Bride/Groom Exchanging Gifts

ForrestW88 · June 2010

so everyone has been very adament that my fiance and I have to get each other gifts...but no one seems to know when we are supposed to give them to each other. Does anyone know anything about this tradition & help me out?

benmel31 · June 2010

Well, I actually do not think giving gifts is a necessity. However, if you do exchange gifts, one idea is to have a BM or GM bring it over to the other person while you get ready for the wedding. Another idea is to exchange them the night before your wedding or when you are alone after your wedding reception.

I don't think we are exchanging gifts. But I do plan on passing along a card to my FI prior to our ceremony telling him how excited I am to marry him and start our life together.

cschuma2 · June 2010

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_customs-traditions_bridegroom-exchanging-gifts?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:36Discussion:d2ea9c18-4c5d-472c-9b79-235121e3e390Post:8035b555-4e73-4015-8c10-f556774cda94">Re: Bride/Groom Exchanging Gifts</a>:
[QUOTE]Well, I actually do not think giving gifts is a necessity. However, if you do exchange gifts, one idea is to have a BM or GM bring it over to the other person while you get ready for the wedding. Another idea is to exchange them the night before your wedding or when you are alone after your wedding reception.<strong> I don't think we are exchanging gifts. But I do plan on passing along a card to my FI prior to our ceremony telling him how excited I am to marry him and start our life together.</strong>
Posted by benmel31[/QUOTE]

This is all my husband and I did. Exchanging gifts is optional. Talk it over with your FI and decide on this together. I wouldn't let friends and family tell you what you NEED to do on this subject.

ProPlannerKyra · June 2010

I gave DH a nice watch with our wedding date engraved on the back and he gave me a diamond and citrine right hand ring. We both wear these every day.

aerinpegadrak · June 2010

DH and I decided not to exchange gifts and to put that money into extra fun on the honeymoon.

spinner84 · June 2010

If by exchange gifts, you mean buy wedding rings, we did that. Nothing else though.

Tink1704 · June 2010

I reallly like the card before the ceremony idea. I think its totally up to you about a gift. I was thinking that maybe I would buy him engraved cuff links or a watch but my man is really not that dressy and very specific so I nixed the idea. Maybe give a card with IOU's like "redeem this card for 1 date with your beautiful new wife". Something fun yet you can do together.

[Deleted User] · June 2010

We are not exchanging gifts either. We have spent so much on trying to have a nice wedding. And besides, we joke, we are each other's gifts...lol

As far as people who did, I would say just try to buy for him like it is his b-day and get him something that he enjoys, will use, or wants. For example, if he is a golfer, get him some new gloves, you get the idea.

pschutte2 · June 2010

My brother and his wife exchanged gifts after they saw eachother dressed up for the first time before pictures. Just another option.

jlmarks83 · June 2010

We decided that we're going to get each other something on our HM. And if we end up not finding anything on our HM...we will have already given each other rings on our wedding day.

I do have a journal that I have been writing in "for my future husband" since I was 16. I'm 27 now and only met FI when I was 25. It's filled with hopes and dreams for our future. But also filled with moments from my life that he wasn't there for. (High School graduation, College graduation, moving out of state & into my own place at 21, my bro's 1st wedding, etc.) Of course, after FI proposed, I've been able to actually address him by name in the book. My last entry will actually be on the front two pages and I'll write it when I get up on our wedding day. I'm very excited to give it to him. I know he'll love it. I'm just not sure when I'll give it to him. I may wait until after the HM...but I may also give it to him on our way to the HM. I'm not sure yet.

Lindsey Wilkerson · June 2010

jlmarks83, WOW! That is so amazing and special!! I have never heard of anyone doing that, but it is a wonderful and priceless gift!!!

As far as the gifts, I am doing a letter to him to be given before the ceremony. However, we are not exchanging actual gift that day. We did get each other something very unconventional for our birthdays/wedding gifts (both bdays were last month), handguns (FI is a police officer). LOL! Not the most romantic, but it's fitting.

jlmarks83 · June 2010

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_customs-traditions_bridegroom-exchanging-gifts?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:36Discussion:d2ea9c18-4c5d-472c-9b79-235121e3e390Post:51a69904-4b71-409d-9076-dc58e1569ed4">Re: Bride/Groom Exchanging Gifts</a>:
[QUOTE]jlmarks83, WOW! That is so amazing and special!! I have never heard of anyone doing that, but it is a wonderful and priceless gift!!! As far as the gifts, I am doing a letter to him to be given before the ceremony. However, we are not exchanging actual gift that day. We did get each other something very unconventional for our birthdays/wedding gifts (both bdays were last month), handguns (FI is a police officer). LOL! Not the most romantic, but it's fitting.
Posted by Lindsey Wilkerson[/QUOTE]

I can't take credit for the idea. My mentor's wife mentioned it as something a friend of her's had done. I loved the idea and started mine a couple months later. It's a really beautiful, hardback journal that has a ribbon tie to hold it shut. I love it.

S0cialmedia · June 2010

Your wedding, your rules.

I'm not sure that you do -- and certainly not at your actual wedding. It's your wedding after all! People are there to celebrate your day!

I would say: do you want to swap gifts? Is this that important to your enjoyment of the day? If it is: do it for yourselves! In private and away from the "advice" of your friends and family. If not: you are getting married after all, and theoretically at least gifting your futures to each other.

That said -- it's still expected that men should "surprise" their brides on their wedding days ...

Norms Angel Forever · June 2010

my FI was away for the first year of our relationship and during that year we exchaged letters (approx 20 or so each) so i'm having them bound for him so we can look back on them in the years and read our beginning. It's titled "our notebook" like the movie

Kryssy1286 · June 2010

Exchanging gifts isn't necessary. You are giving your heart and a life of love to each other. I think that's a pretty big gift in itself. If you do exchange gifts, I'd do it the day after wedding.

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