Don't look a gift horse in the mouth!

I don't know about you, but I am not the biggest fan of mass-produced monogrammed nick-knacks. I really enjoy giving gifts that actually pertain to the person receiving the gift. Sure, I'll admit I gave all of my bridesmaids monogrammed slippers... BUT, (not only did they wear the slippers on the dance floor at my wedding), they actually wear them frequently, like them and enjoy them. What I dislike are all the bells and whistles that wedding websites convince brides to buy. Some of it is fun, but most of it is redundant and unoriginal.

So, how to be unique and special? Consider your wedding location: are you having a destination wedding? Are you having a special theme wedding? To show your gratitude to the people who helped make your event great, a functional item might be just right.

For example, one of my great friends is planning her July 2010 wedding in Minnesota. She grew up on a lake and their wedding is very much going to be a 'lake-side' wedding. Her fiance plays for the NHL and is very gear-conscience. She had the brilliant idea to give her bridesmaids Sperry Topsider boat shoes. Not only can the girls wear them during the wedding weekend festivities, but they are also great quality shoes that will last for years to come.

If you're having a simple affair that isn't really theme-driven, consider the bridesmaids and groomsmen and whoever else you are buying gifts for: what are their likes and dislikes? It is totally kosher to give a gift to your Maid-of-Honor that has nothing to do with the wedding. If she is enamored with a certain Farmers' Market in your neighborhood--plan a special trip to the Market together and buy her groceries. Or if you are artistic, paint a picture of the Farmers' Market during a busy morning... there are a multitude of ways to turn an uncomplicated pleasure into a daily reminder of your appreciation to her.

A spectacular option is to give gifts related to a cause. I knew of a bridesmaid's mom who had Breast Cancer, so the bride and groom's gift to whole wedding party was to donate money for everyone participating in a local 5k for Cancer research, very cool. This is not only for a purpose and will help research, but it is also a great way to bond with your wedding party in non-wedding related events. Not to mention cardio exercise is a ridiculously good way to blow off some steam and wedding-related stress.

Another great idea, depending on your budget, is Wine of the Month club. Many people out there enjoy a good bottle of wine, what better way to remind them monthly of your appreciation? There are many "of-the-month-clubs" with other products such as cheese, fruit, book, album etc...

So you see, thinking outside the box has its short term and long term benefits ;)

Happily Ever After is the tricky part...

So, everyone is talking about 2010.... so futuristic... so weird... time keeps flying by...

"Time seems to go so slowly, and then all of the sudden, everything has changed." One of my college professors told my Political Science class, the day when a few of the suave university basketball players meandered in late.

"Punctuality may not be important to you now, but you're going to be old one day, believe it or not. Wrinkly skin, sagging muscles, age spots on your epidermis... You know what I predict will be a stand-out memory in your mind? You're going to look back at your youth and remember how you were always late for my class, and how because of that, I failed you." Without another wasted word on the topic, my professor turned to the dry-erase board and started jotting the day's lecture outline.

The basketball players looked confused, burped and again meandered out of the class room. As if that is normal? Maybe that moment in history won't stand out to those basketball players compared to other moments in their lives, but I am sure it has to at least make their Top 5 Most Embarrassing Moments list. Hopefully their wedding day, child's birth, winning awards, graduations, (if that ever played out), birthdays, and just special moments with family and friends are among the times those basketball players remember when they look back at their youth. But, just as those guys took their college professor for granted, (which led to them failing a class), people can take other people for granted... which leads to failed relationships, most notably, the scary D-word.... divorce.

Oprah did a whole segment on life after the wedding. She talked about how many couples put on the horse blinders during the wedding planning phase, hence ruining their relationship. People can focus so much on the wedding and not thinking about life after, which is the point of the wedding in the first place---correct?

If you think life will be different after a wedding, think again. Some people do change after they get married and become more devoted to their spouse, but many times people are disappointed to learn that their Prince Charming is still that frog they kissed a long time ago.

One of my dearest friends just called me as I was writing mid-blog... She happens to be newly engaged to a lovely British man and planning a December 2010 wedding. While we were on the phone, she reminded me of one of the bajillion reasons I respect and love her... We were talking about her dress ideas, her wedding likes and dislikes, her concerns with having a small-town-America wedding while her fiance's family was flying in from all over London and the world... and she said, "I am so excited!"

I said, "Well, yeah! This is what you want right?"

"Duh, Christy! I am happy about the wedding and everything, but I mean I am excited for afterwards... the whole being married thing."

GREAT MINDS THINK ALIKE!