Great wedding gifts for your spouse-to-be
When you choose to get married, many family members and close friends will go out of their way to make the experience special for you. To thank them, it's customary to buy special gifts for your attendants and to send presents to the many friends and family who held parties for you during your engagement. However, in the midst of all this giving, it hits you: "Am I supposed to get my future spouse a gift, too?"
Wedding tradition suggests that the bridal couple exchange sentimental gifts to commemorate the occasion; however, it is not necessary. It's simply a matter of personal choice and budget.
If you do choose to give your future spouse a wedding present, keep in mind that it doesn't have to be expensive to be special. Here are some gift ideas for couples on a budget.
Cuff him. You can buy a simple set of cuff links for less than $50 at your local department store. You also might ask your parents if there are any cuff links in the family that would make a nice, sentimental gift.
Frame it. Find a good picture of the two of you and put it in a nice frame. Then glue a poem or love note to the inside of the frame.
Get to your stations. If your bride is changing her name, order her some nice stationery with her married name on it. She'll need it to write thank you notes and she'll be thrilled if you write a sweet note expressing your happiness that she's taking your name.
Register ahead. Now that you both are going to be sharing a home, why not share a Web site, too? On the site, you can post pictures of yourselves before the wedding. Then afterward, you can update the site to let friends and family know about the honeymoon. You can also post pictures of the wedding and the honeymoon once you get them back.
All booked up. As a simple token of love, buy a nice copy of a book of poems by an author you both like. If possible, find a copy of the book published the year of your wedding or the year you met. Be sure to inscribe the book with a sweet letter to your future spouse.
