Your Wedding Shopping List - Wedding Gifts

Whilst you may be thinking about the wedding gifts you yourselves will be receiving, you shouldn't forget that you will need to purchase a range of gifts to give to members of your wedding party & others who have been instrumental in helping you with your wedding.

Here is a list of those people who you should buy for & some who you might want to consider purchasing a small gift for.

Maid of Honor - As your chief bridesmaid they have probably been your main source of support throughout the wedding planning stages & during the wedding day itself. They are probably your closest friend so choosing a gift for them shouldn't be too difficult. Many brides will choose jewelry such as a locket or bracelet in silver as a way of saying thank you.

Bridesmaids - They, like your maid of honor will have helped you throughout the wedding planning & will be your support during the wedding. Some brides choose to gift their bridesmaids their wedding outfits or maybe just their accessories. Others will give necklaces or earrings on the wedding morning. Jewelry is often the favored choice but think carefully about the things they like if you want to give them a gift with a difference.

Best Man - He is probably your Groom's best friend & like your chief bridesmaid will have been his source of support before & during the wedding. It also often the case that the bestman's duties will extend beyond the wedding itself: driving you to the airport, returning the suits to the hire shop & tying up any other loose ends. Cufflinks are possibly the most popular choice & often the groom will pick matching sets for all his groomsmen.

Ushers - Their role on the day may be a small one, but it is still important so you should reward your ushers equally. As mentioned above cufflinks are a popular choice although gift vouchers maybe a good alternative.

Mother of the Bride & Mother of the Groom - It is traditional to give something to the two mom's to thank them for their roles in the wedding planning (even if they have been a thorn in your side!). Most brides will give large bouquets of flowers, but you could also consider a decorative gift; perhaps they collect a certain type of porcelain or design range. Give their gifts some deep thought if you want to come up with something special.

Father of the Bride & Father of the Groom - Traditionally they wouldn't receive a gift, but you might want to think about giving a gift to both sets of parents to share. Perhaps a bottle of wine or champagne (vintage or at least an expensive label). Another suggestion could be tickets to the theater, a weekend break or a dinner for two.

Other People - You might want to consider a small gift for your wedding planner or coordinator if you had one. Although you are paying for their services, they will still have worked hard on your behalf & will be on hand during the wedding day to ensure any crisis is swiftly dealt with. This needn't be any grand gift, a box of chocolates, a gift voucher or even one of the table centers or floral displays would be a nice gesture.

Also think about those who couldn't attend particularly if they are close to you. Perhaps illness or some other event has prevented them from joining you, so it would be a nice gesture to send them a wedding favor or a piece of the wedding cake.