I am moving around like an old woman today. Not only do my thighs, chest and right elbow feel like someone has been smashing them with hammers (I got a little enthusiastic in a Body Pump class, and then didn’t want to make my weights lighter and look like a wuss, because I am an idiot), but I’m wearing my Docs for the first time in ages, and they’re pinching my ankles. Every time I get up from my chair, I groan, move forward with a creak of leather from my boots (and a pinch to the ankle), wince as my thigh muscles contract, move the other leg forward, wince, stretch out my arm to pick up a piece of paper, wince. So hard core.
The Prince and I are plunging into the world of celebrants, after I realised that if reception venues book out ages in advance, celebrants are probably similarly in demand. I have sent off a bunch of emails to various celebrants, based on the quality of their websites, their spelling and how they look. There’s really very little else you can glean from the net as to their celebrant-ing style (their testimonials all say the same thing - “You were fabulous, thanks so much!” - which isn’t very helpful), and if our celebrant is going to help us write our vows, I’d like them to be able to spell and construct a sentence. My emails are essentially enquiries as to cost - I thought that getting responses from a cross-section should give me an idea of an average, as I have no idea what’s reasonable.
If you went to a wedding and were given a plant as your guest gift that sits by your table setting, would you be pleased, annoyed or indifferent? What is a successful guest gift? I’ve experienced sugared almonds, individualised sweets (with the bride & groom’s names written on them) and plants. The gardenia plant we got at one wedding is growing in a pot and I like remembering the wedding when I see it. However, if you don’t enjoy growing things, I can see that a plant might not be all that fun to receive. Edible gifts, at least, appeal to everyone. I was thinking of combining the two ideas and giving little pots of herbs, but is that a bit strange? What have you enjoyed receiving at weddings?
Apparently, it is National De-Lurking week in the land of blogs. I’m not sure why it is designated “National” considering that bloggers are scattered far and wide across the globe. So I hereby dub it International De-Lurking week, in order to be inclusive, and encourage anyone who doesn’t regularly comment, or doesn’t comment at all, to do so here. Aw, c’mon, all the cool kids are doing it. Tell me your opinion on guest gifts.
15 Comments
12 January, 2007 at 1:22 am
I like little candies or small pastry puffs.
Over here, the most common gift is a small slice of fruit cake!
12 January, 2007 at 2:18 am
I would love a little plant, I think it’s a lovely idea. If you’re worried about people not liking to grow things, maybe a hardy plant like a succulent would be a good gift - though, I don’t know how expensive they might be.
12 January, 2007 at 5:41 am
I think the plant is good in theory, but might be troublesome in practice. If people have a few drinks, they would tend to misplace it or not take it.
I am always wary of giving birthday gifts on the night of their celebration - the last thing people want to do is walk around with it.
12 January, 2007 at 8:24 pm
I like the plants idea! We wanted something that guests could actually use and remember us by so we did these little colorful hand painted gecko magnets. It makes me smile every time I visit someone’s home who was at our wedding and see them on their frige.
12 January, 2007 at 11:57 pm
I comment fairly regularly so not sure if I qualify as a “lurker.” But thought I’d put my hand up and say, “I’m here.”
Plant is a great idea, in my humble opinion…
13 January, 2007 at 3:00 am
Personally I like the idea of a nice plant. Food just disappears into someone’s stomach, but the plant might actually be around for a while.
13 January, 2007 at 4:27 pm
I really like the idea of the little pots of herbs, or even a plant…I think it’s lovely!
13 January, 2007 at 7:13 pm
I’m not sure why it is limited by the “national” moniker, either. I like your idea much better.
As for the guest gifts, I think the plant sounds lovely! The only other thing I could contribute is that one wedding I went to, they gave each guest a CD of the couple’s favorite songs, with a photo of the pair as the CD label. It was a nice, personal touch.
13 January, 2007 at 7:18 pm
When all my friends were marrying I got a lifetime supply of votive candles. Votives being the guest gift of the season back in the day. Votives in wee net bags, votives in etched glass cups, votives hot glued to small mirrors…you get the idea. I for one would have loved a nice little plant. Sounds lovely. ~LA
14 January, 2007 at 12:56 am
I thank God I was married three decades ago, well before guest gifts were invented. Are they really necessary?
But if you feel you have to, a basil bush sounds like a good idea. I like tb’s fridge magnet idea, too. Maybe you could do both and alternate them on the tables. That way, non-cullinary types could have something permanent.
BTW, how much alcohol goes into modern wedding cake? We still have a 30-year old piece of our wedding cake, sealed in a jar. And no mould too.
14 January, 2007 at 5:26 am
A plant is like giving someone a pet: you think it’s a nice idea, but some people have black thumbs, and this requires work. Plus, if left behind, are you gonna throw them away or what?
My favorites were a mixed cd. It was really cheap for the couple to give and full of absolutely awful songs that made very obvious the poor taste in music they shared. I never once listened to it after the first time, because it was udder crap. But it was inventive, original, and kind of awesome in theory.
The other favorite were little votive candles with the bride and groom’s names and puka shell necklaces. The candles were inscribed using sharpie, so they looked as cheap as they were, but they were in the colors of the wedding, and I collected one of each color and left them on my shelf for the next two years, lighting them occassionally. I stole as many puka shell necklaces lef behind as possible and still have two that I wear with certain outfits. These made really beautiful table arrangements and were easy to toss when left behind by everyone.
I received edible candy in a jar inscribed with the couples’ name…lame, lame, lame, and done…overdone.
I like the idea of origami boxes with some trinket in them. ‘Cause I don’t mind folding stuff, and it would be original. And really, a trinket is going to end up on a shelf somewhere, ’cause people like chachkis. But seriously, consider something you wouldn’t mind keeping all the extras or wouldn’t feel guilty pitching when everyone forgets them.
14 January, 2007 at 5:30 am
I’m with Mike - are guest gifts necessary? We certainly didn’t have them 13 years ago. However, I were to attend a wedding now, I would be thrilled to take home something useful like a small pot of rosemary or thyme. If some guests lost theirs after having had a few drinks, then all the more for you and your family!
14 January, 2007 at 10:26 pm
Mela - oooh, little pastry puffs sound fun!
Succulents are a good idea Cassie - or maybe little cactuses.
Mmm, I didn’t think about people leaving them behind Be-zen. But I guess as long as we give useful plants then I can just take them and plant them at home.
Oh, what a good idea TB - magnets sound really cool.
Oh, you’re not a lurker Telfair
Thanks for the feedback!
Thanks Barbara and Courtney - I’m leaning more towards the pot of herbs idea now.
I hadn’t thought of a CD, Jen - that’s an interesting idea.
Hee hee - I’ll steer away from the votive candles then, LA!
Well, it’s not that I feel I have to, MikeFitz, but I like the idea of having a little gift at each guest’s seat.
I can always plant extra plants, M - but yes, it is something to think about, that people might forget to take them home. I think most people we’ve invited enjoy growing things, so the black thumb thing shouldn’t be too much of a problem.
Not necessary, Charlotte, but I like the idea. I love the idea of scented herbs - rosemary, thyme, perhaps some little lavender plants. I think it would make the reception room smell lovely!
27 January, 2007 at 4:39 am
Hee! Apparently I haven’t been to many weddings during my life–that or those I’ve attended have been thrown by very chintzy folk–because for the life of me, I can’t recall ever bringing home any guest gifts. A plant would be nice, but being as I couldn’t even be bothered to care for a pet rock…LOL I agree, food seems an all around crowd pleaser; my only concern with sweets & pastries comes from being diabetic–of course, I don’t know whether or not you’ve any individuals attending your soirée. I like cassie’s idea of a succulent plant–something that doesn’t require to much care and feeding, but as you said, will likely remind guests of your wedding every time they lay eyes in their little green friend.
30 January, 2007 at 9:23 pm
Yeah, I think an easy care plant is the way to go Cat. I killed a plant I was given once at a wedding, and felt rather guilty (it had a little label on it with a poem equating the plant to their marriage - the marriage is still going strong, thank goodness!)
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