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Weigh in on These Weird Wedding Products

Tara Block — Thu, 24 May 2012 04:00:46 PDT

We thought we'd seen everything when it came to types of wedding-related goods, but apparently not! For Winter brides looking to stay cozy on their big day, Ugg Australia has released a wedding collection. We never thought we'd see wedding Uggs, but then again, we were also surprised to see wedding Toms. But as weird as the sheepskin bridal shoes may seem, they are far from the strangest wedding product out there. With toilet paper or beer koozies, companies have gotten very creative with their wedding paraphernalia. Check out these offbeat gifts, decorations, and accessories and tell us: do you find them funny and festive, or just plain tacky? Weigh in now!

Intimate Inspiration For Boudoir Photos

Tara Block — Tue, 08 May 2012 15:11:48 PDT

This wedding season, why not show your sexy side to your fiancé with a boudoir session? Lingerie, dim lighting, and sex kitten beauty prep make for an ultrasultry big day surprise for your hubby-to-be. And although they are popular for gifting grooms, an album full of the sensual shots can also make an intimate present for your significant other, whether or not there's a wedding in your future. Nervous about stripping down in front of the camera? It's OK; the pics can be as wild or tame as you're comfortable with. Check out these inspiring boudoir photos that range from leaving much to the imagination to verging on blush-worthy. You'll be ready for your close-up in no time!

Keep or Toss These 7 Registry Rules

Emily Co — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 11:57:31 PDT

Wedding season can get a bit pricey if you're attending a couple this Summer. After all, each event requires yet another gift for the happy bride and groom. There are plenty of gift registry rules out there that seem a bit dated and unreasonable for post-recession survivors. Read on to have your say in which rule is still appropriate in this frugal day and age.

Wedding Favors That Give Back

Tara Block — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 06:00:00 PDT

Wedding expert Abby Larson, editor and founder of Style Me Pretty, is well-versed in all things bridal. And she's sharing her expertise with us this wedding season with a series of articles on tips and tricks for your big day! First, she helped us out with advice on recycling your wedding, and now she's back with ideas for sentimental wedding favors that will leave a lasting impression on your guests. Abby says, "Whether it's a token of gratitude chosen to represent who you are as a couple, a nod to your family roots, or it's something that truly gives back to the world, the gifts given with meaning will always be treasured the most." We couldn't agree more! Here are nine fun favors that give back, straight from Abby.

Photo by Eric Laurits and more courtesy of Style Me Pretty

"How Much Should I Spend on a Destination Wedding Gift?"

Tres Community — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 03:05:39 PDT

This question is from a Group Therapy post in our TrèsSugar Community. Add your advice in the comments!

My best friend is getting married on a beach about 2,000 miles from where we live, so I'm already spending a good deal of money to stay for the week and see her tie the knot. Since I'm spending so much on the trip, how much should I spend on a wedding gift? Honestly, I won't have much of anything left over by the time I pay for travel. My mom thinks that my presence should be the gift and that I only owe my friend a card. Thoughts?

Have a dilemma of your own? Post it anonymously to Group Therapy for advice, and check out what else is happening in the TrèsSugar Community.

How You Should Split Up Your Wedding Gift Budget

Emily Co — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 11:52:56 PDT

We've gotten many questions on how much to give newlyweds, and not to mention, the preparties leading up to the big day - engagement party, bridal shower, and bachelorette party. With too many parties to account for and a never-ending list of things to spend money on, such as the cost of traveling to the wedding (and if you're in the bridal party, the dress, shoes, and accessories - gah!), you need to make sure that your spending doesn't get out of control.

The best way to figure out your expenses for the gifts is to set a budget for the whole wedding and split it up among the different events. Here's what our savvy pal LearnVest had to say about this:

For gifts, determine your gift budget per couple for the wedding season. Once you have this number, Eisinger recommends breaking down the gift budget by these percentages for the events:

50%: wedding

20%: engagement

25%: shower

5%: bachelorette

Eisinger says the most important thing is to refer again and again to your budget: “Over the course of a year, you’re not thinking about the bigger picture of what you’re spending on a wedding. You’re thinking it’s only $50 this week and $20 this week, but it is actually $100 spread out over a period of time.”

Read on for more great wedding saving tricks from LearnVest.

Heartfelt Engagement Gift Ideas

Tara Block — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 04:00:00 PDT

Once you're invited to an engagement party, you may be facing a gift conundrum. Chances are, the happy couple hasn't yet registered, and even if they have, you may want to save those offerings for the actual big day. Engagement parties are the perfect chance to go with something more thoughtful and personal, whether that be an experience gift or a small, inexpensive present with sentimental value. Here are some ideas!

Give them something useful: After all the money they'll be spending on the wedding, a splurge like a luxe photo album for wedding pics, personalized guestbook, or thank-you cards for after the wedding would be much appreciated.

Help them make their house a home: When a dear friend of mine had an engagement get-together, I got her and her fiancé a pretty and sweet-smelling candle. I knew she had an affinity for mood lighting, but I also knew it'd cozy up their new home together. Pay attention to the little things that mean a lot to the couple but may not make it onto their registry.

Give them one-of-a-kind art: Give the couple something truly personal with a custom portrait of the lovebirds from Etsy or their favorite illustrator. Another idea is to find a cute photo of the couple and turn it into wall art.

Help the bride stay organized: Gift a wedding planning book or a purse-sized planner with a calendar to help give the bride-to-be a jump start on her to-do list. Or you could just give her a pretty journal to jot down her experiences during the lead-up to the wedding.

Photo by Abby Jiu Photography via Style Me Pretty

6 Delicious Wedding Gifts Not on the Registry

Katie Sweeney — Tue, 24 May 2011 03:15:56 PDT

When it comes to wedding gifts, it's standard to select something practical, like china, off of the registry. However, if the bride and groom are foodies, why not consider presenting them with an awesome culinary experience instead? I've got six scrumptious suggestions that would also make wonderful birthday, anniversary, or Father's Day gifts.

Gift certificate to a restaurant. Select a fancy restaurant in the couples' home town. Place the gift certificate in a pretty card and write a note suggesting that they enjoy a meal together to celebrate their six-month anniversary. (For those couples who prefer to register for special dinners, you can do so at FoodieRegistry.)
Cooking classes. There's tons of awesome culinary classes out there, select one that suits the cooking style of the happy couple. If the bride and groom are really into cheese, purchase tickets to a cheese-making class. Likewise, if they're adventurous, present them with passes to a butchery class.

Check out the other four suggestions after the break.

How Much to Give a Newlywed Couple? Readers Say From $50 to $100

SavvySugar — Mon, 23 May 2011 03:05:53 PDT

Although there are many that think cold hard cash is a very impersonal gift, you have to admit that it is practical - you know the couple will undoubtedly use it. I'm always discussing with friends what the right amount is to give during a wedding, and the most common answer is $100. Turns out, readers think along the same lines and 45 percent say they spend between $51 to $100.

The next popular choice is spending $101 to $150 with 20 percent of readers saying they give that much to the wedded couple. Then there is the surprisingly generous minority, 11 percent, who say they usually give over $200.

There are of course certain factors you might take into account, such as your relationship with the bride and groom and your budget, but do you think the number sounds about right?

Your Best Wedding Gifts

Tara Block — Thu, 19 May 2011 04:00:00 PDT

I asked a handful of my long-time married and freshly hitched friends, as well as our faithful Facebook fans, what the best wedding gift you received was. From the splurge-y to the sentimental, you all shared the gifts that made the greatest impact on you. Some were experience gifts, some were just registry items that get used on a daily basis, and some were boudoir-related - always appreciated by newlyweds. Besides the always practical but not-too-exciting monetary gift, which a lot of our Facebook fans seemed to love the most, here are the top wedding presents our friends and readers received. And be sure to take notes for the next time you receive a save the date!