Ok I want to get a really nice sentimental gift for a friend of mine that is getting married. I am her Matron of honor, my husband is the grooms Best Man. We are very close to them as a couple, and I have known Amanda (bride) since she started dating my husbands best friend. I don't want to do a spa day or anything that costs a lot of money. I have plenty of time to make something or get something together. They are getting married November of 2008.
Thanks in advance!!
What about taking pictures of all the big events to come (Shopping for the Dress,Bridal Shower, Dress Fitting, Bachelorette Parties,Rehearsal Dinner, Getting Dressed before the Wedding etc) and putting them together in a Scrapbook. You could do all the scrapbook pages now and add the pictures as you take them. You could still present the gift with the promise to finish up the pictures while they are away on their honeymoon.
I, personally, second the scrapbook idea. The fact that you made it will mean so much to your friend. Not to mention, all the pictures are artistically arranged in one place for her to showcase on her coffee table. Frames, photo albums, and engraveable items are nice, but they're common and a little boring in my opinion. Anyone can go out and buy those things and you specifically said you wanted something nice and sentimental.
You can start your scrapbook with pictures of your friend and her hubby-to-be when they met and, like the other mom said, work your way through all the pre-wedding events. You can give it to her before the wedding and then tell her you will finish it out with wedding and honeymoon pictures. Don't waste time at those scrapbook stores, unless you need something very specific. Watch Hobby Lobby's weekly specials and go stock up on the items you want/need when they have their sales. Hobby Lobby usually has all that stuff at 30-50% off. Make sure you use all the acid-free paper, adhesive, and embellishments though...they keep your pictures from fading over time.
I was at my neighbor's house the other day and she had this really cool picture frame. It had digital pictures loaded in it and the pictures kept changing, like a slide show.
I think she said it was about $200 when she got it but you might be able to find something like it at a more reasonable place. I am getting this frame for grandparents this year for Christmas and having it loaded with pictures of my daughter, hubby, me, house, pets, etc because we have no family here and this can be a window into our world for them.
The earlier post about pictures documenting up to the big day is nice and they would work with a cool frame.
Susan
If the wedding isn't huge, I have one suggestion at was great at a recent wedding. My brother was the officant for his 2 best friends. He had the wedding lines and everything in a wooden bound book that he used during the service. Afterwards, he had all of the attendant write in the book, then passed it around to the guest. When they were leaving for their honeymoon, he gave it to them on the way out. That way they had someone to read on the airplane or while they were on their honeymoon. And it was a great keepsake for the whole event.
Go to Things Remembered or to Hallmark.
Get a picture frame ingraved with the date of the wedding and include a great pic you have of them.
You could also have a blanket engraved with their names and wedding date for @ $50.00 at Things Remembered.
My favorite gift was a frame that had my wedding invitation in it. She got 2 copies of my invitiation. Inside the frame is the front of the invitiation. On the back she taped the inside of the invitation. I was married in 1999 and I will have it hanging in my bedroom.
Good Luck and let us know what you decide. :)
