It’s lovely to give your mum and dad a gift on your wedding day, to thank them for bringing you up and being there for you on your big day. You may also be thanking them for helping to finance your wedding day and put up with all your moods and stresses over the months spent planning it!
So what can you give them to show your appreciation? Well, whilst we love flowers here at Wedding Ideas magazine, we always think it’s nicer to opt for something a little more personal for your parents than a traditional bouquet. Here are some of our suggestions for thank-you gifts!
Alternatives to flowers
If you want to give your mum and dad something floral, how about a small tree for the garden instead – a flowering cherry or a lilac? Choose something that will grow and flourish over the coming years and be a reminder of your happy wedding day. Have a look at Trees By Post, who have cherry blossom trees starting at £7.95.
If your mum loves her garden then we think she’d be bowled over by these pieces from botanical artist Bridget Chetwynd. There’s nothing stuffy or old-fashioned about her work, we love the colours and the pieces are gifts that you won’t see all over the high street. Mugs are £13 each, the tea towels are £10 and the apron is £18. These blooms will certainly last longer than a bouquet!
And what about dads?
Fathers often get left out when it comes to gift-giving at weddings, which we think is a real shame – now’s the time to spoil them!
Does your dad love to barbecue? Is he never happier than when he’s got his apron on and he’s turning the steaks? Let him put his own stamp on them by giving him this steak branding knife, which you can personalise with his name. £19.95 from The Handpicked Collection.
There’s a saying that ‘Great oaks from little acorns grow’, and your dad will have seen you grow from a child to the adult you are today. Remind him that you were once his little baby with these acorn cufflinks from Glover & Smith at Not On The High Street – we think they’re a charming modern day classic.
Give them a getaway
If your budget will stretch to it, why not give them a night in a hotel? They’re probably exhausted themselves after all the build-up to the wedding day and would welcome a bit of time off together. Try Mr & Mrs Smith for some ideas. If they like the theatre, maybe combine an overnight stay in a hotel with a theatre break in London – Superbreaks has some great offers for West End shows with accommodation starting at £182 for a couple including breakfast.
If your parents are the type that like to spend quality time walking with the dog, reading books, relaxing and eating in the local pub, you could hire a cottage for them for a weekend. Look for availability in term time and you’ll find prices much more reasonable and a wider variety of choices. Country Cottages Online has some properties with fabulous views, and pets are welcome.
Alternatively, a voucher for a delicious dinner in a Michelin star restaurant would be a real treat and something to look forward to – they could use it for their own wedding anniversary maybe. Smartbox has a Michelin star dining experience (with a choice of restaurants) for £169.
If they’re outdoorsy and would prefer something a bit more energetic than a meal, how about a joint clay pigeon shooting or archery session? At £39.95 for an hour’s lesson with all the equipment, we think this offer from Smartbox is very good value.
The real art of present-giving is to give somebody something that they would love to receive, but would never feel they could buy for themselves.
If you’d like some more inspiration, we’ve a discussion going on at the Forum on gifts for mums and dads – it’s interesting to see what other brides and grooms are choosing to give their parents. Have a look here and dive right in yourself if you have a question you’d like to ask.
