I'm a horrible daughter.

SwedishChick2011

OK, so we got married two months ago today, and we still haven't gotten either set of parents a gift.  I suck.  I don't have any idea what to get them.  Any ideas?

Calypso1977

unless they paid for your wedding, there is no obligation for you to give them gifts. a framed wedding photo is always nice.  i ordered beautiful Reed and Barton frames from the Silver Gallery (www.silvergallery.com). 

SwedishChick2011

Those are good ideas.  I've just been a little hesistant to do that because I know they already ordered some pictures. 

SwedishChick2011

Calypso, we paid for a good part of the wedding ourselves, but both sets of parents contributed a decent amount.  What do you guys think about a gift basket with fruit and stuff in it?  Is that corny?

gkb0910

Do they have any hobbies or is there anything you think they might like?  My parents like going to Ravinia, which is a concert venue with some seats and a huge lawn area.  I was thinking of getting them a gift certificate to there so they can choose a concert, a table that folds up and a cooler/backpack for two.

Calypso1977

 i like gift baskets, but once the goodies are gone, there's nothing left.  :-( some folks buy a nice dinner or a weekend away for their folks.  but again, nothing left afterwards, but they could take pics on their weekend away to preserve the memory.  that might be more than you are looking to spend tho. gifts are hard. 

Kati0105

A grandchild?  ;)I am clearly not full of good ideas at the moment.

SwedishChick2011

A grandchild? ;)DED.  I think we're going to wait a couple years for that!

ktjanesmom

I might be sappy, but why not just a card with a hand written sentiment.   At this point in most parents lives they dont need a silly gift.   Something from the heart always means a lot.  The basket was a nice idea too.

katiewhompus

Dh and I are giving our sets of parents hard labor when they need it. Mil is going away for the weekend so we're going to take care of her cats and dogs while she's gone. Well, I'll be doing most of it since dh has to work 6 days next week from 8am-10pm. For my parents we're going over the day before halloween and then again halloween to help decorate the house. This way dad gets the great decorations he wants, and mom doesn't worry about dad falling off the roof.

sarah0725

I like the idea of stuff they'd have to go and use, like concert tickets or a restaurant gift card or food. Either that or something sentimental and picture-related. FI and I have two sets of parents who don't like it when we give them gifts and try to turn them down (or feel guilty) when they're too expensive, so we trick them by giving them things they have to go out and use.

SwedishChick2011

These are all good suggestions!

Drace

I'm Kind of sort of doing the photo idea, however, I'm doing that for not just my parents and In-Laws but for my BM. My FI is doing the same for his GM. Each BM gets a photo with just Me and her, same for GM, and the Parents get a couple shot of us and them together.

erg0014

My fiance and I were thinking of getting our parents something that they wouldn't get themselvee,. Tootie Pie Co. makes an AWESOME 5 LB. pie. (the apple pie is to die for!) or there's also a company that can ship fresh angus steaks to whomever as a gift. theyre not super pricey, (about $30-40 for the pie, and about $60 for the steak assortment.) but our parents like grilling, so this is a nice option for us! and since we're so stressed with final weding preps, we wont dd this until christmas or a couple of months later. GOOD LUCK!!Elysia + Steven = 09.05.09

betmetwo

Cocoreo, I am the mother of 2 grown daughters. One is a bride to be. I will tell you that my favorite gift from them is always the card I receive with the heartfelt, personal note! That coupled with a wedding photo with you and your parents in it would be ideal and much loved!

mizu22

we got ours a picture frame that has the invitation engraved on the other side. they both love it. i got it at it exclusively weddings (just google the name). they have other good ideas as well. and, you're not a horrible daughter. these things take time!

Simply Fated

@ Kati0105...that's an interesting DIY idea...I like the idea of personalizing the gifts. Make there is something each couple likes to do together? Or hobbies they have that you can somehow contribute to?

cabrokwah

Engraved Wedding Album for both sets of parents with your favorite pictures.

SafroniaB

My go-to for fab food gifts and other interesting food-related odds and ends is www.zingermans.com

alliejo426

Try this:http://www.diybride.com/2009/08/14/guest-submission-thank-you-shadow-box/#commentsIt's what I'm going to do for both my parents and his. And if you can't get the exact flowers for the wedding. Don't fret. Just go to a florist and order a couple of blooms.It's inexpensive and something they can hold onto forever and display proudly.

jkniga9

I am getting the parents digetal photo frames so they can enjoy all the photos when they like. Some places you get the frame for less than $50.00.  Good luck.

Ali Beth

alliejo426, I love your suggestion! I am so excited to do that for our parents - I wish I could start now, but I guess we should wait for the wedding photos to come back.... and possibly use flowers from the wedding, too. Thanks so much!

looney3hb

i'm making recipe books for each set of parent.  we've blended generations of recipes from each of our families into the books. i made them on shutterfly. im making my grandmothers banana cake recipe to go with the book and using a book mark with an engagement pic of us on it marking the cake recipe. we also got the dads "father of the..." hats and tee's so they can ditch the tuxes asap! lol mugs also for the dads and a small engraved jewelry box for the moms. inside the boxes are pics of our moms and us when we were around 4 or 5 years old. ugh, im so sentimental...