensive alternative to real gold or silver jewellery.
For something that little bit different, you could always treat older bridesmaids to a spa or beauty treatment as a thank you gift. For more daring bridesmaids, an experience gift might be an option - from wine tasting, lunch cruises and day trips to racing car driving, bungy jumping and belly dancing lessons, there's bound to be something they'll enjoy.
Bridesmaid gifts on a budget
Wedding costs can quickly spiral out of control, if you're not careful. If you're trying to stick to a budget then why not go for something more personal and present them with a framed favourite photograph of you and your bridesmaid from your earlier years together? It's bound to trigger some great memories.
Another effective way to get your 'thank you' message across is with a Thank You balloon or Thank You teddy bear.
Thank you gifts for young bridesmaids
If you have very young children for bridesmaids then you might want to give them a thank you gift that they'll love immediately. A doll dressed as a bridesmaid is something they can play with and cherish.
Personalised sweets, chocolates or cup cake gifts are also a low cost thank you gift for young bridesmaids.
Books are also an alternative thank you gift for young bridesmaids. You can present them with a children's classic and write your own message of thanks inside the cover. Other ideas for keepsake thank you gifts for young bridesmaids, include personalised money boxes and jewellery boxes.
Thank you gifts for best man and groomsmen
Traditionally the best man has a great deal of responsibility before and during the wedding. He's usually the man to organise the bachelor party and must get the groom to the wedding on time. He can also make the wedding with an entertaining speech (think Four Weddings and A Funeral!).
If you're having a church wedding then you may have groomsmen to welcome guests and assist them to their seats. So don't forget to thank these important people for helping your special day run as smoothly as possible.
Traditional thank you gifts for best man and ushers include cufflinks, hipflasks and tie pins, all of which can be personalised to make them even more special. Pint glasses, whisky tumblers and shot glasses can also be personalised to make interesting best man thank you gifts or usher thank you gifts.
If you'd prefer to give a more original gift then experience gifts are great as best man thank you gifts as well as bridesmaid thank you gifts. From power boat driving gifts, theme park tickets and skydiving to paintballing, sporting event tickets and flying lessons, give them a thank you gift to remember.
If you're trying to keep the costs down, then plump for something quirky for your best man and ushers, such as wedding party socks or personalised chocolate bars.
Wedding thank you gifts for Mums and Dads
Don't forget your parents on your wedding day. Whether they've helped towards the cost of your wedding or not, your parents have supported you throughout your life and your wedding day is a lovely opportunity to say thank you.
Flowers are a traditional gift for mothers (and step mothers) of the bride and groom, but if you'd like to give them something longer lasting, then jewellery is an option. A locket with a picture of you (or your spouse for his or her parents) or a bracelet engraved with a personal message, are both special thank you gifts for mums.
Dads on the other hand, might welcome a personalised bottle of champagne, wine or whiskey. Alternatively you could merge the two gifts together and treat mums and dads to a special meal in a top restaurant or even a weekend away if budgets allow.
Thank you gifts for wedding helpers
There are often a number of other people whom you need to thank for helping you prepare for your wedding day. Perhaps a talented friend has made your wedding cake, or a skilled seamstress designed and created your wedding dress or bridesmaid dresses. Has a friend helped create your invitations or taken on the roll of kids entertainer at the wedding?
Flowers, bottles of wine, jewellery and vouchers are all acceptable gifts for the people who have helped to make your wedding day an unforgettable experience for you both.
Once you've remembered all the thank you gifts - just remember to have fun and enjoy your special day!
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