My Mom Is Getting Married!!!!

Updated on April 25, 2010
S.M. asks from Cleveland, OH
20 answers

My mom is marrying her high school sweetheard this June!!! I am over the moon ecstatic for them both...they are so cute together and really deserve to be happy together. This is a 2nd marriage for both of them, and they already have all of the obvious household items. My mom has told me over and over again that they do not want anything gift-wise, and I know that she is serious...but, I can't help but want to get them something to celebrate not only this special occasion but their happiness.
Any ideas for something personal, creative, and not typical for a wedding gift? As I said, they really don't need 'stuff' and aren't really into knick-knack things (personalized platters, wine glasses, etc).
Just as a side: My brothers and their families are coming in from out of state, and we are having pictures done at the wedding. I will be making something out of the pics to give to them, but am still looking for something sentimental and meaningful to give.
Thanks mama's for your help!

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G.B.

answers from Raleigh on

Make a video interviewing family and friends about both of them. They won't expect it and they will always have it to cherish!

3 moms found this helpful
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M.W.

answers from Elkhart on

There are a lot of great ideas here already! My only thought is maybe a gift certificate to a couples spa, or do they like to go to theatre productions? Maybe seasons pass to some type of broadway theatre if you have them there. These are just idea starters.... congrats, and it's wonderful for all of you!

1 mom found this helpful

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L.G.

answers from Houston on

Pay for the wedding night hotel suite if you can swing it or upgrade their current reservation to a nicer room. Extend their reservation for a late check out, they will appreciate that. Do they have a Limo?.

Make a basket for the morning after the wedding night or have it delivered by the hotel staff. Nice scones from a good bakery, chilled mimosa's, fruit bouquet arrangement.

2 moms found this helpful
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J.M.

answers from Boston on

I was so struck by the line "I am over the moon ecstatic for them both!" I can only imagine that truly knowing that would be the greatest gift imaginable for your mom.

In Jewish tradition, the bride and groom sign a marriage contract called a ketubah right before they get married. Since my husband isn't Jewish, we had ours written in English. What if you wrote a letter that explained all of the reasons why this marriage is a blessing in all of your lives and had someone write it out in nice calligraphy? You can find blank ketubah forms online (or something else, but they're a good size and don't have to be religious at all - here's a site that has a ton http://www.ketubah.com/related-products/product-details/?...) and a paper store could probably point you in the direction of a local calligrapher.

I know this is kind of a weird suggestion, but I really like looking up at ours which is framed in the bedroom, and thinking of our wedding day and the promises that we made to each other. I would imagine that your mother would feel the same about knowing how much you support her in her second marriage. Good luck.

2 moms found this helpful
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L.M.

answers from Terre Haute on

At Wal-Mart they can laser a picture onto a piece of plexiglass (sp?) along with dates and then it sets down into a base and a light shines up through the base and makes the etching stand out. Very neat. You could get an engagement picture of them or any of their favorites of them together and have the date of the wedding and their names or whatever on it as well. Very neat idea. My brother did it for my parents with their wedding picture for Christmas and it was a very great gift. I think it is in the photo lab where you have it done. I am also a big fan of digital photo frames. Especially for those who don't like a lot of stuff sitting around you can gather some photos from both sides of their new family and any where you are all together and upload them into the frame so it is a different picture all the time of everyone important to them and their relationship.

1 mom found this helpful
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D.D.

answers from Denver on

I suggest you plant a tree in their honor. If they have room on their property, do it there. If not, donate a tree in their name, at a local park or their church (if they go). I think a tree symbolizes the strength of their relationship, and the wonderful branches that were born from it, and outside of it considering it is their second.

Congratulations. Have a fun time.

1 mom found this helpful
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D.T.

answers from Muncie on

A type of picture of all the kids. You, your siblings and your soon to be half siblings. Something that shows you're all happy about this and willing to blend and support them and each other as family. Maybe something done at the wedding...Oh, make a sign that says something like "We love you!" have you all gather and sign it then take a picture with you all in your finest and it. Your parents will have the picture and the sign.

Enjoy!

1 mom found this helpful
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M.W.

answers from Cincinnati on

i agree with Lisa G. about upgrading the hotel suite or hiring a limo. They're not mementos, per se, but they can add a little something extra to their time together. I was going to suggest a spa package for 2, or a couples massage....my husband and I had one together and it was bliss!!

1 mom found this helpful
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A.P.

answers from Cincinnati on

If they haven't hired a videographer for the wedding and you can afford it, do that. That is the one thing that I didn't do for my wedding and wish I would have.

1 mom found this helpful
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D.S.

answers from Fort Wayne on

I'm a scrapbooker so that's my answer :o) See if you can get any pics from when they were babies, little kids, teens, when they were together in high school, some pics of them more recently, pics of each of their children, any grandhcildren and then pics of them together now. You could have each of their children do a page or write a letter telling them what they mean to them to put on a page. Then end the scrapbook with pics and memorabilia from the wedding. I'm sure it would be a huge hit!

1 mom found this helpful
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D.P.

answers from Pittsburgh on

When my mom & stepdad got married, O. of their friends bought him a crystal candy jar and her a crystal vase with the sentiment if they each kept the others thing filled up (candy for him, flowers for her) they would stay happy. Cute. Or crystal candlesticks for their table.
Also, think about a nice weekend bed & breakfast trip. We did that for my brother's wedding anniversary and they LOVED it! People TALK about going, but they often don't take the time to plan it.

1 mom found this helpful
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K.G.

answers from Fort Wayne on

My brother is marrying his girlfriend of ten years this summer - and they have never lived together. So they have everything times two! And they both are well established and financially secure heading into this. They are asking that all gifts are made as donations to charitable organizations. I guess there is a website for this (although I haven't looked it up). If there is a charity that they both especially support, maybe you could make a donation in their honor. I'm sure they would be thrilled!

1 mom found this helpful
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S.B.

answers from Kansas City on

my cousin is really into her irish heritage, so I found her a pretty, framed Irish wedding poem. Perhaps something like that if your mom is into that sort of thing?

1 mom found this helpful
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D.W.

answers from Indianapolis on

One of the first gifts my husband gave me is still one of my favorites because it was SO creative. He called both our parents and had them send photos of us as kids, age 3-4 years, and put it in a locket frame.

If you could find pictures from them in high school, perhaps when they were dating, frame it nicely and have that as a centerpiece moving forward in their lives, I think that would be really cool.

One of my cousins has a standard wedding present: a bottle of Dom Perignon. The only caveat is that he gets to share a glass with the bride/groom. Even something like a private toast with your immediate family and a really personal, sentimental toast would be things I would personally enjoy.

Not a great gift giver, but those are things I would personally really enjoy.
Best wishes to your mom and new step father.

1 mom found this helpful
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H.D.

answers from Cleveland on

My best friend's mom gave my husband & I a beautiful rose bush. We've been married nearly 13 years & it still blooms wonderfully every year.

1 mom found this helpful
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S.B.

answers from Savannah on

Maybe a scrapbook/photobook of them as h.s. sweethearts (if you have lots of old pics of them) and then pics of them now in it.

1 mom found this helpful
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A.H.

answers from Toledo on

What about a photo quilt made with pictures of teh two of them "through the years" and maybe also photos of the ones they love. Or have each family member make a personal quilt square( childrens handprints, photos, nice sayings, meaningful thoughts, etc), get it back to you and you can take it to be put together..........

1 mom found this helpful
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M.C.

answers from Cincinnati on

How about planting a tree in their honor?

Updated

Another idea....it takes work, however, it is WELL worth the effort...

Send everyone on the guest list two or three peices of stationary and a large self addressed stamped envelope. Ask them to please decorate the paper with pictures or memories or write a letter to the couple... them have them mail them back to you. You can just slip the decorated reples into those clear plastic sheaths and put them in a binder which you have decorated... this can be displayed at the reception. You can also have extra stationary/supplies available for those who forgot.

I did this for my parents 50th anniversary - everyone enjoyed it at the celebration and it was by far the best gift that they received!

Updated

Another idea....it takes work, however, it is WELL worth the effort...

Send everyone on the guest list two or three peices of stationary and a large self addressed stamped envelope. Ask them to please decorate the paper with pictures or memories or write a letter to the couple... them have them mail them back to you. You can just slip the decorated reples into those clear plastic sheaths and put them in a binder which you have decorated... this can be displayed at the reception. You can also have extra stationary/supplies available for those who forgot.

I did this for my parents 50th anniversary - everyone enjoyed it at the celebration and it was by far the best gift that they received!

1 mom found this helpful
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J.G.

answers from Cleveland on

If you can find a way of bring back the memories of the past (high school, their relationship, both their childhood and even pic of both their kids w/o the ex's) and make an album or scrapbook of them. Maybe you can find some old friend that knew them when they dated & see if the would write down little rememberance notes about them as a couple to add to it.

Try to make it kinda in the order things happened in their lives, childhood pics, high school stuff & rememberance notes, kid pictures and try to add some current pictures of them & the one you are getting taken of the new family when your brother is in town. Then leave some blank pages at the end for them to continue adding future memories or some of the wedding pictures.

1 mom found this helpful
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S.P.

answers from Cleveland on

we received our wedding invitation matted in a beautiful frame. i have given the same thing to quite a few couples who seemed to love it as much as we did.

1 mom found this helpful
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