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You got how many toasters for your wedding?
Back in the days of old, newly-wed couples spent endless
Saturdays trying to exchange items they had two or more of,
and other gifts they just plain hated.
"Sure Auntie, I loved the orange chenille rug but unfortunately
we spilt red wine on it, so it's at the drycleaners."
Enter the bridal registry and its glorious simplicity. You
make a list of items you'd love, and the store or web site
gives you a card to send out with your invites to let people
know you have a gift selection. Guests can choose items in
a suitable price range, you won't double up on gifts, and
people know they're giving you something you really need and
want. Sure, it's not as romantic as the surprise offering,
but wouldn't you hate to spend a fortune on something that's
going to gather dust in a cupboard? Department stores such
as Macys do it best, but these days smaller outfits are also
adopting the free wedding service to offer couples more variety.
Consider putting in with friends for something more extravagant.
If you're planning an adventurous gift, a post-honeymoon indulgence
at a city hotel or a rural retreat is sure to keep the flames
of passion burning, outdoor settings can encourage down time
for those with the garden space, or wild and wacky pieces
can be tracked down at specialty stores.
You may also have heard about bomboniere, the traditional
keepsakes given by the bride and groom to their wedding guests
as a thank-you gesture. This European tradition has been adopted
by many families in the US. Five sugared almonds wrapped in
net are attached to a small knick-knack, which is left for
each family on the reception table. The sugared almonds represent
the bitter/sweet life of a married couple and are said to
symbolize health, fertility and happiness.
The gift is meant as a gesture of warmth and good wishes,
so don't exceed your means. Those judge gifts by how much
they cost don't deserve the thought behind them, which is
what counts most of all, when all is said and spent.
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