Do we have to do parent gifts?

Miracle520

I know it's very traditional to do gifts but our parents are hard to shop for on both sides. I just worry anything we'd find for them would be some goofy trinket and not as special as it could be. Both moms have lots of jewelry, etc etc

We are having a DW and paying for all the airfare and hotel rooms (all inclusive) and doing a nice spa day for the ladies and a golf day for the guys. And while that's kind of expected, it is a big gesture. My mom wouldn't be able to afford the trip on her own but his parents wouldn't have any issue.

Would it be enough to write them some nice notes to send them the day of and give them wedding albums after the wedding?

[Deleted User]

I think the TY cards and the photo albums are fine for parent gifts. We paid for our wedding ourselves and didn't buy our parents any gifts. We did, however, bring each of them something back from our HM.

Cynthia1207

I personally think you should give your parents a gift if they offered to pay for some part of the wedding.  If they didn't, I don't see why they would need a gift.  I think it's a very nice gesture to give them a note and an album.  It's a lot more personal than just a regular gift and more thoughtful.

aegrish

Our gifts will be photobooks post wedding.  it's hard enough to think of what to get my parents for their birthday and christmas let alone another event.

unplainjane

we're going to make photo albums for our parents after the wedding. they don't like us buying them things as well they pretty much have everything they want. we think they would really appreciate a nicely put together album.

em01092

We are doing photo vases from the knot shop for my grandma (my mother figure) and his parents. They are cube shaped, so different from ordinary vases, and you can have them engraved. We plan to give them to them the morning of the wedding with a nice bouquet and 4 of our engagement pictures in them. 

Calypso1977

gifts for parents are usually a thank you to them for paying for the wedding.  if they didnt contribute, no gift is necessary.

however, its still a nice gesture, and surely you coudl afford some small token.  we gave our parents silver frames engraved with our names and wedding date so they could put a photo of us in it.  i got them at www.silvergallery.com and they were very reasonably priced.

Miracle520

I'm not concerned about money. They just have so much stuff already and aren't big knick knack people. Vases and photo frames would not be something they'd use very often or at all. Or they'd feel obligated to have em out.

We just didn't want to give them a goofy gift they won't use.

GJones27

Get them a gift certificate for an experience.  I got my parents a gift certificate to the Hyatt in SF -- they have never stayed there but have always wanted to.  They paid for my entire wedding, so I got them something nice.  You could get them a gift certificate for a restaurant or something.

Sail2

Never heard of parent gifts but think photobooks and a really nice candid photo picked from what my friends take would be a great idea.

firsttimersluck

If they have a lot of stuff and you don't think they would appreciate that, then maybe book them a night at a hotel or a gift card to a nice restaurant. Who doesn't love a night out with their SO when it's free??