Wedding Resources

Cheap gifts for the wedding party...? So, I just found out I have to buy the wedding party gifts, but my fiance and I would rather not spend the money because we are poor. What are the usual gifts and how can it make it cheaper?

Wedding gifts for bridal party and parents? Im not sure what to get for the bridal party and our parents. Ive been in 3 weddings recently and dont want to use the same idea as them. They used: Engraved bracelettes White gold rings bracelettes with words and meanings. We are on a tight budget but i dont want these gifts to be cheap because these people do mean a lot to us and we want to thank them for helping with our special day. Any gift ideas? ** SERIOUS answers only. Please dont be rude. Thank you in advance!

I need some help with bridal party gifts!! I am aware it is traditional to get the bridesmaids and groomsman a gift. I bought the girls' jewelry (but I got it at a very cheap price and they are aware of my deal...) so is it tacky and cheap to just give them that. I didn't go with very expensive jewelry for myself or them because it will only be worn that day, and that's it. I was going to make the guys a beer mug w/something manly etched into it. Now it's coming down to it, and we are getting backed out on by several of our family who was supposedly going to kick in some $ to pay. We can't be mad, if they can't afford it now (although we have only been planning for 2 months and you'd think they would have known if they could help out or not. whatever) so now I'm getting married in 5 days...and I'm going even more into debt to pay for the wedding expenses. I couldn't find the etching supplies to make the guys' mugs and now I'm not sure I'll find the time or money. What do I do?! How can I get them something for fairly cheap without it seeming cheap and last minute? And should I get the girls something else so the gifts are all of equal value?! Any ideas for either??? HELP?! (thanks...) Oh yeah, I forgot to mention the fact that my fiance and I have DONE EVERYTHING for this wedding ourselves...decorations, set up, even planning so I'm rather dissappointed with some of the people in the wedding party and I am also angry we had to pay for one of the guy's tuxes...Maybe I'm becoming bridezilla, who knows?!

If a five pound gift voucher too cheap for a wedding gift? A girl in my circle of friends is getting married. We went to the same school and have mutual friends who are close to each other but I do not think I have ever even spoken to her on the phone, one to one. Anyway, she is having a kitchen tea/bridal shower thing before her wedding (which will be abroad). I am going to travel down to london from liverpool for the weekend and I will see a couple of friends as well as go to her party but I have made the effort specifically to come to bulk up the numbers. she is a very sucessful doctor, I am a struggling single mum. She has a gift list and like the cheapest thing is ten pounds apart from five pound gift vouchers. I could not go empty handed but even the travel to london is expensive for me. what should I do, I do not think I have time to make something and it will be a hectic rush from work, then dropping my kid off then catching the train so I would not manage carrying around a bulky homemade gift. Suggestions please. Sorry about the typo. IS a five pound.... not 'If'.

How much money should I spend on an engagement party gift? I am obviously going to the wedding, and will give $100 as a gift. Is $25 too cheap to spend on the engagement party gift?

Why are people stupid when it comes to wedding gifts? I'm not getting married here, but want to know how is it that people can comprehend the costs of taking THEMSELVES out for a fine meal, drinking and dancing all night , yet they are dumbfounded as to what is an acceptable gift when being invited to a lavish wedding that provides all of this entertainment? I am blown away by some of the questions on this site that ask, what is a "funny" gift to give for a wedding or is my $10 toaster a good enough gift to give? Now I realize that brides and grooms are suppose to be putting on a party, however, where on the planet can you eat well, drink and dance all night for $10 or at the cost of a cheap toaster? I think it's insulting to walk into a reception hall with a package in hand, especially when it's from a mature, gainfully employed adult.

How much money should be put into your bridal party gifts? We were going to spend about $30.00 on each of our attendants gifts. Is that too cheap? we have 5 brides maids, 5 groomsmen and 4 kids. Also, what are some nice gifts to buy for them? I was thinking on getting nice necklaces for the ladies and girls to wear for the wedding. Good or bad idea?

I'm spending a ton of money to get to a wedding and stay at the hotel. What is expected from me for gifts? I flew in for a friend's bachelor party and will go again in three weeks for the wedding. They have requested the Wedding party stay at a very pricey hotel so we're all together for dinners, rehearsals, etc. I think that's great - and I don't mind spending a few bucks to make the weekend special. But after the $800 or so I'm spending there, am I still expected to get a gift and do I look cheap if I don't?

What if I don't buy a friend a wedding gift? My close friend dgot married last year and I had to respectfully decline his invitation to be a member of the wedding party; I was preparing to take the CA bar in two weeks and my sister was getting married the very next day. Anyways, I couldn't afford a decent wedding gift and was too embarrassed to give them the one I bought (a cheap photo frame), so I decided against a gift or card entirely. I know he is still pissed at me for not being in his wedding (I can't imagine guys get mad at not getting gifts), and is acting passive aggressive towards me. Will a wedding gift make amends or will it stir up this wound?

Am I being cheap if I don't take a wedding gift to the wedding?...? She had a house warming party like a year ago.$$$ She had a bridal shower $$$$, a bachloret party $$$. Im also a brides maid $$$

My brother told me not to get him a wedding gift -- should I anyway? I am in the wedding party, and my brother said that fulfilling those obligations (buying the dress, etc.) was enough. I already gave them a shower gift, and my brother knows I don't have a lot of money. Still, I'd feel like I was being cheap! Thanks in advance for your advice.

A wedding etiquette question? I am standing in my sister in-laws wedding. We are doing all the normal, throwing her a bridal shower and bachelorette party and then standing in the wedding. My question is do I buy a gift for her for everything even though we are paying for all the parties. I don't mind buying gifts but I don't have a whole lot of money so do I not buy one or look cheap with a cheaper gift?? Thanks in advance and please serious answers only. Just another little note, she stood in my wedding and only got me a little something for my bachelorette party and nothing for our wedding. I didn't have a bridal shower. It didn't bother me either way that she didn't get us a gift, I am a giver not a taker. But I don't know if it would bother her if I only got her a wedding gift and not a shower gift. I am really liking that album idea though.

attendant gifts? What's a reasonable amount to spend on gifts for the wedding party? I have 7 bridesmaids and I was thinking i would buy their jewelry and then give them a gift certificate for around 20 dollars just to bring down the price of their hair and nails... does that look cheap because it won't cover the whole thing??

shes got a bit of a cheek ? well here goes i missed a friends wedding last month because i fell unwellthe nite before the wedding .So i left a message with a friend who was going to send my apologises , as i didnt want to bother her especially as i wasnt part of the wedding party .As she was going on her honeymoon straight after i left her an email witha sorry and an offer to pay for the meals my fiance and i hadnt eatin at the reception also that we would take my friend and her husband out for dinner when we got back .When she got back i heard nothing from her so decided to give her a call , no answers .A couple of weeks on i've accepted that obviously she's not talking to me .To behonest i am kinda hacked of about it I think itis a bit of cheek that she isnt talking to me when she quite happily took the 50 pounds i sent to her as here wedding gift ???? am i in the wrong?Im getting married next year abroad and renting villas for all the guests to stay for 2 weeks so not a cheap wedding should i still invite her at first i did think she was just busy or didnt get my email .But talking to other friends shes been intouch with makes it obvious that shes not just busy , i also resent my email Blunt , I DO NOT see it as a finacial transaction , anything but .Its nothing to do with that ,i offered to pay her for the meals etc and with regards to my wedding if she rsvp'd and took ill i would not have a problem its not something she could have helped .To be honest ur a bit of an idiot arent u

What are good mixed games to play at a wedding shower? My sister's having a wedding and were combining the meet the bride and groom with their wedding shower. Were doing this for price issues and so they will get alot of gifts. What are some good games both guys and girls can play...and what gifts do we give them that are cheap but nice? This is for probably a party of over 30 people so we need games that they can all play. any suggestion would be nice : )

Frugal wedding tips- can you cut this budget for me? Okaaay! I have the following left to pay for for the wedding that is September 6th. DJ- $200 Minister-$200 Marriage license- $100 Bridal party gifts (4 of them) $150 candy buffet (instead of favours) $150 groomsmen golfing morning of wedding- $100 wedding bands- $300 clothing for our kids to wear to wedding- $125 rehersal dinner night before for close family/friends- $250 Hair/makeup- $100 thank you cards for after wedding & shower- $40 Rest of the catering bill- $400 (parents are paying other $3000) I am thinking about skipping getting my hair & makeup done and doing it myself. I am buying basic blank cards from a craft store and stamping my own thank you cards. We have a contract with the DJ otherwise we would just use a laptop for music... but we can't now. We're not handing out favours, but having a candy buffet. Buying candy in bulk, putting it in bowls and stamping white paper bags with our wedding colours and design. how can I cut down on bridal party gift costs? I paid for their dresses. I am really trying to keep their gifts at around $100, not the budgeted $150... was thinking about framing a nice picture of me with each of the girls and giving them as gifts, along with a mini spa kit (bath bombs, lotions, scrubs, etc). I just bought the dress for my daughter on clearance for $19- now my son needs khakis, a white golf shirt, and both kids need shoes. Was thinking about how to spend less on the rings- a brushed white gold/titanium/silver band for hubby, and a white gold band for myself. Where is the cheapest we can get them? Online is fine, as long as they will arrive on time. I also need to buy the following-- tea lights spool of raffia white paper bags placecards & bulletin board for place cards mini plant pots with greenery in them tulle green and chocolate brown ribbon some fake green button mums or something similar a big wreath form to make a wreath with the flowers any ways i can cut down these costs even more? I only have like $2000 TOPS for the rest of this! And what is the ettiquette on tipping the caterer/minister/dj? Thanks!

Do I have to give a gift/money at an engagement party? I am going to an engagement party for my boyfriend's cousin and his fiancee. I have only met his extended family on one other occasion (his sisters wedding) and wanted to know if we are expected to give gifts or money. I read in an article once that the purpose of the party is to "solicit gifts". I do not want to commit a faux pas and have his family think I am cheap! Thanks!

Thinking about having a surprise wedding-thoughts?? Yes we are engaged, just trying to figure out how to have a "cheap" yet memorable wedding. (By the way, we already live together) My idea was to host a 1st Annual Luau Party at our home, send out invites with RSVP 2 months ahead of time, and then say, hey we are getting married today! My future father in law is a pastor, & he is going to marry us, so he will know about it. Then after the simple ceremony, we will barbecue or have a big hog roast & let everyone party down. Then every year after, we can still have are annual Luau party & celebrate our anniversary. Obviously it will only be with close family & friends, less than 100 people. I have searched for this on Y!A & see positive & negative answers. We don't care about gifts as we have everything we need already. Any ideas from you all about how to pull this off? We really wanted a relaxing day for the wedding. I think we will have a small wedding party, maybe just 1 person standing up for each of us and my daughter as flower girl. PS-the reason we are going "cheap" we don't have much $$, but we have a nice big yard(rent a tent just in case) We aren't asking our parents to help us out because we don't want to be a burden. Thoughts??? Be nice please! Trueee- Its a luau, so we would put come in your best "luau" attire on the invites. It will be like a casual beach wedding, but without the sand! As for the engagement party thing, I don't know anyone who has ever had one! I think our friends would be suspicious if we had an engagement party.... We thought a surprise would be funny because everyone keeps asking us when we are gonna get married! Honestly, one side of me wants to have the fariy-princess wedding, but we just can't afford it. The other side of me says, lets do it this way, cuz it would be kinda wacky & definitely original. Knowing our friends, they NEVER miss out on our parties-I guess we are fun hosts!

How many is too many wedding/bridal showers for one girl? My step-daughter is getting married this year. So far, she has had an engagement party (where she received gifts), a housewarming party (her and her fiance live together), a bridal shower by her mother and a bridal shower by her soon-to-be mother-in-law. Plus, she will have the wedding where people will bring gifts. Is this going a little overboard or am I being too cheap?

Wedding gift etiquette dilemma? I have a co-worker/friend that has invited me to her wedding. I am very excited for her, but I feel the gifting ceremony has gotten completely out of control. I was invited to her bridal shower and I chipped in for a group gift. I was going to attend her wedding and buy her a gift. And now another one of her friend just invited me to a bachelorette party (mind you she gave me 2 days advance notice) and she wants me to chip in for a gift too. Is it really common etiquette to buy a gift for a bachelorette party too? Every other one I've been too, we buy the girl drinks and take her out. I feel like this is getting way out of hand. Plus she has lots of money and things anyhow. I had a low-key wedding, and didn't feel the need to turn every event into a gift-a-thon...so I don't know. I am just being cheap or stubborn? If I really DON'T have the money to contribute to three separate gifts, plus buying drinks for this girl...how do I bow out of this celebration politely?

Wedding Presents? I’ve been invited to a wedding, but only the party in the evening not the ceremony. They've registered for gifts but most of the stuffs really expensive, I’m not a cheap skate, but I don’t really want to spend £50 (that the cheapest thing left) on people I don’t know that well. What do you reckon I should do, obviously I want to get them a nice gift. Is it rude to get them something that’s not on the list? Any ideas for generic wedding gifts for about £20-25. Would vouchers to the shop they registered at be a good idea, or does that show lack of imigination.

Wedding gift from bridesmaids? Do you still have to buy $$ gift even after you buy dress, shoes, parties, etc. I am in a not so close friends wedding. I have only know her for about a year. She is 11 years younger than I am so other than our jobs we do not have much in common. After her wedding she plans on leaving the company so I do ot even think I will see her much after that... I just know how these things go. It is reality no matter how much you like the person. Your life goes in a diffrent direction. I was hesitant to even agree to be in the wedding because we are tight on cash and it is a huge financial commitment anyway. I don't mind stretching for someone I have known all my life or even for a few years. After having spent over $500 on parties, dress for wedding (won't wear again regardless of what the bride thinks) I now have to spend more money on the bachelorrette party because she wants a destination party. I am starting to resent all of this b/c it means I am having to cut back on things for my family in order to do this. I don't want to come off as cheap so I havn't said anything

Help! Angry & broke bridesmaid!? I'm a bridesmaid in a wedding next month and am at my wit's end, financially. Between the designer (and hideous!) dress, alterations, airfare for destination wedding, engagement party gift + shower + shower gift + bachelorette party + wedding gift, I’ve already spent well over a thousand dollars. The hotel where we’re staying is very costly (she is making the bridal party stay at this particular hotel), and she wants us to rent cars since there will be no transportation provided for us to/from the airport, rehearsal dinner, etc. The shoes she picked out (which I haven’t gotten yet) are over $100. I have to get special underwear to wear under the ugly expensive dress. On top of this, we got an email from her mom letting us know that a hair and makeup person would be coming on the big day “so we all look perfect,” and apparently we are covering this cost ourselves too. I just did a calculation of what the grand total is going to be, and its going to top out at $2,000. Personally, I don’t have that kind of money and I know the other bridesmaids don’t either, as we’re all in our early twenties. I also resent the fact that I have to make my boyfriend split the cost of the obscene hotel bill. The absurd thing is, normally she is very financially responsible and NOT prone to overspending!! I really don’t know what to do at this point. Most of the damage is done, but I’d really like to stay at a cheaper hotel, not pay for hair/makeup, wear some shoes I already have, and not rent a car!!! Any advice would be MUCH appreciated.

wedding ettiquette? What is the proper wedding etiquette for the maid of honor in terms of buying the couple a wedding gift if she has already paid for 1/4 of the shower, a shower gift, part of dinner and drinks at the bachelorette party, and the dress? am i supposed to spend more money on a gift? could i get away with just making the couple a wedding scrapbook or is that cheap?

wedding gift? i'm attending a few events this summer (birthdays, new baby parties, weddings). Usually we give $ instead of gifts to the recipients. Is it cheap if i give an old college friend (we're not best friends or anything) $50 for her wedding? I dunno what the norm is...

Wedding Gift? How Much Should We Spend? my cousin-in-law was supposed to go out with me the night before my wedding, but her fiance didn't want her to go (we were going to go to a local bar for appetizers and a drink, nothing else), so she concocted a story for me about why she couldn't go. i had just made plans with her, so i was alone on that night until my fiance came home from his dinner with family. anyway... now they're having their wedding. my husband and i are still peeved about me getting stood up the night before our wedding. this is going to be a big deal wedding at $100/guest for 300 people (they're middle class. don't ask me how they're affording this). i'm giving them a juicer for the bridal shower, and we're going to give them a gift card for $100 for their wedding. are we being too cheap? should we just let bygones be bygones and spend a couple hundred? we are both only going out of social responsibility and respect for the entire family, not to celebrate a marriage we're against anyway. i know we sound mean, but wasn't it mean to stand me up? my question isn't if we should go, because we've determined that we will. my question is about what kind of gift we should give. should we be more generous since they're spending some money? they spent about $100 on us for our wedding, and we got married in city hall with a small family party afterwards. yes, i'm positive she wasn't giving me a real story about why she stood me up. she's close to my husband, and actually told him that her fiance didn't want her going out with me because he was jealous (of WHAT?), so she made up a story about going to a party. i think i'm going to stick with the juicer and the gift card.

Invitation says "NO GIFTS" do I still get a gift? My Aunt and Uncle's 40th wedding aniversary party is tonight at a bar. Its nothing fancy. The invite says NO GIFTS. Is there something cheap and quick I should pick up (card?, flowers?) or should I just skip the gift idea?

bridesmaid has to go to destination bachelorette party? i'm a bridesmaid in a wedding with a pretty large bridal party that's pretty spread out... i live in the same state as the bride along with a few of the other girls. one of the girls suggested a destination party, so that everyone has to travel this time instead of just some people (keep in mind some travelers aren't going too far, still driving distance). am i REQUIRED to do this???? i don't want to be the cheap one, or the bad one, but i have multiple weddings around the same time, just bought a house, and don't make that much money to begin with! i already put aside savings just to cover the expenses like dresses, shower, chipping in for the bach party, gifts, etc. but i wasn't really planning on plane tickets and hotels on top of that... do i have to suck it up and expand my debt or can i politely decline? thanks for your advice, this is in the begining stages still.

Engagement party anxiety....whats your thoughts on this? I am hosting an engagement brunch for my son and future daughter-in-law next wk. Problem is, her mother announced she has a conflict with the date and we should have asked her before scheduling.....when we definitely had conversations with her child and expected that they would chat as the plans were being made.....she'd like to change the time ...which would also change the menu (to early dinner)....We tried to think of everything and this was not intentional. Second, since reading up on engagements on the web I am finding brides who do favors, flowers, centerpieces, registries, games, venues and even entertainment .....my thought was just to invite the closest family and wedding party attendents to brunch to get to know one another...I am not expecting gifts and only sent invites so that there would be no confusion about who, what, where and when.....am I keeping it simple or being cheap? what else is expected? would you make changes to time/date? make additions? cancel it?

Am I suppose to give my engagement party gift back? ( i think she just wants it to hurt my feelings)? I was supposed to be getting married on Saturday, but my fiance sent me an email to call off the wedding. I emailed him back and got no response. Then, three days later he emails me to say his Mom wants the jewelry back that she had given me at our engagement party because it was very expensive. I was really hurt and don't think I should have to give it back because - 1) It was new, NOT a priceless, family heirloom (if it had been passed down through his family, I'd give it back no questions asked) 2) It was a gift! 3) My parents were paying for the entire wedding ($10,000+), MIL hasn't offered a dime during the entire planning, but made a ton of demands. 4) My fiance's parents are Ghanian, so my parents paid over $200 to have a Ghanian caterer cook West African food for the engagement party. 5) I took the necklace she gave me to get it appraised today and the jeweler said it was cheap, not real gold and barely worth $40.00 6) Even if I were to send it back, I can't find the matching bracelet and earrings, only the necklace. So I think if I just send the necklace, she'll still be angry. Dark - Because before I saw the email, I called him and he said to check my email. I checked him and called back to ask WTF?! He didn't have much to say.

Gift for Engagement Party? I have never been to an engagement party. In my family we dont have a party and we just got cards sometimes with money and nice tokens. My husband and I were invited to an engagement party next month for a friend I knew from childhood. This girl's mother (who is a bit rude at times) told me to pick something from the registry to give as a gift. The cheapest thing on there is $100! I know I am already going to the bridal shower and wedding and have set aside money for all that. My sisters are both getting married in the next year, plus we are saving up for a house. I can't afford to buy this girl $200s worth of gifts 3xs. I gave my own sisters a card, bottle of wine and some chocolates when they got engaged. I was wondering what is the usual gift to give at an engagement party? Or perhaps something that is classy, yet not expensive? Would a nice crystal vase and card be enough? Bottle of wine in a beautiful case? Thank you:)

Really cheap friend. How do you deal with them? I have a friend who is so cheap. She lives meagerly by choice, but has in the past done so by need. She is a working and has no real large expenses. When she is invited to parties she often admits to bringing the 2 dollar bottle of wine and sneaking it onto the table so nobody will see. If I ask her to dinner I often treat, but never has have had her return the favor. She gave a mutual friend a wedding gift that consisted of a 2x3 picture frame that she bought for a few dollars at one of our local gift shops. Short of cutting this one loose... do you have any suggestions? Also this friend only calls when she is in need of something. I also have come to the conclusion that she will not be invited to dinner anymore unless I plan on paying for it.. or better yet.. make sure she knows we are splitting the bill ahead of time. Who cares....is she hurting you in anyway? No....leave her alone. You obviously don't know her very well to understand why she is like that. She is probably putting her money away for something like a house that will be of a long time use for her....unlike you who is worried about buyin expensive drinks and dinners... How about you worry about yourself, and a little less about your friends money....golddigger! (excuse me!!? was that necessary? who said I go out for expensive dinners and drinks? and for the record perhaps due to the fact that I make 3 times the money my friend does.. maybe she feels a bit intitled?)

Rehearsal dinner - any way to avoid it? Getting married in a double wedding with my sister on Sept. 1. We are having the whole event on a dinner boat and originally thought there would be no rehearsal (just us in the living room) because the boat is usually in use. Now we've found out that we can have a rehearsal on the boat... but does this mean we also have to host a rehearsal dinner? We don't have a large wedding party - only 2 best men for the 2 grooms ( my sis and I are each other's MOH). But if all our siblings etc are expected to also attend the rehearsal dinner, it could get very expensive and the wedding is already so expensive. Of course the groom's parents traditionally pay for the rehearsal dinner, but we can't exactly ask them to or expect it, especially on such short notice. I don't mean to be cheap but we've already spent so much and I don't want to go into debt... we're not greedy, we're having a "no gifts" wedding. I don't feel like I have the energy to plan the rehearsal dinner 2 weeks before the wedding when I haven't even had time to get the license yet! Advice on what to do about the rehearsal /dinner? In addition to the six of us (2 couples & two best men), my brother's daughter is the flower girl so she should (maybe?) be there, which means her parents too because she's only 5. Then my mother wants to come because she's in a wheelchair and wants to practice getting into the boat via the ramp and getting to the handicapped restroom, which means my father (to drive) and her attendant have to come to... so it is turning out to be more than just the 6 of us....

As a bridesmaid, am I expected to give a gift at the wedding? I'm a bridesmaid in my friend's wedding. Am I expected to give her a gift at the wedding? I've already bought my dress and shoes ($225), thrown her a shower ($250), and helping throw the bachelorette party (estimated $250). Am I expected to give her a present at the wedding? I'm somewhat hesitant at this point because my friend keeps mentioning how she wants to keep it "small" and "cheap" because the less she spends on the wedding, the more money she has left to buy a house with her new husband. The rehearsal dinner which is traditional paid for by them is being held at a small italian place where the entrees couldn't be more than $15. I feel kinda of stiffed since the only place she seems to be cutting costs are with her own responsibilities. My date, who is also friends with the bride & groom, will be giving a present on his own, I just don't know what is expected of me.

I am my best friends' Best Man - the wedding is distant - do I travel on MY dime? I am my best friends' Best Man - the wedding is distant - do I travel on MY dime? I was recently told that my best friend needs to have an initial quick ceremony (within 6 wks) halfway across the country (East US), so he can get married in front of his parents before they move overseas the following day for rather urgent medical reasons. I don't want to be cheap about it, but he knows I live on a shoestring budget (no joke) and every last dime goes into growing my small business [getting better - but grows verrry slowly]. He will also have another full out wedding on the West Coast a few months later. I live in Central US. My question is - Is it proper for me to foot the hotel and airfare on these trips? These trips, let alone the gift and bachelor party, will damage me financially for quite some time - but I want to do the right thing - I'm clueless to the etiquette......Thanks for your help.

Is this a good idea for a bridesmaid gift? Well, i just wanted to say a lot of people that I know do this, so its not far-fetched, but to give the bridal party jewelry to wear on the wedding as a gift. But where is a good place that is cheap like 10-25 bucks, but pretty things they would want to wear??

Fall Wedding, I want carmel and candy apple favors? The few places I saw carmel apples for sale in bulk was a little expensive for me. I only want to spend $2.00 max per favor. Sounds cheap but thats all I can afford, because we have other gifts for guest. Anyway... If I can not find a cheap place to make my apples I would make them myself. Ihave done it before for halloween parties, they came out great. My problem with that is...How long can I store them? Could I freeze the carmel apples? Iknow the candy ones will crack. I will have so much to do around the time of my wedding I just want to get these cute favor ideas done. Thanks

wedding planning? i have a bunch of questions..answer what you can..anything is appreciated what are good/cheapish favors for the guests? what are good gifts for the bridal party? flowers that are cheaper than roses but pretty just the same? general prices for an open bar (and different options of a modified open bar), djs/ bands,partial catering. do people usually pay for the bridal party's dresses and suits? for the guests hotel rooms? is it a bad idea to make people pay for their drinks? any other advice?

How much should I spend on Bridesmaid's gifts? I don't want to be cheap, nor over the top. I have never been in a wedding, so I have experience to draw from. So far, I got them a jewelry set (ncklace, earrings and bracelet) They are cute, but not terribly expensive. About $25. I am also arranging for a Home spa pampering session. Kinda like a home party without the selling. I'll just be buying them a set of pampering items like body lotion and bath scrub or something like that. Is that enough? Should I add something else? I also let them pick their own style of dress that fit their taste and budget. Oh yeah.. I almost forgot. I know an esthetician and she has agreed to do our make-up too!

My guy friend is getting married in 2 months, and his fiancee is getting carried away!? I am not that close with the guy, we have been friends since high school through a group of 6 people, and I see him maybe 4 times a year. The wedding is in October, and first, they had an engagement party last year which they registered for. Strange, but I bought them a present for that. Now, his fiancee invited me to her bridal shower, and enclosed 2 registries. So am I supposed to buy her a bridal shower gift AND a wedding gift? Isn't it a bit much to ask for 3 gifts for one occasion? What can I do, so that I don't look cheap or like a bad friend, but also don't spend my entire monthly income on this one wedding?

If my friend invites me to more than one of her bridal showers, do I have to bring a gift to all of them? Not trying to be cheap, but I have already attended one bridal shower (with a gift in tow), and will be going to another one tomorrow as well. In addition to this, I will be bringing a gift to the "lingerie giving party", the bachlorette party, and to the wedding. Not to mention, for the bachlorette party we are all flying to NYC to party (on our own dime, I might add). I mean, ouch! This is killing my pocketbook. Is it wrong to not bring a gift to the party tomorrow??

Secret Wedding in the Office???? What should the paparazzi do? Our office is a friendly place that loves parties for any occasion. In other words, with one exception, we're all into each other's business and use that as any occasion for a party. Now here's the exception--there's one woman who is very private and doesn't tell anyone much about her business. Now, this woman is off on 2 weeks vacation getting married. The office paparazzi found this out from something that this woman left on the printer. So now, people have googled everything, confirmed it's true, and the whole office has the details and is planning festivities upon her return. I'm uncomfortable with chipping in for a group gift or giving a shower and it's not because I'm cheap--I think she's gonna be enraged. However, dysfunctional this is, I'd just prefer to act as if nothing was learned and leave it to her to announce her own wedding, or else act as if nothing had happened. Have you ever heard of anything as crazy as this? What would you do?

Please help-do you think my boyfriend and i will be able to get married next summer? questions about money,etc? hi-my boyfriend and i have been together for 5 1/2 years and want to get married after i graduate from college, this summer in july or august. we have a little money saved up and just want to get married at a church and have a really nice reception. we'll prob be paying for most of it (gifts of course will help a little), but my boyfriend doesn't have a family and my parents don't have any money. i guess my questions are -is it too late to start planning? -how much does it generally cost to have a decent wedding (reception and all)? -how much time should i put aside to invest in planning my wedding (i still have 1 semester left in college!)? -in general, is this doable, can we do it? -wedding planner necessary? they cost so much. -whats the deal with bridesmaid dresses and grooms' tux...do we have to pay for that all? i heard that the modern way of doing this now is that they each pay to rent their own tux or gown? -engagement party/bridal shower? how does this work...i have acouple close close girlfriends, but i don't know if either of them will take the initiative to put one on for me...in that case, do we just throw it ourselves or possibly ask my parents to do it? -where can i buy a cheap wedding dress? wedding cake? -any other general advice? we want to invite 100 ppl if not a little more or a little less. we want to have a dj (prob not a band?), a nice cake, and favors. etc...my boyfriend initially wanted to hire a wedding planner but i don't think we can afford it. thanks so much, i'd appreciate any help!!!

Maid of Honor gift? Here's my situation, my mom is my matron of honor and my best friend/college roommate is my maid of honor. It's the first time for both to be a MOH, and though my friend is excited, my mom is even more so because she's never been one. I'm getting a "bride" tote bag and saw some Maid of Honor and Mother of the Bride bags that I'm considering getting her. What do you all think? Has anyone gotten anything like this as part of a wedding party and what did you think? I'm liking this one best because it's reversable for after the wedding: http://www.advantagebridal.com/maofhotobagi.html This is a little cheaper (I do have to buy two!) but not reversable http://www.target.com/Maid-Honor-Tote-Bag-Pink/dp/B000O16RWK/sr=1-4/qid=1197418197/ref=sr_1_4/602-6670342-5637442?ie=UTF8&rh=k%3Awedding%5Ftotes&page=1 In case "mother of the bride" is a better option (but I like the MOH ones better) http://www.americanbridal.com/brides-tote-bag-gbr381.html

What do you think of chapter 1 of my new novel? Construcitve/non contructive Critism

shower gift question? so this isn't about ttc, but this is the section i am always in and i love you guys on here so i am asking you all.... i am matron of honor in a wedding, i already went to a shower, i am going to a laungerie shower in a few weeks, throwing bachelorette party next week. do i have to get gifts for all these events plus the wedding. the wedding is on the other side of the state so i have to get a hotel for two nights, my husband has to take time off work. the bride is borrowing my wedding dress and veil for the big day. i know i sound cheap, but i don't think i should have to get her all these gifts, when i got married she showed up late to the wedding and didn't come to the reception, and when i had my preemie daughter who was in the hospital for a month she didn't visit once, and now i have been trying to concieve 2 years and she is trying to tell me i am not getting pregnant because i am jealous of my pregnant friends. anyway... sorry i was venting there...but what is proper for gifts lol, i love these answers, the people in the dumb ettiquitte section said i had to get her stuff for all the events i go to. i love the girl, we were best friends when we were15, but that was a long time ago, (she wasn't even in my wedding) its not like we are super close so i don't really know why i am her maid of honor... anyway i do love her, and i'll get her something for the showers, but not the other things... does that sound fair?

Did your guests reciprocate in kind? ? Over the years I've attended several weddings and gifted generously. Now it's my turn to get married and I'm wondering... will people reciprocate in kind? I believe is polite to at least gift with comparable effort as you have been given to the past. Keep in mind, that it's not only their wedding, it's also the baby shower(s) that followed and their kids birthday parties etc. etc. etc. that I've attended and gifted them. My wedding will be this Sunday, and I'm curious to see about this. My question is: On your wedding, guest couples whose wedding you've attended, gifted you comparably to was received from you or someone went cheap on you and you feel used/at a loss? Thank you PS/ This is just for fun. Please spare the lectures about is the thought that counts etc. etc. etc. I would like to hear from brides and their stories. I would like to clarify that I did not give to get anything back and I gave from the heart, but also put my best effort to it!!! It's being 10 years of endless weddings, showers, vow renewals, etc. etc. etc. heheh Lidya,... always the voice of reason! I'm simply curious. There is noy way that I will even out and I'm not expecting it; however, just recently, a couple whose wedding we attended one year ago, we spent well over $2800 on their wedding to include, gas, parking, airfare, hotel accomodations and meals, tuxedo rental, meals, shower gift, weding gift ($300 check) and 3 long days of slavery with their endless requests for labor, but yet, their gift is about $30 LOL! I guess I'm not concerned about the gift per se and we've been blessed with financial sucess and have a furnished home, but I'm appalled that some people are takers and should have enough sense to have enough manners and be polite. Fizzi!!! I sure will !!By request only. I'll add you to my contacts and email you the link next week : )

A wedding etiquette question? A wedding etiquette question I am standing in my sister in-laws wedding. We are doing all the normal, throwing her a bridal shower and bachelorette party and then standing in the wedding. My question is do I buy a gift for her for everything even though we are paying for all the parties. I don't mind buying gifts but I don't have a whole lot of money so do I not buy one or look cheap with a cheaper gift?? Thanks in advance and please serious answers only.

I live on a tight budget and have a 25th wedding anniversary party? The party is at a reception hall and seems fairly formal. I really can't afford a big expensive gift, but will definately give something. What can I give that won't make me look cheap? Believe me, if I had the money, I wouldn't care about spending it on a present. I really don't know these people very well. they are my husband's second cousins. We have to travel over an hour to get there. I think the flowers may wilt.

I need some cheap gift ideas!? I am a college student and its my gf's birthday on Saturday. Within the past 30 days I've had her graduation, her graduation party, christmas, and airfare to a wedding to pay for so I am broke as a joke. I need some thoughtful & cheap gift ideas because I don't want to let her down...

Ideas for a wedding favour for kids? Hi Ive been given a task of arranging party favour boxes for 11 kids aged between 11yrs and 2yrs. It is a tight budget so needs to be cheap as possible. I have boxes which I can cover or paint (ideas?) And then planning on filling them with little treats/gifts etc. The boxes are about the same size as a box a standard drinking mug would be stored in. Thanks! IDEAS IDEAS IDEAS!!!

What do you think of this? I'm in a wedding and the bridal party (the mother's daughter) wants to give the mother of the bride a gift. She wants us (3 girls in the bridal party) to give a 100 each. I told her that I can't afford to give a gift like that. I'm a stay at home mom and we just bought a house. I'm not a cheap person. I always go above and beyond for my friend who is getting married...but I added up what I'm going to be spending on the wedding, the bachelorette party (in Atlantic City), gifts, etc...and it's going to be over 1,000 dollars. I'm sorry, is this a new thing where the mother of the bride gets a gift. Because I think it's ridiculous....

A few bridal shower questions? Hello! I'm a bridesmaid, throwing a shower for my preggo sister in law (the bride). I know it's not good etiquitte for family to host the shower, and there are two other women in the wedding party but they won't be able to help with or even, possibly, attend a party because "their personal lives are more important right now". So anyways! I'm young and haven't done this before and I've got a few questions! 1. Because of the bride's working schedule, we are having the shower at 5:00pm. I can't afford to feed everyone supper though, so what foods can I serve that would be appropriate? 2. What are some of the funnest bridal shower games you've ever participated in? (i can find a tonne online, but I'd rather draw from other people's experience as much as possible!) 3. What is an apporopriate amount to spend on a shower gift? (I am fairly broke but I don't want to be too cheap!) 4. What is the normal schedule of a bridal shower? 5. What to do other than food, games, and gifts? I would make it for 7 if I could, but I can't! How does various "platters" sound? meat + cheese, fruit, veggies + dip, mini sandwiches, etc? It's on a sunday, and many people eat dinner at 7-ish during weekdays where I'm from, so I thought that having appetizers and cake would be okay?

What is a good but fun 25th wedding anniversary gift? My family and I am going to a 25th wedding anniversary party for my friend's parents whom I have known since I was born (I am 20 now). I want to get them something fun, since they are always silly and laughing, but I know that silver is supposed to be incorporated in presents for 25th anniversaries. Can I have some ideas as to how to make our gift fun but still nice? I don't have alot of money to spend, so I would like to keep it as cheap as possible. Thanks so much!!!