That’s my name!

Gift giving has become somewhat of an art form and many people suffer over the choice of gift. Do I give gift certificates? What does this kind of gift say about me and what amount should I send? Will the receiver like the venue that they can shop at? These and many more questions come to mind.
If a gift is chosen then the concern is that the receiver may already have the same or similar gift, or they just may not like it. The questions and worrying can seem a little endless but with some forethought a lot of the worry can be allayed.
Becoming increasingly popular are personalized gifts. Some very ordinary articles take on a special meaning when the name of the receiver is added. Perhaps a special date is also a nice idea – anniversary, retirement, birthday etc will all be a welcome addition to the perhaps ordinary piece making it something extra special.
Of course it goes without saying that the gift should still be well thought out. A set of monogrammed shot glasses may look great but will they ever be used by someone who never drinks? Or the monogrammed sets of golf accoutrements may look classy but what use will they be to someone who has never played the sport?
Even children are not left out in this increasingly popular gift idea. Mugs with a child’s name on make the child feel extra important and everyone will know exactly who that cup belongs to!
These gifts can be given on many occasions too making them the ideal all round gifts. Weddings are a favorite since there are many gifts given out. Bridesmaids and groomsmen gifts can be engraved with either their own initials or with the bride and groom’s initials as a reminder of the day. The date can also be added – no excuses here for missing wedding anniversaries! Even guest favors can have initials added. Cookies can be iced with the date and initials of the bride and groom. Those small ‘thank you’ gifts given out take on an extra special feeling when time has been taken to prepare them.
Hen parties and stag nights are also a firm favorite to give out monogrammed gifts. Imagine the ladies gathering for the party – maybe a weekend in Las Vegas – and being given personalized tote bags each with their own name on the side. For the men you could give personalized beer mugs or coffee mugs. Some of the beer mugs take on a ‘tipsy’ feel as they are designed to look as if they are falling over which can sometimes be the whole point of the trip!
Of course jewelry is another favorite, for both men and women and these are easily personalized for the individual. One favorite for ladies, and increasingly men, is the silver cuff bracelet. This solid piece looks equally elegant on men and women alike and with engraving looks exceptionally classy.
For the fun minded, how about a personalized thong? Of course, this would not suit all of your recipients but the fun – and shock – of receiving such an item will set the tone for the following party!
For the more serious gift you could give a silver monogrammed book mark or cosmetic bag sets. For men you have the usual sports oriented gifts with golf becoming a firm favorite. Even leather monogrammed laptop or weekend bags have their place in today’s traveling public and will be a welcome, and useful, addition to their collections of luggage.
Picture frames too are a great gift to give with a monogram and picture of the sender or bridal couple. This is a constant reminder of the day as well as being an elegant show piece to display in the home. Even heart shaped pen and holder sets become more special with a monogram and these can be used in the home office or at work.
Baby gifts take on an extra touch of class when they are monogrammed too. A baby towel or towel set may not sound like a great gift but have the name of the baby embroidered on the corner and voila! It becomes something extra special. Even something as mundane as a tray with the baby’s name stenciled on becomes a treasured and valued plaything for painting time or for building blocks. It also encourages the child to start learning it’s A, B, C’s which is both fun and educational at the same time.
So when it comes to choosing gifts, remember one golden rule. Anything can be turned into something special as long as you do the homework first. The more homework you do, the more likely you will find a gift that suits that person or family perfectly and the more likely that you, and your gift, will find a place in their treasured memories for years to come.
For that extra touch of class, why not find out what the family crest is? Imagine receiving something with the family crest emblazoned across it. Indeed, some people may not realize that they have one and if you take the time and trouble to find it through research then your gift will be remembered for being so special. For families with no crest, design your own! It is not as difficult as it may seem and it is easy to incorporate family traits. For example, one family always had pet greyhounds and pigeons so when the crest was designed these were added to the shield. To this day these articles take pride of place in their households.
Preparing engraved gifts takes a little extra time and thought so make sure you leave enough time between ordering and the day in question. There is nothing so disappointing than telling someone ‘I got you a gift but it is not quite ready’! Also remember to be extra careful with spellings etc since once engraved the gift cannot be returned. This could prove to be very expensive if you make a simple mistake.