Creative Gift Ideas for Co-Ed Wedding Showers

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Photo: Courtesy of Blueprint Registry
 

Theoretically, wedding gifts are not gender-specific. Wedding registries are supposed to be filled with things the new couple needs to complete their household, hence the traditional presents, like dishes, blenders (and other small kitchen appliances), linens, and cutlery. Gifts for bridal showers, on the other hand, tend to be more feminine as they're for the bride, specifically.
But lately, traditional bridal showers are being replaced with co-ed wedding showers that include both the bride and groom, as well as a co-ed contingent of guests. Why the shift? Probably because grooms are far more involved in the wedding planning than they have ever been in the past, and they want to be a part of the pre-wedding festivities. And because married couples like to give showers for their engaged-couple friends together.

Co-ed showers are usually in the evening, and typically have a lot more cocktail-ing than at a bridal shower. And because the focus is on the bride AND the groom, a little more creativity is required when selecting gifts. Instead of going straight off the registry, or handing the couple a gift card, consider being more creative.

Bar and Entertainment Accessories
These are always a hit for a co-ed shower. It's an opportunity give brides and grooms higher-end items than they probably wouldn't buy for themselves. I absolutely love the cutting boards, fancy muddlers, and serving trays from The Wooden Palate. Their coasters made from the old Atlantic City Boardwalk are gorgeous. You can personalize barware for the couple, with monograms on glasses and cocktail napkins. Or get even more creative with monogrammed whiskey rocks that display their wedding date from The Ultimate Man Shop.


Outdoor Activity Kits
These are the modern take on giving the traditional picnic basket as a gift. Start with a compact, but high-end, cooler that has slots for wine bottles, in addition to room for food and other beverages. Bed, Bath & Beyond has a selection of options for every budget and style. Pockets for utensils and paper products are a plus, and giving the gift stuffed full of things to use makes it twice as nice. If it comes with picnic accessories, fill the empty spaces with wine, crackers, and other non-perishable gourmet items.

For a couple who likes the beach, a wheeled cart designed to hold their beach chairs, cooler, umbrella, and beach bags is a huge hit. Personalize it with some luxurious monogrammed beach towels from Advantage Bridal, sporting the soon-to-be-married couple's new initials.

Emergency Preparations
For the couple who has everything, HIS and HERS "go-bags" or "bug out" bags are a new thing. Everybody is supposed to have a "go-bag" packed and ready to take out the door in case you have to evacuate. Following guidance from a reputable source such as The Survivalist Blog, fill up color-coded backpacks with some of the essentials. Create a checklist of what-all should be in each bag, mark what you've provided, and put the list in a card with a note of explanation so the couple can complete it themselves.

Here’s What The Groomsmen Do While The Bridesmaids Are Getting Ready

While floral robe-clad bridesmaids are busy getting their make-up and hair done, the groomsmen are usually up to all kinds of silly antics.

See what goes on behind the scenes in the photos below.

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Ben Godkin with Caroline Studios

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Rob Greer Photography

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Greg Lumley

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del Sol Photography

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Fotos by Fola

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Quetzal Photo

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del Sol Photography

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Tara Parekh Photography

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onelove photography

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Lucas Anderson for Amelia Soper Photography

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Quetzal Photo

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Irish Grzanich Photography

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Maria Lamb Photography

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Ben Godkin with Caroline Studios

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Jonas Seaman Photography

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Scobey Photography

What If the Maid of Honor Has a Major Crush on the Best Man (or Vice Versa)?

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Photo: Cassi Claire Photography
 

Jen Glantz is a "Professional Bridesmaid" and the founder of Bridesmaid for Hire. She's the author of All My Friends Are Engaged and frequently wears old bridesmaid dresses to the grocery store and on first dates. For her latest BRIDES column, she tackles the sticky situation of a potential hook up between the maid of honor and best man.

Weddings are all about celebrating love, but often times it's not just about the love between the couple getting married. Sometimes it's about new found and newly formed love that starts inside of the wedding party. So when the bridesmaids and the groomsmen come together and spend time with one another during the wedding adventure, you may ask yourself if it's okay for crushes to develop and for even, possibly, the maid of honor and the best man to grow smitten for one another.


Your initial thought may be that if your maid of honor is off exchanging googly eyes with the best man, that she won't have time to be there for you or that she'll be totally distracted. But the truth is, it won't be a problem. If anything, it will add to her excitement toward the whole wedding and will bond her even more to the responsibilities of the wedding weekend.

But if you find yourself concerned with the situation, sit her down before the wedding and ask her to be there, present with you during the morning and before the ceremony. But after you say your "I dos", let her know that she can go off and dance the night away with her new crush.

You never know, if they hit it off you may be giving quite the wedding toast at a future celebration for the budding couple. So let them enjoy themselves, and if you need a little extra help here or there, turn to the other members of your bridal party.

Guy’s Guide: 6 Gift Ideas for Your Groomsmen

To switch things up today, I wanted to direct my focus on the guys. With everything on Perfect Wedding Guide being geared towards the ladies, it only made sense to give just a little bit of attention to the opposite sex… after all the wedding is their day too.
Let’s be honest, we’ve all received some pretty interesting and most often unusable gifts as a thank you for being a part of a wedding. Whether it be superhero socks or a pocket watch that no one in this century uses. Sadly they all end up sitting in drawer or being thrown out after the fact. To eliminate that, I’ve done some much needed research for you. I’ve asked numerous guys what kind of gifts they’ve received from being in weddings to see what they loved and what they loathed.
Across the board, the below ideas are the ones that they all loved and or wished they had received. To make life even easier, I’ve included where you can buy each item. So get ready to get all your groomsmen excited when you present them with one of these gifts!
1. YETI Products
The one brand that came out of everyones mouth was YETI. Now as a female I do not understand the excitement that comes with a fancy cooler, but after looking up the specific products that the guys talked about, I now get it. Anything Yeti can be a little pricer, but this is the one thing that will be used time and time again from your groomsmen. Consider YETI Coolers Rambler Colster Beer Insulators ($29.99 each) or YETI Rambler Drink Tumblers ($29.99 for 20oz or $39.99 for 30oz). Go one step further by getting any of the stainless steel products engraved for each groomsmen.
(Image from Pinterest)
2. Barware
Something that will never go out of style is barware, whether it be stainless steel flasks or beer steins and shot glasses. Similar to the YETI products, you can get them engraved with your groomsmens names, the date of the wedding or their nicknames. As an added bonus pick up mini bottles of their favorite liquor and mini Cokes to have one final toast as a single man.
(Image from First Pick Planning)
3. Watches
While asking the guys about gift ideas, I quickly learned that they are not as specific as us females. Particularly because the purchase of a watch was another standard thought among them all. When I select a watch, it takes time and lots of thought on whether or not it will match things I own, etc. But all the guys said that if it matched with their suit or tux, they could add it to their existing collection and would wear it often. So with that, consider picking up a nice watch for your groomsmen. Something like this JetMaster Silver-Tone Michael Kors watch ($154.88 on sale) or this Seiko Solar Sport ($180 on sale) or this Marc by Marc Jacobs Chronograph Dillon ($275 at Macy’s).
(Image from Pinterest)
4. Cufflinks
Granted most men do not wear cufflinks on a daily basis, this is one gift idea that can be very nice to have. One of the guys recommended offering to buy the cuff links and having your groomsmen pick out their own. You can go novelty with it and get these Superhero Cufflinks ($165 for set of five) or get a little more personal with these Custom Groomsmen Cufflinks ($237.55 for set of five).
(Image from Lavender Hill Weddings & Events)
5. Leather Wallet
Something that a gent can always use is a wallet. Unlike women’s handbags, you all sit on them and they get worn pretty quickly. Picking your boys up a nice leather wallet will be a great gesture that will be used until a new one is needed. Make it more personal by having their initials stitched on them. My personal favorites include this Slim Billfold ID wallet ($125 at COACH) and this Mitchell Leather Money Clip Billfold ($102 on sale at Jack Spade). Or perhaps your guys would prefer a money clip like the one in the image below from Miller’s Leather Shop ($24.95).
(Image from Miller’s Leather Shop)
6. Rent or Purchase
One of the more costly ideas would be to take care of the groomsmen’s attire. Whether you prefer to rent the tuxedos and suits or purchase them, picking up the tab for them is one grand gesture that will make all your boys grateful.
(Image from Pinterest)
If you are trying to stick to a smaller budget, consider one of these options as an alternative:

-Fun socks
-Handkerchiefs
-Cigar or two
-Bottle of their favorite liquor
-Cool beer bottle openers

Keep in mind these are just the ideas I received from a group of gents I know. This may or may not be the mass consensus on the topic. One thing to keep in mind is your overall budget. Asking your best bros to stand next to you on your wedding day can be thank you enough. After all, it means they are the ones who are closest to you and have shared and experienced the most with you.

The 2015 Guide to Wedding Party Gifts

I’ve discussed ways to recognize the people in your wedding party, and the most popular way is through gifts. Whether they’re something useful or something meaningful, gifts are wonderful tokens of appreciation. If you’re searching for gifts to get your wedding party, here are some of this year’s most popular ideas:


Bridesmaid Gifts:

— Monogrammed wedding shoes: There are many styles of monogrammed wedding shoes, from heels to ballet flats. This is becoming an increasingly popular gift trend, especially in the couple’s wedding colors. Check out sites like Etsy.com for ideas.

— Floral print robes: Esty.com also has these incredibly cute floral print robes. These gifts will allow your bridal party to be comfortable and look great in photos as they’re waiting to have their hair and makeup done.

— Alex and Ani charm bracelets: Jewelry is always a popular gift for wedding party attendants, and Alex and Ani charm bracelets are an elegant and thoughtful option.

— Personalized scents (perfume): Another rising trend is the creation of truly customized scents for each person in the wedding party. Sites like thegreatestsmellever.com offer couples the option of purchasing personalized perfumes and colognes…a step above just having a gift engraved.

— Wine glasses: Glasses are popular because they can easily be personalized with words and/or pictures. You can commission an artist to paint pictures on each glass that have meaning to you and each attendant. If wine isn’t your thing, martini or margarita glasses work well, too!

Groomsmen Gifts:

— Cufflinks: This is always a popular choice because they can be customized in both lettering and style. Sites like custommade.com offer a variety of options, allowing you to choose cufflinks that suit each attendant.

— Flasks: If you’re not having a dry wedding, flasks are another popular item for groomsmen. Personalizing them with the groomsmen’s names and the wedding date will make these nice keepsakes.

— Whiskey: Known as a “man’s drink,” whiskey has become a trendy groomsmen’s gift. Just make sure if you go this route that the bottles say closed until after the wedding so you don’t have inebriated attendants on your hands.

— Personalized scents (cologne, beard oil): Much like the bridesmaid’s gifts listed above, personalized scents for groomsmen are on the rise. And with facial hair now considered hip, beard oil is a great option.

— Guys’ outing. Sometimes it’s better to spend time with the guys than worry about finding the perfect gift. Go golfing, fishing, skydiving, skiing, or anything you and your closest guys want to do. Make sure to take some pics to record the occasion.

Gifts for Either:

— Name hangars: Hangars with “Bridesmaid” or “Groomsman” are cute and popular gifts. Etsy.com is a good place to find them.

– Time capsule: Create a time capsule based on the time when you met each attendant. It can include things like ticket stubs, photos, movie listings, newspaper/magazine clippings, and other trinkets.

— Photo frames: For something personalized and sentimental, have photo frames engraved with the attendants’ names and the wedding date, and include a picture of the two (or three) of you in it for them to keep.

These are just a few of the trendiest wedding party gifts this year. Do you have any suggestions for other couples to consider? Please share them with us!

Photo credit: Set Free Photography

This Luxe Wedding Had 42 People In the Bridal Party (And 800 Guests)!

By: Lauren Levy

 

With a guest list of over 800, it’s no surprise that Claire and Clint had a hard time narrowing down their friends and family when it came time to pick their bridal party attendants. For their traditional ceremony at Hyde Park Baptist Church in Austin, the couple was joined by 13 bridesmaids, 13 groomsmen, nine house party members, four flower girls and three ring bearers.

The lavish couple also didn’t hold back when it came to their grand reception. Verve Austin transformed the Austin City Limits at The Moody Theatre into an over-the-top soiree with a springy lavender and pale pink color palette. Fete De Fleurs filled the expansive space with lush hydrangea and rose arrangements—including a fresh flower wall and an installation over the cake. Sylvia Winestock Cakes perfected the majestic six-tiered confection with a mix of fresh and sugar blooms. The incredible Baylor Stadium groom’s cake featured a six-foot bear mascot and a functioning Jumbotron that flashed pictures of the bride during her cheerleading days. Jennifer Lindberg Weddings captured all of the seriously stunning details from the BIG day, check it out here and below!





 
 





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