Thursday, October 05, 2006
IDEAS FOR CREATING MEANINGFUL
Engagement Gifts Wish Lists, Bridal Shower Gifts Wish Lists
And Gifts Wish Lists for the Wedding Day
Contributed by Nily Glaser Congratulations! You're getting married. In addition to a new spouse, a new home and a new way of life, you'll receive gifts from friends and family.
According to statistics offered by "BRIDE'S Millennium Report: Wedding Love & Money", in the year 2000 the average wedding cost about $20,000. Today, in the year 2006, that average exceeds $27,500. With wedding costs escalating, many couples suggest that the best engagement, holiday, birthday and shower gifts will center on their wedding planning.
Recently, It has become acceptable, even welcome when brides and groom inform their friends and relatives of their choices of engagement, wedding shower and even holiday and birthday gifts. This is why compiling a gift list is now a fundamental part of most couples' wedding planning.
Many couples create a wish list of items and services they desire for their wedding and a separate wish list for wedding gifts. When creating their wish lists, couples tend to divide the lists into categories. Some wish list entries are for individuals or couples, while others are presented as cooperative gifts. That is, a few guests get together and present the bride and groom with a gift from all of them.
Let me explain with two examples.
David R. and Susan G.
David and Susan got married. Though they planned the wedding on a rather strict budget, it cost them a lot of money. Some saved, some charged to their combined credit cards.
As it is customary with Susan's family, her parents invited many guests to an engagement announcement party for their daughter. David's family followed suite by inviting their friends and relatives to an engagement party for their son. Between the two parties, David and Susan accumulated many gifts. Upon opening their presents, the couple's excitement turned into a disappointment. They received 3 toasters, 2 microwave ovens, over 20 towel sets of various colors, 4 sets of drinking glasses and other duplicated items. So, what is a couple to do? Be polite and send out thank you notes.
Susan's sister, soon to be the maid of honor, honored her sister with a surprise bridal shower. She organized a party deserving of awards. Everything was just so! The guests arrived bearing gifts. Most gifts were thoughtful, some more expensive than others.
As is traditional at bridal showers, the bride was expected to open each gift and make a comment. The comments were written down to be read later to the guests. Susan was up to the task with a pretty basket for the ribbons on her side and anticipation in her heart. I'll not go into the list of her gifts other than to say that she received 3 more sets of towels, (All she could think was: "Boy, I can open a towels store") another toaster that made her wonder who to gift it to, and some other gifts she had no idea what to do with.
Ben S. and Rachel G.
Rachel is Susan's sister. She and Ben got married about a year after David and Susan. Rachel and Ben's parents celebrated their children's engagement with a lavish party. This time, in addition to the standard invitation wording, the invitees were asked to contact the respective mothers by phone. When contacted, the mothers informed the callers about the wedding date and about the wedding theme the bride and groom chose. They suggested that the guests NOT bring any engagement gifts to the party and that they, the mothers, will share an idea for a most meaningful gift presentation for the couple. Obviously some guests arrived bearing gifts but the majority of guests were too intrigued to do so, and chose to comply with the request.
Rachel and Ben were asked to come an hour later than the scheduled time to allow time for the guests to arrive and get comfortable. Rachel's mother took on the responsibility to announce the plan. It was a simple and forward presentation that basically stated that Ben and Rachel should have their dream wedding come true. They chose Red Roses and Butterflies as their wedding themes.
Wedding invitees were sent the modified list of wedding accessories, decorations and even wedding services, and asked to call the mothers to verify that the gift they chose is still requested. This too was a great idea. As a result Ben and Rachel did not receive duplicated items. They did receive what they hoped for, for their dream wedding, and saved a lot of money as well.
Would you believe that Ben and Rachel's wedding wish list DID NOT include a toaster, a microwave, towel sets, drinking glasses or any items David and Susan received in duplicates?
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AUTHOR'S BYLINE
Nily Glaser
is the CEO of A-wedding Day.
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