If it were you - what would you prefer?

Hi Stef: Welcome back.

I would prefer the gift off the registry. I think the stuff for the honeymoon is too personalized (i.e. the sunglasses may not fit right, the suntan lotion can irritate her skin, the flip flops could be scratchy, etc. = there is no way for you to know this).

If you don't want to get something from a registry, perhaps a gift certificate to the registry store or to a Victoria Secret or her fave. store, so that she can get 'ready' for her wedding night/honeymoon.

Or you can also get her a gift certificate to a spa.

I have known her thru other people for a bit less than 10 years ... sort of like we have hung out before every once in a while forever...but I dont consider her a close friend. Her fiance is Luke's friend.

They are more like beer people than wine people - but that is a nice idea.

I guess I feel like gift certificates and random registry stuff are just a little thoughtless. I mean, i could always send cash too but I feel like those things are just meaningless. Specifically b/c I wont be at the shower, I'd like to send something that she will appreciate/remember/think was thoughtful.

Does that make sense?

I love the idea of the Honeymoon survival kit

Stef, a random suggestion, but what about a coverup skirt thing for her, if she is going to a beachy honeymoon... Just find out the general shade of her bikini and make sure that Luke's friend keeps it a secret...

I love the honeymoon survival kit, but I did get something like that at my shower. I also got a basket made up with placemats, wine, glasses, biscotti etc.

Do they have their own home?How about a basket filled with cleaning products? Or if you know what they are into you could do DVDs or CDs.

Thanks everyone.

No, no one to pair up with as Im the only girl in the group of a bunch of guys.

I can always send cash which I would do over a GC since she can spend it however she wants.

Still not sure what to do. Pls keep the ideas coming.

I like the honeymoon basket. I think OFF the registry is usually more creative and thoughtful! I LOVE going off the registry for my friends.

I personally am not a fan of the registry, did it because 'Everyone does it' and people would ask us to get it done so they know what we want. But overall gifts should be from the heart, thought of with creativity and fun !

You can even do a different theme basket, how about 'movie nite at home' or something else that they love, sports ? workout stuff ? something with their hobbies/lifestyles? home ?

Stef... May I make a suggestion.... I did this for one of my friends for her shower.... It was a HIT!

A Basket of Candles


A basket of candles that come in a pair
Of all different colors for you two to share.

The White ones burn first, they are wrapped in white lace.
To celebrate the first night in your new chosen place.

The Mauve ones are taller & much, much thinner.
They burn with your first company over dinner.

There are candles to burn Christmas Eve before bed.
Your first Christmas together…. That is why they are Red

The Navy candles are for your very first fight,
Use them to burn when you are making up – ALL NIGHT!

Pink candles will set the mood and pave the way,
For your very first Valentine’s Day.

Now when your first year of marriage is through
The Cream anniversary pair will light for you two.

By this time we hope that maybe, just maybe
You could burn the Yellow ones on the birth of your baby.

And just when you thought you could put these away,
Take the Light Blue ones out for your fifth anniversary day!

Now just one pair left for the big “25”
The Silver anniversary pair that will keep you alive!

So CONGRATULATIONS both of you on the start of your forever
May the two of you always be happy together.
Now burn these candles just the way we said
But please, XXXX & XXX, don’t forget….
Blow them out before bed.

Stef welcome back!

I think you should do a little package for more the destination than the actual personal honeymoon stuff. A few books on the location, maybe a map, a journal to write stuff down in – where are they going? Somewhere warm? Maybe a nice plain sarong or some kind of wrap that you can wrap everything in. Maybe a good book in there as well for beach reading.

Regardless of what shower.... It's always a winner!!!!!!

What a cute idea!

One of her friends makes candles for a living so I think she is getting candles from her plus..all those candles would be really heavy and cost a fortune to ship (i think). But Im definitely storing that idea away for the next shower :D

Stef - welcome home - how was your vacation??

I love the honeymoon basket idea, but you already know that! I just think it's adorable.
But, another idea that I have (this was one of my favorite gifts at my shower) is to do a 'Newlywed Tree' basket. It's a basket or a box filled w/various different Christmas ornaments. There's a poem to go along w/it, so that you know what each ornament symbolizes. I have to dig through my stuff to find the poem for you, but it might be worth looking into this since ornaments don't have to cost that much. The biggest problem might be finding some of them at this time of year!

Edited to add:
Here's what I could find on Google:

8 Lessons on The Tree That Tells

A Christmas tree in a Christian home can be a tree that tells. It should not only set the mood for Christmas, but should also tell the story... First, the tree itself should be evergreen, a pine or a spruce, to remind us that life is everlasting.

Second, every tree should have a star upon it. It was a star that guided the three Wise Men on their way to Bethlehem. Third, every tree should have upon it a boat. The ship has been a symbol of The Church for centuries. The Church, like a boat, sets sail across the waters of life, sometimes rough and sometimes smooth.

Fourth, our Christmas tree should have upon it a bird. The bird is a reminder of the Holy Spirit. Fifth, a fish should hang on the Christmas tree. The fish is a symbol of Jesus, since he told his disciples: 'follow me and I will make you fishers of men.' In the early church, Christians placed the fish symbol on their homes as a sign to traveling Christians that there were members of their own faith living there.

Sixth, every tree should have an angel. The song of the angels awakened the shepherds in the field to announce the birth of Jesus Christ. Seventh, every tree should have various colored spheres upon it, to signify the diversity of the world in which we live. Eighth, a tree should have a paper chain or garland wrapped around it because we are all bound together under nations and people by the love of God. Finally, there should be many lights on the tree to tell us that the light of God is reflected by people throughout the world.

Finally we tracked them down. Here are the real 12 traditional ornaments for a bride's first Christmas tree:

Heart- love in the home
House - family shelter
Flower basket - beauty in the home
Basket of fruit - plenty
Teapot - hospitality
Bird in a nest - confidence in the shelter
Pinecone - eternity
Animal - peace with nature
Fish - Christ, as well as fertility
Rose - Virgin Mary
Church or angel - God
Saint Nicholas - giving and sharing