A Great Bridal Party Gift Idea

Okay, so not everyone is going to agree with me but even if you don't you'll have to admit that it is a useful gift and something that can be used again and again.

Getting stuck home today wasn't ideal but I had my work computer so I was able to get stuff done.  Unfortunately for some reason I couldn't get a wireless network and had to save files to a USB drive and transfer them to my home computer.

I remember when a USB drive cost a fortune but now they're inexpensive and I get one in the mail or at a press event every week.  Most of them are personalized with a company or product name/logo.

I don't know how expensive the personalization would be, but there are themed USB drives that you can get and give each member of the bridal party a character that they would like.  I've seen Star Wars characters, Hello Kitty, M&Ms, colors, patterns and even one that looks like dog tags.

So while this may not be the bridal party gift that you thought you'd give, it is a gift that your bridesmaids and groomsmen will be able to use again and again -- unlike a flask and jewelry that matches the bridesmaid dress.

A Quick Tip for Grooms

The groomsmen are your responsibility.

Don't make your fiance email and call your friends and relatives to tell them what to wear, where to be and when. The bride has enough to handle, including the bridesmaids, so help her out and take the initiative to find a tux rental shop and make an appointment (tell her when it is so she can be there) and email your guys and make sure they show up.

Then take on the additional responsibility of confirming that they all know when to pick up their tuxedos and that they do the weekend of the wedding.

It's a rather simple task and you'll gain lots of brownie points!

Post from the Past: The Munchies

Whenever I go to a wedding I go as both a guest and a weddings editor. It’s hard not to look at everything and think how I can turn the details of this particular wedding into a blog post. And that’s where this post came from - the wedding I went to in California in 2007.

Dave and I got there a little early to take some photos with friends, and some how we ended up in the room the bridal party was getting ready/hanging out in. It was a rather large room with couches and tables and chairs, and scattered throughout were bottles of beer and water as well as bags of pretzels and chips.

I don’t know if the bride and groom, the location or the members of the bridal party brought in the drinks and snacks. The point is that it’s a great idea to have both snacks and drinks for your bridal party because they will be waiting around all day, helping you get ready, taking pictures, setting up the favors, etc.

I came across a company that specializes in creating food baskets just for this purpose and wanted to share their information with you. It’ll save you time and energy by just ordering what you want instead of having to add “buy food and snacks” to your wedding checklist.

Marrylicious creates gourmet gift baskets specifically for wedding parties. They have three packages – Tulip, Rose and Orchid – and each comes with a selection of gourmet treats as well as a wedding day emergency kit. You can also create a custom package if you want to have a themed basket or need to fit certain dietary restrictions. Prices start at $100. The company is based in Seattle but ships nationwide.

And brides, remember to drink clear liquids (water, seltzer, vodka) through a straw so you don’t spill anything on your dress or smudge your lipstick before you walk down the aisle.