If you find it challenging to dress up common gifts like gift cards, jewelry, and wine, how about concentrating instead of how the gift is packaged? Some of the nicest gifts are ones that include personalized initials, names, or dates on them. Gift-givers can incorporate this into their “packaging” in many creative ways. For example, a jewelry bag with an embroidered initial would make a great accompaniment to a piece of jewelry. Or perhaps a personalized spa robe would make the perfect “packaging” for a spa gift certificate. A personalized photo frame with names and dates would be a great way to present a special photo. A bottle of wine can be brought to a dinner party in a tote embroidered with the host’s name or initials. Each section of KismetGiftShop.com is filled with potential packaging ideas! Thinking of ways to dress up common gift ideas will enhance any gift and make it memorable and unique. (posted January 2009)
What often gets left off a Wedding To-Do list may end up disappointing you down the road. In the excitement of leaving the wedding ceremony site for the reception site or the reception site for a honeymoon, couples can often forget to keep those apparently trivial mementos from their wedding. The personalized guest books and unity candles get packed away, as do the extra wedding favors, but what often gets left behind in rush are smaller, but still valuable keepsakes. Special signage at the wedding sites, table numbers, reception menus, small wedding decorations such as confetti, and other seemingly insignificant but sentimental tokens are often forgotten about. How can you best ensure that all these treasures are saved?
You’ll probably be much too busy that day to remember to do this task yourselves, so the best way is to delegate. The bride and groom can each designate one person from their parties to gather these things at each venue. For example, one of the bridesmaids will be in charge of gathering a handful of flower petals and guest sign-in table signage from the ceremony site; and one of the groomsmen can be asked to pick up a menu and other paper mementos from the reception hall. One way to keep all these small mementos organized is to purchase a special keepsake album to slip in these memories. These items can then be placed inside and labeled neatly for future enjoyment. You can use a customizable photo album that can be engraved with names and dates to make it extra special.
Another keepsake that brides often do not get a chance to hold on to is the wedding garter. Because the garter gets “tossed” to the crowd, there is nothing to keep except photos or memories of the tossing ceremony. However, “tossing garters” solves this problem for brides! Brides can wear two garters, one that the groom traditionally removes so that the bride can throw it to the bachelors, while the other garter remains on the bride’s leg and acts as an accessory for her husband to admire later on that evening, and as a keepsake of the special day. Some wedding accessory stores will include a “tossing garter” for free with the purchase of a regular garter so that brides can indulge in the tossing tradition while keeping a beautiful garter as one more token of her wedding day. The wedding day will be a blur for many couples, so plan ahead to make sure all mementos of the day are saved by including this task on your wedding planning checklist! (posted January 2009)
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Brides Planning Weddings Are Not Fazed by Economic Downturn
New poll shows that more than half of those planning weddings are not making budget changes, even with the arrival of a recession.
Houston, TX, January 14, 2009 -- Even though consumers are tightening their purse strings, at least one segment of the purchasing public is not changing their particular spending habits: couples planning weddings.
In a poll taken last week on the popular wedding blog weddingbee.com, more than half of engaged brides (56%) say the current recession has no effect on their wedding budget. Many of those cite their already frugal ways and prior plans to have a simple wedding. “Recession or no, our plan was always to KISS --Keep It Simple Stupid. For us, it's about getting family together to celebrate a happy occasion.” says blog reader “cantabrigian”.
For the other 44% of respondents who are making budget adjustments, they are doing it creatively. Some ingenious brides who do not want to compromise on the wedding they have long imagined for themselves are finding ways to lower their wedding costs instead. One message posted by “caliwed” shares her idea of using simpler versions of centerpieces by scouring thrift stores for glass vases. “We will have a unique, eclectic look”, she enthuses.
Others say that although the recession has made them more aware of people who may be going without, they are not “necessarily scaling back, but are more thoughtful of [our] decisions”, as posted by “quiche”. One way brides are giving more thought to their budget is by shopping around and finding deals, especially online.
“We recently added the Product Comparison tool and the Wish List tool on our website because it helps shoppers make better buying decisions,” says Vicky Yip, partner at the recently re-launched KismetGiftShop.com, which sells personalized wedding accessories and bridal party and groomsmen gifts. “Using the Product Comparison tool allows them to see the prices and details of our products side by side. The Wish List allows them to keep track of the products they like, so as they price shop on the internet, they can always come back to KismetGiftShop and view the items that they’ve put on their Wish List”, adds Yip.
Although there are plenty of tips for couples on a budget, most couples are not troubled by the downturn and are planning their walk down the aisle just the same, rain or shine.
KismetGiftShop.com operates under Yip Yip Hooray! LLC. KismetGiftShop carries all-occasion personalized gifts for men, women, and kids, as well as personalized wedding accessories for wedding ceremonies and receptions.
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