Outside-The-Box Thank-You Gifts For Your Wedding

Wrapping paper courtesy of Paper Source, Philadelphia and Ardmore. Photo by Zoey Sless-Kitain.

So many of your loved ones are involved in your wedding, and when it’s all over, it’s always lovely to give them a token of your gratitude for the love, support—and, let’s be honest, money—they poured out throughout the celebration. And so, for some advice on how to gift your loved ones with truly personalized—and creative!—thanks, we asked some local pros for some of the most inspired giving they’ve seen. — Jane Morley

From the groom to the bride …

“The most unique gift I ever saw was when one of my grooms gave his bride, on their wedding day, a trip around the world to celebrate their first anniversary together, with a note saying, ‘I’m the luckiest man in the world.’ I think it’s all in the wording—that note can make the gift something the bride will cherish forever.”

—Scott Barnes of Stephen STARR Events

From the bride to the groom …

“One of her father’s heirloom watches. The bride’s mother had given her husband several antique or old watches over the years, and they thought it would be nice to offer one to each of their daughters for their partners.”

—Lynda Barness of I DO Wedding Consulting

For the bridesmaids …

“I’ve loved seeing brides take their bridal party away for a weekend to share time together. When they all lead busy lives or live far away from each other, it’s nice to get away to spend a couple days together at a spa, on the beach or on a cruise ship.”

—wedding expert Melissa Paul

For the groomsmen …

“We’ve done gift certificates to a steak home-delivery company, with monogrammed branding irons. I’m a firm believer that a guy’s grill is his domain, and this makes the perfect gift.”

—Mark Kingsdorf of Queen of Hearts Wedding Consultants

For all the parents …

“We work with a wonderful bookbinder, Bridget Morris from Bella Forte Bookbinding & Letterpress, who creates beautiful custom books using drawings from childhood, school photos and other mementos. We always suggest that the bride or groom write a letter to be included on the last page telling their parents what their presence and participation in the wedding has meant to them.”

—Beka Rendell and Kimberly Fink of Styled Creative

Originally published in the Fall/Winter 2011 issue of Philadelphia Wedding.

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