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!
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!
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!
When people are invited to a wedding the thing they think about most (before the happy couple and the wedding gifts that they will have to buy) is the wedding dress that the bride will be wearing … who cares about engraved champagne gifts when the bride might be wearing black instead of the traditional white (I stress, that this is highly unlikely!).
Although most people think white is the traditional colour of wedding dresses – to symbolise virginal qualities – this hasn’t always been so. Queen Victoria is credited with setting the trend for white wedding dresses in motion, but for hundreds of years wedding dresses were a colourful affair, as this poem shows:
“Married in white, you will have chosen all right. Married in grey , you will go far away. Married in black, you will wish yourself back. Married in red, you’ll wish yourself dead. Married in blue, you will always be true. Married in pearl, you’ll live in a whirl. Married in green, ashamed to be seen, Married in yellow, ashamed of the fellow. Married in brown, you’ll live out of town. Married in pink, your spirits will sink.”
By the late eighteenth century, white was firmly established as the most popular colour, but many brides still chose their dresses on more practical grounds. The bride and groom often appeared quite stern on their wedding photos! Some brides, particularly frontier brides, chose dresses that could be worn after the wedding. As wedding dresses usually followed the fashions of the time, they required only a little alteration to be perfect to wear again and again.
By the time of World War I, wedding dress styles reflected the role of women in society. The hems got shorter and brides got rid of tight corsets. Coco Chanel is renowned for her influence on women’s fashions, and it was she who introduced the short wedding dress in the 1920s. The wedding dress was knee length and was worn with a long train.
During the Depression, a bride and groom could rarely afford the luxury of new wedding attire, and the bride would make do with her best dress. If a bride did buy a new wedding dress, after the ceremony she would often dye it a more practical colour. By World War II, weddings became hurried affairs, with the bride and groom often marrying after an engagement of only a couple of weeks. The wedding dress would usually be a smart suit – practical and stylish. If the bride and groom both happened to be in the armed forces, they would marry in their uniforms.
After the war, Royal weddings once again began to influence the choices of wedding dress. Grace Kelly’s fairy-tale wedding to Prince Monaco, in a lavish silk and lace gown, inspired many a bride-to-be. Our own Princess Diana may have had an even greater sway over wedding dresses to come, but these days the focus is on individuality, with brides being more likely to choose from an overwhelming number of styles and designs. Personalised wedding gifts are also popular today, with the art of celebration as important as ever.
If you need to find a great gift for the bride why not consider a bottle of personalised champagne? It’s a simple gift, that the bride will love. It’ll also be great while she is getting ready with all her bridesmaids! – engraved rose champagne would probably be perfect.
Take a look at our range of wedding gifts to see if you can find something that the bride will love
If you have the honour of being asked to be someone’s best man then you should feel really proud. But it is a duty that should be taken seriously as there are many important responsibilities that fall on you as the best man. For example making sure the groom gets to the church on time! The best man is usually someone close to the groom – a brother or very close friend, often a friend since childhood – and as such his involvement with the wedding, and his support of the marriage, is really important to the bride and groom. The groom could be nervous on the day of his wedding, wanting like the bride that everything goes perfect. The best man needs to assure him that that will happen!
During the hectic, often stressful, run up to the wedding, the best man will be helping out in all sorts of ways – running errands, acting as a confidant to the groom, smoothing over family frictions and bolstering the groom’s confidence ready for the big day.
A great best man needs to be cheerful, positive and reliable. He also needs to be pro-marriage and happy relationships – no groom wants a best man who moans about his own girlfriend or wife the whole time! Has anyone seen “Ghost’s of Girlfriends Past” ? – that explains why you shouldn’t have a best man who is anti-marriage!
Best man duties usually include:
Looking after the rings and presenting them at just the right moment during the ceremony. Loved by makers of comedy programmes, this task seems to provide lots of opportunities for mishap. A great best man must be reliable and responsible – no lost rings, please! That would probably end your friendship with the groom.
Making a speech that won’t end in a very quick divorce. The best man’s speech is traditionally a chance to make a bit of fun of the groom’s past, but no bride wants to listen to a litany of sexual exploits – and any mention of ex-girlfriends is a complete no no. How would you like it if your best man starting airing all your dirty linen in public? I’m sure you wouldn’t be best pleased!
Organising the wedding presents as they arrive, finding a room to store the wedding presents and making sure they are safe for the duration of the day. Obviously, this needs to be done by someone who hasn’t been propping up the bar all morning!
Among other things, the best man will need to keep the bridesmaid gifts and usher gift to hand for the groom to give out during the speech, make sure the bride and groom get the wedding presents before they leave the reception, and be supportive and cheerful all day.
As you can see, a great best man is an essential part of the proceedings and can help to make the wedding go smoothly in lots of ways.
Groom Gifts
As best man, one way you can be really great is to buy the groom a fantastic personalised gift. Think about your friend’s likes and dislikes before choosing, so the groom gift is truly special. Engraved groom gifts are a good choice – if he enjoys a cigarette or cigar then how about an engraved Zippo lighter? Or perhaps a personalised hip flask? The groom is bound to have chosen a special personalised gift for you, so don’t be outdone!
As the groom it is your duty to get your best man a great gift for all his help and support, make sure he knows how valuable he is to you and how you probably would not have made it down the aisle without him. A simple gift to give your best man, along with other presents (you’ll see why in a second) – is an engraved pen. Now I know what you are thinking …. why would I get my best man a personalised pen. Well it’s quite simple, everyone needs a pen. You will be giving your best man something that he will always use, therefore reminding him that you really needed him on your special day. So although an engraved pen is a simple gift…. it’s a gift that has real impact!
The groom speech is a chance for him to express his love and admiration for his new wife. This will be the first time he has talked about her as her husband, and can be a very emotional task for many a groom. If you are the groom-to-be, and are uncomfortable with the whole idea of speeches, read on for our easy guide to the perfect bridegroom speech…
Tip #1 – Write the speech as early as you can
This may seem like a no-brainer, but it is surprising how many times the groom is still struggling to jot down his speech ideas just before – or worse, just after – the wedding ceremony! Start thinking of ideas as early as you can. If you start early enough you’re sure to have more than you need.
Tip #2 – Get the balance right
The perfect groom speech is a combination of warmth, humour and sensitivity. Yes, you want to entertain the wedding guests, but you also need to show respect for your new wife, and for your family and friends. Safe themes for the perfect groom speech include: how you and your new wife met, your regard for her family, and the qualities you admire in her. Try to pace your speech – speak slowly and try not to rush through it just to get it over with. This is also an emotional time for your new wife – she will be watching her new husband with pride and love. Make lots of eye-contact if possible.
Tip #3 – Don’t neglect your duties
The groom speech is traditionally expected to contain certain elements, such as thanks to the bridesmaids and the best man and ushers. You may choose to use this speech to give gifts to the bridesmaids, best man and ushers; build this moment in so you don’t forget.
Tip #4 – Practice, practice, practice
If you want to give the perfect groom speech you can’t practice too much. Nerves may be a problem on the day, but if you have given yourself enough time to practice your speech beforehand, you will feel more confident and give a better performance.
Tip #5 – Great Bride Gifts
Don’t forget to buy your new wife a fantastic personalised wedding gift as a way to say thank you for marrying you! Think about your bride’s likes and dislikes before choosing, so she will know the gift is truly special. Engraved bride gifts are a good choice – why not buy her an engraved compact mirror and tell her it is so she can see how beautiful she is every day? Or give her a set of engraved champagne flutes - they do after all come in a pair…Also remember the home at the end of the day will be the way that your darling wife wants it. So it’s quite probable that a pair of personalised champagne flutes is all you can get away with!
If you’re feeling nervous about being a bridesmaid, 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 bridesmaid dos and don’ts…
Bridesmaid Dos:
Do offer to buy your own bridesmaid dress, shoes, bag, and any other accessories. But do remember that even if you are paying, you don’t get the final say in the design!
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 bride for her wedding dress. Be honest, but tactful, and most of all, be patient.
Do plan the hen party, and get the other hens to club together to buy a great personalised bride gift, such as an engraved compact mirror, engraved photo frame or personalised toasting glass.
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 bride get ready on the morning of the wedding, helping her with her makeup and hair if necessary. Bolster her confidence with lots of praise and compliments.
Leave getting yourself ready until after the bride is dressed.
Hold her bouquet during the ceremony and smile widely for the photos!
Take lots of photos of the blushing bride. It’s all well and good having a photographer but some of the best photos are captured when enjoyed a glass of champagne and getting ready for the wedding!
Bridesmaid 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 other bridesmaids or any of the guests. Remember they are all friends and family of the bride.
Don’t moan about your own partner – you must be as positive about weddings and relationships as possible.
Don’t complain about the bridesmaid dress – even if you hate it and it makes you look like a dog’s dinner!
Don’t forget to buy the bride a special gift to show how much you care. Bride gifts are easy to find, but make yours stand out by opting for a personalised bride gift, such as an engraved compact mirror.
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.
As the bridesmaid it is likely that you are going to recieve a gift for all your hard work and support, but don’t expect a gift! The gift should be the honour of being asked to be a bridesmaid. For all those brides out there who are about to get married. DO NOT forget to get your bridesmaids a gift, they made sure you got to the church on time and they were the ones arranging your hen party. Show them how much you appreciate them. The best way I think would be to give them engraved photo frames, these can be personalised with a unique message so that each engraved photo frame is different. However if you them all the same frame with a unique message, that would probably be alot fairer and they wont feel like you are picking favourites!
Many Caribbean weddings borrow ideas from the customs and traditions of the United States in their wedding ceremonies. This, combined with the blend of African and European cultures which is found nowhere else in all the world, give Caribbean wedding traditions a unique and exciting flavour.
Dressing Up The Bride And Groom
In Caribbean weddings, it is traditional for the bride and groom to dress in their finest clothes and to walk from the bride or the groom’s house to the church, listening to the sound of the church bells ringing. Typically, everyone from the village will line the streets on the way to the church to watch the bride and groom as they walk by. It is not unusual for people on the street to make comments on the bride and groom’s clothes!
Invited Guests
Traditionally, guests are invited to Caribbean weddings by word-of-mouth, with only a few honoured guests receiving hand-written invitations. However, most Caribbean weddings are fairly informal events, and anyone from the village who turns up at the wedding, invited or uninvited, is welcome to come in and enjoy the festivities.
No Best Man
There is no need for a best man at a Caribbean wedding – the bride’s father, or sometimes both of her parents, will escort the bride down the aisle, and a best man is considered unnecessary. The bride’s face is traditionally hidden by a veil as she walks down the aisle. At the end of the ceremony, the groom lifts the veil and kisses his new wife, while their family and friends cheer their support.
Caribbean Wedding Receptions
A Caribbean wedding reception can easily go on all night long. The music is usually traditional steel-drums, and there will be lots of rum punch and dancing. The food at a Caribbean wedding reception reflects the unique flavour of the Islands. Combinations can include curried goat, spicy chicken jerky, fried plantains and conch fritters . The traditional Caribbean wedding cake is called ‘Black Cake’, with the recipe usually handed down from mother to daughter for generations.
Caribbean Wedding Gifts
It is traditional with Caribbean weddings for the guests to give the bride and groom hand-made gifts. These often include hand-made quilts and furniture. Caribbean weddings have an abundance of alcohol, which is another popular wedding gift, and many, many toasts to the happy couple. A great personalised gift for a Caribbean wedding would be engraved champagne flutes for the bride and groom, this fits the requirement for a personalised hand made gift and also will be great for all that alcohol be consumed!
Although a large part of the wedding ceremony is fixed, your vows are something you can usually personalise to be just the way you want them. With both civil and church wedding ceremonies, there are certain set parts that must be spoken and read in a specific way for the marriage to be legally binding. But the wedding vows can often be worded in a way that is meaningful to the bride and groom – indeed, many couples now write their own vows from scratch. Check with your church or registrar for their policy on wedding vows, and make sure they approve your vows before the big day.
A Modern Approach
Many couples are forgoing the traditional wedding vows in favour of vows which reflect modern life. The old vow from a bride to ‘honour and obey’ her husband has been left behind, to be replaced by vows which show mutual respect and consideration. Most couples do, however, like to base their vows on the traditional model, starting with ‘I (name) take you (name) to be my lawfully wedded (wife/husband)…’. This gives the vows a solemnity, and can then be followed by whatever the couple decide upon.
Writing Your Own Vows
It’s important for both the bride and the groom to agree on the wedding vows. It’s no good one of you writing your own vows, while the other intends to read out the version supplied by the church or registrar. It is a good idea for the bride and groom to sit down individually and together, and to think about what they would like to promise each other. The obvious things can be included, such as to love each other, respect each other, see each other through hard times, and to be faithful always. You can also include other, more personal promises, such as a promise to always cook a favourite dish or give your spouse a lie-in once a week! This will lend a lighter note to the vows, so be sure to agree on the tone as well as the content.
Personalising The Day
Wedding vows aren’t the only way the bride and groom can personalise their wedding day. Along with your own special words, why not have personalised pens for the signing of the register. Whenever you use these pens in the future you will remember the importance of the commitment you made on this day.
I know recently I have been writing alot about weddings but remember it is wedding season at the moment so you need to think about the types of gifts you are going to buy when attending a wedding. If you are close friends with the bride and groom you could get the two of them a personalised pen. You can have the pens engraved with a personalised message and they can use those engraved pens to write their wedding vows.
that’s why if I was giving her a gift then I would most certainly be considering a bottle of 
