When I woke up on the morning of my wedding, I saw a dinosaur looming above me. Well, a plesiosaur, technically. It sat on the night table next to my bed and, as soon as I saw it, I squealed with excitement. Sitting up, I admired the carved wooden elasmosaurus, flushing with happiness; I knew instinctively that it was a gift from my soon-to-be husband.
He and I share a love of dinosaurs, a strange passion, true, but one that brought us together, especially in the early days of our courtship. That’s why we both got each other prehistorically-inspired bride and groom gifts: for me, a wooden elasmosaur figurine; for him, a set of archaeopteryx cufflinks I made with the help of a jewelry maker friend.
There was nothing odd about the gifts themselves—a pretty figurine and a set of cufflinks are pretty traditional, really. But we put our personal flair on the gifts and ended up with sentimental gifts we’ll both always treasure.
That’s the key to giving sentimental bride and groom gifts to each other. Opt for a classic gift item, then imbue it with your own personality and flair; or, you can eschew traditional gift giving altogether in favor of something totally personal. Either way, when your future spouse receives their wedding gift from you, they’ll know that you went above and beyond—your present will be totally catered to who you are as a couple.
And, just in case your mutual passion doesn’t happen to be dinosaurs (your loss), here are some personalized bride and groom gift ideas that are sentimental, but walk the line between the traditional and unique.
Bride and Groom Gifts to Each Other Passed Down Through the Family
I didn’t even know that banana stands were a thing until a few years ago my mother-in-law gifted one to us. I never thought that I would come to cherish a kitchen accessory, but every time I come home from the grocery store I lovingly hang a bunch of bananas on one that was handmade by my husband’s grandfather. He was a woodworker and made all sorts of furniture and curios over the years; receiving one of these handcrafted treasures, no matter how esoteric its purpose, meant a lot to us.
When you get married, you’re not just marrying one person, you’re joining their family—and they, yours. Honor the new connections by choosing a gift for your soon-to-be that’s been passed down through your family. It can be jewelry, art, kitchenware—the gift itself isn’t as important as the message, which is that they’re being welcomed into the fold. Sharing a cherished item with them is symbolic of the trust you have that they’ll be a member of your family until death do you part, deepening your bond.
Personalized Wedding Jewelry as a Bride or Groom Gift
In middle school, my jewelry box was crammed with charm bracelets and monogrammed necklaces. I loved how it felt like these pieces of jewelry were unique to me. Every time I wore them, I felt like I was expressing my personal style.
As I got older, I upgraded a lot of my jewelry and started to think of the concept of “personalized” jewels a little differently. It doesn’t have to literally have your name on it, an idea that my husband has really embraced when choosing gifts for me. My favorite piece? A bracelet made from seashells collected on Martha’s Vineyard, the island where I grew up. It’s gorgeous on its own but the fact that I have a sentimental connection to the place where it was created means I wear it much more often than I might otherwise.
Giving your spouse-to-be a piece of jewelry is a pretty common tradition, but choosing one that has details uniquely meaningful to your bride or groom makes it an even more meaningful gift. A simple detail, like a ring embedded with your partner’s birthstone or a set of cufflinks made by an artist in their hometown, will elevate your pre-wedding present from generous but generic to thoughtfully symbolic.
First Dinner Date Recreations: A Sentimental Bride Or Groom Gift
Pickling spices aren’t the most commonly used kitchen ingredient so I was surprised to find them in my scrambled eggs. My hubby had made me breakfast in bed, attempting to recreate the brunch we shared on one of our first dates. It was a valiant attempt, and as I chewed through whole allspice berries, bay leaves, and barely set eggs, I couldn’t help but smile.
Cooking is a deeply personal act. You’re literally nurturing the people who eat your food, and even when the results aren’t quite what you expected, it’s a gesture that requires ample thought and time to execute.
Planning a wedding can be kind of hectic at times, and there’s no better way to take a step back and relax with your partner than by sharing a meal together. Instead of a traditional gift, a week or two before the wedding you can treat your significant other to an intimate dinner that recreates a meal you had on one of your most memorable first dates, whether that means a whimsical English high tea party for two or a casual pizza night. You can always call the restaurant and see if they’ll share their recipe with you, but an approximation is just fine as well. Chances are, your spouse-to-be will be so enchanted by the care and energy you put into the night, they won’t be focused on the minute details. And yes, they may even overlook a stray bay leaf or three.
A Customized Book Shelf for Literary Couples to Gift Each Other
A person’s favorite books can tell you a lot about who they are. I’ve always loved swapping books with friends and romantic partners as a way to get to know each other better. If you and your future spouse both love to read, collaborate on this gift. Together, pick out a bookshelf for your new home and then set out to choose 5-10 books each to fill it with. Choose books you think your partner will love—you can look for special editions or first printings of their favorites, new books from their favorite authors, books you think will inspire or enrich them, or even a favorite book of yours that you’d like to share.
When you’ve both gathered all of the books, take turns adding one at a time to the shelf, spending a couple of minutes looking each one over and talking about why it was chosen. It’s a collaborative gift, and one that you’ll be able to spend months, if not years, slowly enjoying. Every time you pick out a new work of literature to read, you’ll be able to talk about it with your partner, ensuring that you’ll always have something interesting to discuss at the dinner table.
Use an Online Wish List to Make Sure Your Bride or Groom Will Love Your Gift
The last thing anyone wants, especially while planning a wedding, is to stress out their spouse. If you’re worrying about what to get your bride or groom-to-be as a gift, it might be time to start a wish list.
Register with an online gift exchange site like Elfster, and you and your spouse can each set up a wish list of items from around the web that you’d love to receive. That way, when it comes time to choose gifts for each other, there won’t be any guesswork, and you can instead focus on your upcoming nuptials and putting together your DIY fall wedding centerpieces or summer-inspired homemade wedding favors.
My wooden elasmosaur sits on a shelf by my desk watching over me as I work each day. Every time I look up and notice it there, I get a little happier; it’s the perfect small reminder of all of the unique and silly ways my husband “gets” me. The same thing happens when we go out to a nice dinner and I spot his archaeopteryx cufflinks—they’re gifts that remind me of who we are as a couple.
Getting the perfect wedding gift for your bride or groom doesn’t have to be expensive or complicated. By focusing on who you and your spouse-to-be are as individuals and as partners, you can pick out a gift that, even if it’s traditional in form, is unique to the two of you. Whether it’s a piece of jewelry that will hold special meaning or a first edition of their favorite book from childhood, these thoughtful gifts are symbolic of the life you’re building together.
Still not sure what to get your future spouse as a wedding gift? Check out our Happy Couple Gift Guide for ideas. You can share your finds with us on our Facebook page, and don’t forget to follow us on Instagram @Elfstergram and Twitter @Elfster.
