Good gift or shitty gift?

jenna8984

There is a concert a few weeks after my wedding for an artist that I cannot stand but my best friend LOVES. I know she's tight on money right now and has her brother's wedding a week before mine so even though she loves this artist I know she won't buy herself tickets. I was thinking of getting them as her gift from me (2) and she would be free to take someone who likes this artist since I do not. Thing is, I can only afford the highest, worst section. So would you be excited about just going to the show or would you think it sucked being in the last few rows? If it were me I'd still like it but I may be the minority!

QueerFemme

I think it's a super sweet gesture, but I would often rather skip a concert than go and be in the nosebleed seats. 

I think this is one of the few times I would ask.  I know asking if someone wants a gift isn't exactly proper, but I think I'd ask anyway.

"hey, BF.   I'm getting you a gift for being such a great BM and friend.  I saw that Justin Bieber was coming... and I know you love him, so I was thinking of buying you tickets.  But, I thought I should make sure that (a) you are available that day... and (b) you'd be ok sitting up really high, since those are the tickets that are in my budget.   Let me know!"

kdd2015

I would love it no matter where we were sitting, but that's just me. I think like PP said, your best bet is probably to ask her, and tell her to be honest, that your feelings won't be hurt either way.

Lauderdale Pink

I would say to be careful.  For important events, I would much rather have a lasting token, even if it is on the less expensive side, than a one time use event.  My feelings were deeply hurt, when, for a milestone birthday, my kids got me a gift certificate for a facial.  I would much rather have had a framed picture of all of them (much less money) and the constant memory of "wow, they gave me this beautiful portrait on my XX birthday". I didn't even use the gift certificate because I was so sad, so the money was wasted anyway.

jenna8984

Lauderdale Pink said:

I would say to be careful.  For important events, I would much rather have a lasting token, even if it is on the less expensive side, than a one time use event.  My feelings were deeply hurt, when, for a milestone birthday, my kids got me a gift certificate for a facial.  I would much rather have had a framed picture of all of them (much less money) and the constant memory of "wow, they gave me this beautiful portrait on my XX birthday". I didn't even use the gift certificate because I was so sad, so the money was wasted anyway.

That stinks...a lot of people would have been happy with that so I guess it's a know who you're shopping for kind of thing. 

My friend has been in about 20 weddings so I wanted to stand out by doing something different for her instead of giving her yet another tote/ clutch/ picture that she doesn't need. But maybe I will think of something else. 

atlastmrsg

I wouldn't buy tix.  She could already have plans that night, not have money for a sitter if she has kids, then she'd be saddled with expense of parking, driving there, if she wants to get dinner before or drinks after if it's in a fun part of town, etc., which could make her feel worse.  

I schedule things far in advance because of work commitments and other events.  She may have a booked calendar, too.

Lauderdale Pink

OK, so when my daughter got married, she got all her BMs a lovely gift of jewelry (not too pricey, but really elegant).  For her BF who was her MOH, she took the friend shopping and had her pick out a special gift.  If I recall properly, they ended up with matching MK watches.  I know it is hard for someone to actually pick out a gift for themselves (kind of like asking for a gift) but they turned they day into a really memorable "together" moment so it was really nice.  Is your friend the type who would do something like that?

ashley8918

Lauderdale Pink said:

I would say to be careful.  For important events, I would much rather have a lasting token, even if it is on the less expensive side, than a one time use event.  My feelings were deeply hurt, when, for a milestone birthday, my kids got me a gift certificate for a facial.  I would much rather have had a framed picture of all of them (much less money) and the constant memory of "wow, they gave me this beautiful portrait on my XX birthday". I didn't even use the gift certificate because I was so sad, so the money was wasted anyway.

Wow, really? I would love ANYTHING my kids gave me. I just don't understand how such a nice gesture could possibly hurt a mother's feelings.

ETA - Okay, so maybe if they gave me something like a gift certificate for plastic surgery, or a gym membership or something. But otherwise, anything they give me is cherished.