[colebear]

My sister is getting married in September. I love her but we're not super close since we have very different personalities. I am a bridesmaid, but not the maid of honor if that gives you any indication. Well, I checked out her registry and she really isn't asking for all that much, which makes sense since she's lived with her fiance for the past 2 years. And I really don't want to give her a sandwich iron.

My sister isn't overly sentimental and tends to put a bit of her focus on material items. Her fiance has money and they travel a good bit.

Can anyone give me ideas for wedding gifts that you received that really meant something to you and that you remembered years after the event? Or gifts you've given or even just heard about that you think might help me?

Thanks for any and all assistance =)

[kiramira]

Just to help this along, what is your budget?

Kira

[colebear]

I guess that would be helpful. Between $100 and $150. I already spent $125 on the dress and I still have to buy dyed to match shoes and pay for two nights at the posh hotel she's having her reception. And I'm hoping to lose a size or two before the big day, in which case I'll have to have my dress altered.

Sadly money doesn't grow on trees.

[kiramira]

A memorable gift for a semi-close travelling material girl...Hmmm...I don't recall any memorable gifts that I got for my wedding. I think registries are to make it easy for guests, so they can get something the couple wants. But if you want to make the gift a bit special you might think of these:
1. Gift certificate for a great restaurant in her area. She can have a nice dinner out with her DH, which may be more memorable than a sandwich iron.
2. As you live in Florida and I assume she does too -- and Florida has lots of attractions --, you might think of an experience-type gift, such as "swim with the dolphins" or for a hot air ballon ride or an introductory scuba lesson or boat cruise or something out of the ordinary that is an EXPERIENCE rather than a thing.
3. Tickets for two for a local play or production or theatre. Even gift certificates for the movies. Sometimes these "luxuries" can get lost in the budget given our financial circumstances and these are appreciated and used.

My dear SIL God Love Her is a material girl, too, but really, really picky about her material things. It's best for me to give her a gift certificate because whatever I get her is never what she really wants. And it gets returned EVERY time.

Hope this helps...
Kira

[colebear]

Thanks for taking the time to make some suggestions. I've been asking married people around me and my boss also suggested the gift certificate to a posh restaurant since that was her favorite of the gifts she received when she got married.

[bacilli]

The best gift I got at my wedding was sentimental. That's surprising, because I'm not really sentimental. My best friend got with all of my families and friends and made a photo album of every picture she could find of DH and I. That's a lot of pictures, since we've known each other since we were kids. It was really cool to see us over that 15 year time span. It's always amusing to pull it out and see us on a rock climbing trip at 15, or the skiing trip at 17, or falling down drunk in college, or when we first started dating at 21, etc.

Some of the other non-registry items we received were engraved picture frames, gift certificates to restaurants, etc. DH's little sisters got us a geometric statue that means entwined (as in our lives). Our friends chipped in and covered the cost of a whitewater rafting weekend.

[kiramira]

You're welcome! I hope you have a great time. Is your dress nice? I'm sure you'll look amazing...

Kira

[colebear]

My dress is geat. My sister said the dress need to be purchased at David's Bridal, knee length and in Horizon blue... pick the one that flatters you most...

http://www.davidsbridal.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplayView?storeId=10052&catalogId=10051&c ategoryId=-49998946&currentIdx=14&subCategory=-49998947|-49998946&catentryId=6109354&sort=

It's cotton and has pockets! It rocks.

[kiramira]

OMG that is BEAUTIFUL! And how nice to be able to pick a style flattering to YOU! You are going to look amazing!

Kira