How many times have you gone Christmas shopping and tried to look for an interesting and unique gift for your dad, uncle or granddad and the best that you’ve been able to come up
No one wants SOCKS for Christmas
with a pair of Simpsons socks?
When I was a kid my mum used to take us Christmas shopping in mid November. Her main reason for this was that she did not want to brave the Christmas rush when Decemeber came. Now I’m older and wiser I understand why. People go crazy. I’m one of these people who start mid November too, at least the planning of the presents anyway. I usually know what I want to get people, nowadays however I do the majority of my Christmas gift shopping online; just because it’s easier. With online shopping there is a lot more choice I think at Christmas because I feel you can think outside the box. For example I know some people who instead of buying the standard Christmas Gift of festive candles and scented gift packs (Boots and other places sell those perfume sets – I actually love those) they bought their boyfriend a ‘track day’ with Ferrari. That is certainly better than a pair of socks, but for a gift like that you really need to have the budget to be able to buy them.
I think before you start your Christmas present shopping you need to do a few things:
1) Decide who you are buying gifts for. For me it would be my close family (so we’re talking my mum, dad, sister, grandparents x2, my cousin with whom I spend large amounts of time, my aunt and uncle who spends every Christmas with us and boyfriend) and friends (for my it would be my two best friends – guy and girl). As you can see from my list I have 11 people to buy for. Now I know that I can move onto the next point….
2) Sharing the present burden. Me and my sister have a habit of sharing the Christmas present buying. She’ll buy for my dad and I’ll buy for my mum and both of us will go halves on the presents for our grandparents etc. At Christmas your purse strings are probably stretched to the max so having someone to help you out with the Christmas shopping is a real life saver!
3) Now you know who you are buying for, who you are sharing the gift buying with – you can decide on your budget. My BIGGEST and possibly the most vital piece of information that I can give you is this; decide on a budget and stick to it. You know how much you earn, you know how much you can afford. The amount of people I know who put all their Christmas expenses on their credit card and are then paying for it for the whole of the next year. DON’T DO THIS. A realistic budget will help you buy great gifts rather than good gifts because you’ll take the time and effort to research the kind of gift you want to get someone.
4) DON’T LEAVE IT TILL THE LAST MINUTE. Alot of shops hike the prices up on gifts just before Christmas, when you go back in the January sales and you see the new price of something you’ll be horrified at how much you paid during the festive period.
So those are the most important things to remember before you start your Christmas shopping. Once you’re ready to start and you want to start thinking outside the box so you don’t end up buying ’socks’ (or something similar)…. so here are a couple of suggestions that you might want to consider before you start:
1) Engraved Champagne Flutes – I write about these alot in my posts. I know I do. But there is good reason for this. Recent trends in our own sales show that people love them, they are a unique gift that is perfect for celebration. Alot of people by engraved champagne flutes as wedding gifts, but I think that they although they make great wedding presents they also are fantastic for Christmas. What could be better than getting a set of personalised champagne flutes on Christmas day, especially if you are in a couple. Christmas is a time for celebration, you could wake up on Christmas morning, open your presents and toast in Christmas in your brand new personalised champagne flutes! Celebrate this happy day in style! So yes, I am an advocate of personalised champagne flutes, for a number of reasons – not only are they great for celebration (everyone loves to toast with champagne) but the personalisation makes them even more appealing. Personalised messages give that thoughtful and sentimental touch to any gift.
2) Personalised Champagne – so if you are buying someone a set of champagne flutes then you should really buy them a bottle of personalised champagne to go with it. Just like champagne flutes, personalised champagne has that wow factor. It is a classy gift that is perfect for Christmas. As I mentioned earlier people love to toast Christmas in and what could be better than doing it with a bottle that was given as a Christmas present? Again it’s a simple yet thoughtful gift, and it certainly isn’t a pair of socks.
3) If you are looking for gift for your dad, granddad or uncles (socks is usually the norm), then why not think about the following as a great gift for Christmas? – the following being a pair of engraved cufflinks. Every man wheres cufflinks at some point in their life. So whether they use them at New Years Party or 10 years down the line, a set of engraved cufflinks will last a life time! Personalised lighters, engraved whisky and vodka are also great Christmas Gifts too.
The groom at a wedding is just as important as the bride. I know everyone goes on about the brides big day – but there wouldn’t be a big day if it wasn’t for the groom. He is sometimes a little forgotten at times. Now I don’t think that should be the case. So when thinking about the type of gifts you are going to get for the happy couple you should think about groom gifts too.
In Muslim weddings – the wedding is more to do with the groom. There is a whole ceremony called Nikah where the groom and the father of the bride enter into a contract to ensure that the bride will be well cared for and looked after in the groom’s family. This is usually a public event where all the family and friends witness this agreement. It is at this point that the groom also pay the dowry requested by the bride. This whole ceremony just involves the groom. I like it you know. The groom gets his show and the bride gets her’s with her big entrance and gorgeous dress.
Usually the groom gifts are left to the best man to sort out. Afterall the bridesmaids will get a gift for the bride therefore it is seems fair that the bestman and the groomsmen sort out a nice groom gift – when you think about the kind of gift to get the groom; REMEMBER he will be married, so it needs to meet the approval of his new wife! You don’t want him sleeping on the couch on his wedding night.
1) I mentioned in a previous post about engraved champagne flutes and how they are a perfect bride gift, they are the same for the groom too. The two champagne flutes can be engraved with a personalised message. Each flutes could have different messages on them – one for the groom and one for the bride. Give them as a set and you’ve got not only a great wedding gift but also a great groom gift too.
2) If you do want to get a wedding gift that is groom specific then I think you should think about an engraved wedding gift and with that I mean “engraved cuflinks“. They would make a really special gift for the groom on his wedding day. He could wear them with his tux – also if in all the panic he has forgotten his cufflinks, then by presenting him with the cufflinks on the morning of his wedding will sure help him out!!
3) If you are the best man and you fear that after marriage you are going to lose your best buddy to the domestic life, then what could be better then to get your best friend and engraved photo frame with a picture of you two at some crazy event where you pretty much laughed all night! I know to a guy that may seem like a really soppy gift. But if you think about it in terms of the bride – she is less likely to display a beer keg in her house than a beautifully engraved photo frame that is a touching gift from the best man….
Whatever you get as a groom gift, remember when you buy this that he is just as important as the bride on ‘his’ special day – afterall I’m sure he only plans to get married once!
We launched a website a couple of months back: www.WeddingGifts2U.co.uk, this website specialises in all things wedding related. Whether it is gifts for the bride and groom or a bottle of vodka for a stag night – they have what you need to make your wedding go smoothly – well in terms of gifts anyway!
Here is a quick suggestion if you are looking for a great gift idea for the happy couple – and that is champagne flutes. In my last post I mentioned how we had a new range of champagne flutes in and our range of wedding flutes are great for the happy couple. Have a set of personalised flutes engraved with a special message to create a really unique gift. Below are a few testimonials from a couple of our sites – from these I think you can tell how popular they are!
___
Engraved Champagne Flutes with Heart Stems
Very pleased with my purchase. Champagne engraved flutes are very sophisticated. Thank you. Received within ten days of ordering and most importantly before the wedding.
Star rank:
Barbie Girl (23/08/2010)
Black Engraved Flute in a Gift Box, Fusion Engraved Champagne Flutes Set
Delivery and service was outstanding. The crystal champagne flutes were beautifully engraved and the black flutes were stunning although the engraved area appears to have altered the finish on the glasses. still a lovely present none the less
Star rank:
Swest (05/08/2010)
Simple Engraved Flute Single
The flutes look beautiful, the engraving looks very professional & precise & the flutes will fantastic bridesmaid gifts at our wedding tomorrow (31st July 2010). Thank you so much.
Star rank:
Miss Nadine Lay (30/07/2010)
Engraved Wedding Flutes Set
Fantastic service and the engraving on the glasses is beautiful. Really happy with them which is fantastic as i was quite nervous about ordering something like this on the internet.
Star rank:
Leanna Wood (11/06/2010)
Engraved Hearts Champagne Flutes
I was very impressed with the presentation box which displayed the glasses to perfection. The personalised message on the glasses was set out just as I expected. A big thank you to all.
Star rank:
Jean (26/05/2010)
Engraved Silver Plated Love Champagne Glasses
A fantastic service and really pleased with the personalised champagne flutes. Would certainly use again.
Star rank:
Claire Stephenson (13/08/2010)
Engraved Silver Plated Love Champagne Glasses
i was just delighted with the engraved champagne flutes i ordered from you for my nieces wedding gift, and she was most appreciative of them, they were stunning…friends and family were most impressed also…
Star rank:
Miss Isabella Mearns (11/08/2010)
Our customers are all really happy with their engraved flutes purchases… and we think you will be too!
New engraved champagne flutes! Ok basically in this post I am just advertising to you. I know that isn’t what you want to hear but I think I just need to tell you about them because that way I know that you know about them and then I know that if in the future you are looking for some champagne flute then you will be fully informed and I won’t feel like I haven’t done my job properly!!
We have just added a brand new range of champagne flutes to our collection, these flutes are great as birthday presents, wedding gifts – if you are looking for a bride gift or groom gift then they are perfect. Engraved Champagne Flutes are a simple gift idea that you can give to pretty much anyone (above the age of 18) you can engrave the flutes with a personalised message and create a really unique gift that will be loved when the recipient recieves it.
Here are a couple of articles that also explain why champagne flutes are a great gift idea:
I totally forget to tell you all! We have launched a new website http://www.champagnegifts4u.co.uk – if you a looking for a great champagne gift idea then you should be looking nowhere else but http://www.champagnegifts4u.co.uk. Champagne gifts actually make great birthday gifts and wedding gifts… and if you are looking for something unique for Christmas then this certainly something you should consider!!
Photos capture memories. Whatever the moment – if you get it on camera then it’s there for life. And that’s what makes them so great! With the digital age it is possible for us to take photos and have them uploaded on to the computer for all to view pretty much on the same day. With facebook and other social networking sites allowing photo sharing, everyone is taking pictures and showing them off for the world to see. Not only this but now digital cameras are now much more affordable which makes everyone a photographer nowadays. I mean I love taking photos – I take photos of everything and anything. I’m also constantly taking photos of other people and I am never without my camera at any event. When people look at photos that i’ve taken I find them saying – “I forgot that happened” or “when did you take that?!” and that’s what I like to hear. People enjoying looking at the photos that I’ve taken. Photos act as reminders of our life.
I like the idea of giving a photo gift. It’s a personal gift that allows the recipient to see a memory once more and also that fact that you are giving that particular photo as a gift shows that that memory means something to you as well. There are a number of ways to give a photo gift. You could just have the photo printed and give it as a print. You could have the photo framed in an engraved photo frame – have the frame engraved with the person’s name or a message that is special and unique for the two of you. I got my mum an engraved photo frame and put a picture of me and her in it from a wedding that we went to. She really liked the photo of us and so I thought why choose a photo that I like when I know that there is on that she definately likes. We always criticise the way that photos capture us, so sometimes it’s nice to listen and make use of the ones that people tell that they like! My mum loved the engraved photo frame that I bought for her and she loved the photo.
There are other ways of giving photo gifts in the form of say a champagne gift. I like the fact that as a company we offer labelled products as well as engraved champagne, I especially like the fact that our customers can design their own label i.e. upload a special photo onto a bottle of bubbly and make a truely unique gift!
As the summer arrives everyone knows that it is wedding season… each weekend is taken up by some sort of event or another – be is hen/stag party’s, engagement parties or the weddings themselves. There is always some sort of celebration.
This weekend I went to a traditional Indian wedding. A very colourful affair I must say! But the thing with Indian weddings is that they last more than two weeks with all the different events that take place. For example if you take a standard Muslim wedding you have the following events:
- Engagement Party
- Civil Wedding (The Registry Wedding – i.e. the Official marriage by Law)
- The majalis – this is a religious ceremony where the couple are blessed and the families celebrate the marriage of the couple – there is a strong religious connotation to this.
- The hen/stag parties
- The BIG Indian Wedding
No Indian wedding could be small, no matter how much we tried for it to be. There are too many relations from all over the world to invite. But Indian weddings are great because there is always lots of great food, company, speeches and dancing. And as I mentioned before lots of colour… ! The bride nearly always wears red and the bridal party look stunning in a huge array of colours. That is just the norm of an Indian wedding. The music is bright and exciting and the cake is always a big part of the celebrations!
But as with any wedding it is very difficult to know what to get the bride and groom. Most Indian weddings that I have been too often say ‘no boxed gifts’ at the bottom of the invitation. This could mean therefore that the couple would prefer money or vouchers to a department store – for example House of Fraser. However what if the invite doesn’t say ‘no boxed gifts’ – what then? What wedding gift do you get the happy couple? You want it to be the kind of gift they are going to treasure but you also want it to be something that is appropriate for a wedding. For muslims – alcohol is not really an option. But there are plenty of other gifts that you could choose from… like engraved photo gifts. The happy couple will want to display their favourite wedding photo in their home for all to see, wouldn’t it be great if your photo frame that you had engraved for them especially for the wedding be the one that they chose to display their wedding photo in. Engraved photo frames are a simple and classic gift that never go out of style. Other Indian cultures probably wouldn’t complain if a alcohol themed gift was given. I’ve seen a lot of people start to give engraved champagne flutes as wedding gifts. The have each flute engraved with the names of the couple and the date of the wedding. I like these. I think they are not only a practical gift but also the kind of gift that can be displayed too. Engraved Champagne Flutes look nice.
Indian Wedding
I was speaking to the bride for a little while yesterday and what she did say was that she found it hard to know what to get the father of the bride and the father of the groom. She wanted to get them something that they would use and would also show them how much they were appreciated. She finally settled on engraved cufflinks and an engraved pen for each other the father’s. They both wore the cufflinks at the wedding, a very sweet touch. The engraved pens were engraved with the names of the respective “dad” with each having a special message from each child. I did like her choice of gifts as they were sentimental as well as practical.
Whatever culture you are from, you need to think about the wedding gifts that you are going to give to the bride and groom and they need to think about the wedding gifts that they are going to give the people that helped them during the wedding and their families too… who deserve gifts for putting up with them for all those years!!!
I found this on YouTube… it shows a Punjabi wedding – when I say colourful.. I mean COLOURFUL!
If you’re feeling nervous about being a best man, don’t. Wedding etiquette can be tricky, but with our guide you can navigate your way through the minefield with ease. Read on for our special best man dos and don’ts…
Best Man Dos:
Do offer to buy or hire your own wedding suit, tie, shoes, or any other accessories. But do remember that even if you are paying, you don’t get the final say in the style or colour!
Do offer to help with any errands or tasks during the run-up to the big day. Make a specific offer, not a vague ‘if I can help with anything…’
Do offer to go shopping with the groom for special wedding gifts. Wedding gifts can be difficult for the groom, especially choosing something special for the bride. Be helpful and make suggestions (how about an engraved compact mirror?), but most of all, be patient.
Do plan the stag party, and get the other stags to club together to buy a great personalised groom gift, such as an engraved hip flask, engraved photo frame or personalised glasses.
Do be as supportive as possible, particularly during those last few stressful weeks before the wedding.
Do be prepared to smooth over any family tiffs or problems. Often these can get out of control with everyone suffering from last-minute stress.
Do help the groom get ready on the morning of the wedding if he needs you. Bolster his confidence – but not with too much alcohol.
Do have the rings ready and pass them over at the appropriate moment.
Best Man Don’ts:
Don’t ever be late – especially for the wedding!
Don’t drink too much at the reception, or worse, before the ceremony.
Don’t criticise the bride, bridesmaids or any of the guests. Remember they are all friends and family of the groom.
Don’t moan about your own partner – you must be as positive about weddings and relationships as possible.
Don’t forget to buy the groom a special gift to show your regard for him. Groom gifts are easy to find, but make yours stand out by opting for a personalised groom gift, such as personalised whisky or an engraved lighter.
Don’t expect the bride and groom to arrange for your transportation to and from the wedding ceremony and reception – or to pay for your room.
If you need to find a gift for your best man then take a look at www.weddinggifts2u.co.uk and you’ll be sure to find what you need.
I realise that alot of the posts that I have written over the past few weeks have been about weddings, but alot of the reason for that is that I know alot of people who are getting married this year. So if I know alot of people who are getting married then I am almost certain that so do you as well. I just thought you might like some tips on all things wedding related. Don’t worry Christmas is coming soon and I certainly have alot to write about that particular theme. I’m excited already!!
I’ve spoken alot about the different traditions that people have when they plan a wedding, but I don’t think I’ve looked at it from the perspective of a western wedding.
North America has many cultures and many different wedding traditions influenced by countries all over the world. Mexican wedding traditions, for example, have been influenced by Spain and France, and by their own ancient cultural traditions stretching back to the Aztecs. Wedding traditions in the United States have been influenced by virtually every country at some point or other, making for a rich and varied combination of traditions. Canadian traditions are strongly influenced by both the English and the French.
Mexico
In Mexico, it is usual for a white ribbon or a rosary, called a lasso, to be draped around the necks of the bride and groom during the vows. This is to symbolize the joining together of the couple. Another tradition is for the groom to give his bride thirteen gold coins during the ceremony, symbolizing his commitment to support his new wife financially. As the bride and groom leave the church, red beads are thrown at them for good luck. And at Mexican wedding receptions, the guests form a heart-shaped circle around the bride and groom as they have their first dance as husband and wife.
United States of America
One unusual American tradition is for brides to wear white gloves. This comes from Victorian times, when American brides wore white gloves as symbols of modesty and romance. Even today, many American brides wear white gloves as a romantic gesture. In the United States today, it is very common for the bride and groom to write their own wedding vows, making promises and commitments that are individual and personal to them as a couple. Today’s wedding ceremony in the United States is often very grand and elaborate, especially among the well off, but small ‘backyard’ weddings are also common. If the climate allows, many wedding ceremonies are held outdoors.
Wedding ceremonies in North America traditionally conclude with the bride and groom exchanging wedding rings, and then, of course, with the traditional wedding kiss, which seals their union in front of their friends and family. As the newly married couple leave the wedding ceremony, rice is thrown at the couple as a symbol of fertility.
North American Wedding Gifts
Wedding gifts are traditionally given to help the new couple set up home together. They can range from the practical to the highly decorative. For more affluent weddings, personalised gifts of champagne, crystal and silver are ever popular. Those in poorer areas often make the bride and groom a personalised present symbolising their friendship.
Personalised gifts are a great way to show the happy couple what you want for their lives together. If you gave them a personalised photo gift. For example a personalised photo frame with a photo of the two of them in it and a message that you have had engraved into the frame then that is a very sentimental gift. Not only are you giving them something that they can display in their home. But the engraving shows that you want their marriage to last… that is the sentiment anyway.
If you are looking for a special birthday gift for your mum, you’ve come to the right place. Whatever your mum’s age, whatever her likes and dislikes, there are some great ideas for her right here. Follow our guide to the best birthday gift ideas around…
Champagne
For a luxury idea birthday gift for your mum, you can’t do better than personalised Champagne. Personalised Champagne is the ultimate luxury present, and comes in many forms – gift sets, with engraved flutes, engraved bottles and special birthday accessory packs. Champagne bottles say ‘Happy Birthday’ loud and clear! Why not buy engraved flutes to go with the Champagne? You could mark the engraved flutes with the date of your mum’s birthday or a special message from you. A personalised Champagne gift will make your mum feel so special – great for all ages.
Wine
If you don’t have the budget for champagne but still want to get your mum a bottle of tipple then why not consider a bottle of personalised wine? They can be engraved with a personalised message or you can design your own wine label – why not use a picture of you and your mum and design the label around that? Personalised wine will still have the same WOW factor as a bottle of personalised champagne but it wont break the bank!
Wine is more of a classic and underestimated drink in comparison to champagne which flaunts luxury and celebration in your face. Isn’t your mum a classic… one of a kind, someone who gets better with age. I’d say my mum is that’s why if I was giving her a gift then I would most certainly be considering a bottle of personalised wine for her birthday, probably an engraved wine gift, rather than labelled. Just because engraving is a little bit more permanent than a label. Just like my feelings for my mum.
Treasured memories
Personalised photo frames are another great birthday gift for mum. You could print out a favourite photo for the personalised photo frame to make the gift even more memorable. A favourite photo of her grandchildren – or of yourself, of course – will bring a smile to her face. This gift is great for all ages.
Engraved pen gifts
As a constant reminder of your love for your special mum, why not buy her an engraved pen? Engraved pens are a classic gift, and are great for all ages. Whenever your mum reaches for your engraved pen she will be thinking of you. You can add a message of your choice to your engraved pen – or keep it simple, it’s up to you.
But like I said earlier (even though it’s always good to give alternatives…) I would give my mum an engraved wine gift, I know it’s the kind of gift that she would love!
