Selecting the Perfect Wedding Gift for the Bride and Groom

One of the most memorable days in our lives is when two people commit their love to one another through marriage. Wedding gifts are traditionally offered to the newlyweds as tokens of affection and love as well as a means to provide the new couple with starter home supplies.

In days of old, couples did not live together until they were married. After being wed, the two typically would start building their lives together, including moving into their own home and starting their own family. Wedding gifts allowed friends and family of the pair to provide the newlyweds with some much needed home supplies and gifts of good luck and fortune that hopefully the couple would carry with them for many years. In colonial times, traditional wedding gifts might include home made quilts, food and perhaps even furniture for the new home.

In contemporary times, more and more couples are marrying after having lived together for many years. While many wedding gifts still have a characteristic theme of supplying the new couple with home goods, a majority of couples already have much of the things they would need to supply a new home. Thus, wedding gifts have taken on a sentimental twist. Many wedding gifts today embody creative themes that take into consideration the personality and lifestyle of the couple being wed. Personalized wedding gifts are a popular selection among many guests. Some wedding gifts incorporate photos of the husband and wife in their single days.

Many wedding gifts are also created to offer luck to the bride and groom. In the past, many brides were considered vulnerable to evil wishes, thus customs and traditions of old were aimed at providing protection to the bride. Many gifts are crafted to bring luck and prosperity and to ward off evil.

Some of the most popular of wedding gifts include:

-untraditional items such as books and collectibles from exotic lands
-gift certificates
-house cleaning offers

Yet another unique idea is providing a gift that correlates with the month the wedding occurs in. There are several superstitions regarding the time of year a couple weds. For example, folklore suggests that when a couple marries in September, their love and life will be filled with riches. A great wedding gift to bring added luck to a September ceremony might include a token treasure chest or similar paraphernalia. Tradition also holds true that December brings true love that will last. Perhaps a gift engraved with "forever" will make help communicate this sentiment. Rest assured, if your wedding gift comes from the heart, it will be appreciated and held in high regard.

Adriana Copaceanu provides people with creative gift ideas that don't blow the bank. You can find Wedding Shower Favors and other great ideas for your Bridal Shower at her site. Want regular reminders on gift-giving? Sign up for Gift News her free monthly newsletter.

Prop 8: Gay-Marriage Ruling Expected Today TIME VIDEO: A Gay-Marriage Wedding Video The 9th Circuit does not typically give notice of its forthcoming rulings, and its decision to do so Monday reflects the intense interest in the case. Even if the panel upholds the lower court ruling, ... and more »

rachel-greenwald-critics Westword Her only definition of success (aside from her own hefty financial take, apparently) is a marriage, wedding and honeymoon, and she admits even that success is rare. If there is so little enduring happiness or success in her business or the matches she ...

Scotland's opposition parties back same-sex 'marriage' Lifesite At the signing event, which included cutting an “equal marriage” wedding cake, Conservative Party leader Ruth Davidson said, “I support the Equality Network's Equal Marriage campaign. … The Scottish Government will bring forward legislation on gay ... and more »

SheKnows.com

JCPenney to boycott group: We're sticking with Ellen SheKnows.com The group wants supporters to stop shopping at the store for featuring a same-sex marriage wedding cake decoration in a catalog ad." "In the hopes of making sales, your company has instead offended many customers in the process. and more »

The Christian Institute

Scots opposition leaders sign pledge to redefine marriage The Christian Institute They also cut an “equal marriage” wedding cake – a symbolic gesture which was designed to show their support for rewriting the definition of marriage. The Scottish Government's consultation on redefining marriage closed in December after receiving tens ... and more »

PerezHilton.com

J.Lo Isn't Thinking About Marrying New BF Casper Just Yet!! PerezHilton.com Tags: bride, casper smart, divorce, hearts and fuzzies, jennifer lopez, jlo, love, marc anthony, marriage, wedding So we've heard what Paula Abdul had to say about getting fired, and we heard what Nicole Scherzinger had to say about the ax.

Business Insider

NEWLYWEDS: Renting Could Be The Smartest Move For Your Future Finances Business Insider ... is that it can be as temporary or long-term as you like, especially as your family grows. "There are just some things you don't think about when you're a newlywed with stars in your eyes,'" Bohutinsky said. newlywed - marriage - wedding - couple.

ABC2 News

WA Senate approves bill to legalize same-sex marriage ABC2 News If opponents aren't able to collect enough signatures, same-sex couples would be able to be wed starting in June. Otherwise, they would have to wait until the results of a November election. Marriage Wedding Married hub generic 640x480_20100616142339_JPG. and more »