Gift Help, Please?

divinemsbee

I'm just under a month out from my wedding (holy crap, I cannot believe that) and am trying to figure out what on earth to get my MOH for a thank you present. She's also hosting my shower, completely by herself, so I need gift ideas for that as well.

A bit of background: We've known each other since we were 5, and in college drifted apart. We were always in touch, but started getting close again about 2 years ago and then got much closer over the past 18 months. Mostly because we had both done a lot of growing up and because I'm living a lot closer to her now. She's been so fabulous and genuinely excited through the whole planning process, and I really want to do something nice for her. 

I know a lot of people say, shop like it's her birthday, but I'd be having the same conundrum there. We generally just exchange cards and such. I also don't want to get a gift certificate (that's a personal thing, they're just NMS). So, I was wondering, can anyone give me concrete examples of what they bought their BMs or their shower hostess? 

The other thing is that anything I need to order online I need to do that this week so that it can get to where the wedding is (she lives in, and the wedding is in MS, I live in TX). Since I don't have a laptop, only a Kindle Fire, any sort of complicated online stuff has to be done before I leave here to go there on the 15th. 

Maggie0829

Does she have any hobbies?  Does she like wine?  Jewlery?  Purses?  Clothes?  What does she like to do for fun?  Does she have a home?  If so, does she like decorative stuff for her home?

You need to think about what her likes and dislikes are.  I could suggest a boat load of stuff but since I don't know your MOH none of my ideas may work for her.

divinemsbee

That's kind of where I'm running into trouble. We spend a lot of time together when I'm in town, but a lot of it is around her kids (she has two under 5). I know what she likes to read, but I don't know that she has time to read really between the kids, work, and that she's just started teacher training. So, I'm wary of giving her something she won't use. That's kind of the same deal with a massage or beauty treatment, I don't know if she would be able to find the time. I would never buy her clothes or jewelry because, and this may sound weird, she has such impeccable taste. Always dressed completely fit for any occasion, never over or under, and she wears the same jewelry all the time. Wine might be good, but, again, it's about her having time to use it. 

Home stuff is kind of what I was thinking. I'm still kind of intimidated by her taste there (she is in no way snobby about it, she is just one of those people who was born with an innate ability to figure out what goes with that and how to put things together), but I know how her house is decorated.

Can anyone give me an idea of how much they spent both for hostess gifts and for BM gifts?

s-aries8990

Can you get her a gift card for dinner and offer babysitting services or something like that?

itzMS

Sounds like you should just get her something that you think she'd like, and include a gift receipt.

Perhaps a nice leather tote bag from Cole Haan (or a similar classic designer)? I personally have the Cole Haan "Victoria" bag and love it. It's a stylish and multipurpose item, she could use it to haul the kids' stuff around, her teaching supplies or whatever. You could probably very easily find one at Macys (or whatever major department store you have in your area).

The pricing is solely dependent on your budget for your wedding, we can't tell you how much to spend!

stephie25

Spend what you are comfortable with. If she likes to read and is starting teacher training, maybe a nook or a kindle? The lower end models are pretty reasonably priced now. 

Kate61487

One of my shower hostesses was my aunt who has 4 little girls, so I got her a 'relaxation' gift basket.  It had some bathsalts and scented candles, but also a variety of chocolates and teas so she could pamper herself when she had some downtime from the girls.  It was just under $50 (which is my typical gift budget for a one-off occasion).  My other aunt (who's a coffee fiend) I gave a coffee themed basket with various starbuck coffees, chocolate covered espresso beans, etc.

For my BMs I got them Coach wristlets (black for my BMs, white for my MOHs; I wanted to stick to neutrals) - it was something I was confident they would like and use, but wouldn't splurge on for themselves.  Shopping at the outlet and on clearance I got $80 bags for like $35.

Since you have such a history with her I think it might be nice to do something sentimental; like a now & then side-by-side photo of you guys at 5 and one more recent.  You would just need to pick a frame that goes with her decor (which shouldn't be too hard). 

Also - you mentioned she likes to read; does she have a nook or kindle?  I know you said you don't generally like to do gift cards, but I love to read and getting B&N gift cards for my nook is one of my favorite gifts, b/c money goes so quickly on those.  If I'm in a reading mood I'll read a book every two days and at $8/book it goes so quickly (and with a CC on file you just click the "buy" button and voila...)  That would be a gift card she will eventually get around to using.

FormerlyAK

How old are her kids. I stayed with my cousins a few years ago and their kids were 6 and 9 at the time. After we left, we gave them a gift card to the local movie theatre with a note that said, "You spent so much time entertaining our family, we wanted to send you for some family time ... just the four of you." They said it was one of the best gifts they have received because with all the running around from this activity and that activity you do, sometimes it's hard to remember to step back and do something relaxing like see a movie with your family.

Maybe you could do something similar with a note, "You've spent so much time and energy helping me start my new family with fi, I wanted to make sure you took some time to spend a little time and energy with your family."

Lisa50

I understand your reluctance to give a gift certificate, but ... to bounce off the relaxation basket idea, I might order a gift certificate to a nice spa in her hometown.  Sorry, that's the best I can come up with since you're avoiding restaurant gift certificates.