Gift For MOH's Vow Ceremony??

Hi guys,
My MOH & a GM got engaged a year after us. Due to unforeseen circumstances they are pushing up their ceremony. They're having a small intimate ceremony with only immediate family members and close friends.
We would like to gift them something.

A. Hire a photographer for 1.5 - 2 hours to take pictures of their ceremony and time permitting a few couple shots after. If we did this we would probably go in with a third person to split the costs.
This is proving to be difficult at the height of wedding season most photographer are not wanting to do such a short time period. Which is understandable.
B. Gift them a miniminimoon.
A nights stay at the spa/restaurant they are getting married at.
C. Open to suggestions!

If we don't do the photographer gift we do have access to a really nice DSLR. I'm 'decent' enough wish the camera where they should get some nice pics. So I might just do an album for them.

Obviously with our wedding coming up in under 2 months money is a bit of a concern. And even though they are planning to do a party/reception and fake ceremony again next year we thought we should still do something for this real legal ceremony!

Thoughts???

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Posted by allornil

i think the minimoon is really thoughtful actually.

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agreed!! plus i like some of my guest's pictures better than the pros! so definitiely just use the DSLR and snap, snap, snap away!

I forgot to say the reason I'm unsure about the minimoon is because his siblings are coming in for the ceremony from OOT. And it's his mom's birthday weekend (long story, not their choice to do it that weekend) so they might have other stuff going on as well family wise. But I guess they still can stay the night.
The spa/inn is 2 hours away from us and about an hour for his folks and his siblings are coming from NYC and CT.
A night's stay is almost $300 for a private 'cottage' king! So I'm not sure if that's worth it either.

Even though it's the ceremony and so last minute I still want to make it's somehow special for them. Know what I mean?

If you want to get a photographer, i'm sure there are TONS of lesser known (but still good) photography studios that you can book. I am having my wedding photographed by As You Wish Photography ... i heard of them because they're friends of a friend but i really like them (and their prices are good too!)

as far as a mini-moon, i think it's a cute idea, but if you're not sure about your friends' availability, then i wouldn't do it. Can you get them a gift card to that spa / hotel so they can stay there on a night of their choosing?

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Posted by Gerbera

Any other thoughts?

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if you're going to do the minimoon you must run it by them first. make sure they can get off work.. even if they don't do it immediately after the wedding.. but maybe a week or two later... let them pick the date.

I like that idea better than a photographer.

Thanks!

If we do the minimoon I will most likely just get them a gift certificate to a place I research that I think they would like?

We were talking about their 'wedding' the other day and I got an inkling that they might want a pro there.

But I'm exploring both options still.

Def like the minimoon idea...Plenty of hotels allow for gift certificates to be redeemed at a later time.

Even with OOT guests you can still get them a room for the night of the ceremony and even better if all the OOT guests are staying in a the same hotel..why not book them there?

Other ideas:
tickets to a show?
Are there any activities that they as a couple enjoy together? such as dancing - get dance lessons or cooking - viking cooking school
There's a website called xperiencedays.com which I've used on several occasions and they have some really unique ideas....

Hi Ladies!
Just wanted to let ya'll know that I ended up going with the photographer. Reason was because I felt like they really wanted one there but couldn't see spending the dough when they were having the reception a year later.
Anyway, they were completely SHOCKED. The bride was on the verge of crying -thankfully no eye makeup ruined!- and I think they were so surprised, grateful and happy we got them a photographer. They both wanted one.

I had the photog walk in when we were in the lounge waiting to go out in the garden. She walked up to my friend and just shook her hand and said 'hello my name is chrissy and I'm your photographer'. Her reaction was so priceless.

They had a ball going around taking pictures with the photographer. The photographer got some family shots and was still around for the start of dinner.

It was great!