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Parties/celebrations

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Original poster

Clever MNers please help me prove DH wrong as he thinks you won't be able to help.....

28 replies

PinkMartini · 13/06/2007 13:46

Do we need to buy a wedding present and if so what?

Trying to make this brief but:

We're going to a black tie party to celebrate a wedding that happened a while ago overseas.(we weren't invited to the wedding) There was no mention in the invitation of a list anywhere and I've searched wrapit and Johnlewis and GTC and haven't found them.

The couple now live abroad - on the other side of the planet so aren't really going to be in our life a huge amount. We haven't met her.

The groom is a colleague of Dh's and came to our wedding (before he met his now wife) and bought us an off-list decanter.

But we don't want to get them somehting that'll be a nightmare to ship.

Knowing him, I don't think he'd be too impressed with a goodgifts style present - planting trees, giving a goat etc.
I've received these in the past and been delighted but I don't think he'd go for it.

Any advice please? If only to prove DH wrong!
TIA

OP posts:
oranges · 13/06/2007 13:50

Lovely bottle of wine or hamper, that they can use during their stay here?

TheDaVinciCod · 13/06/2007 13:51

terramundi

JodieG1 · 13/06/2007 13:52

I would but have no idea what I'd buy though.

mostlyalurker · 13/06/2007 13:54

How about a nice bottle of champagne for them to drink at their leisure. When they get home or when the first baby is born! You can vary the price to your budget.

booge · 13/06/2007 13:54

Can you order something online to be delivered to them when they get home?

PandaG · 13/06/2007 13:54

voucher for a meal in their home town? Do a bit of research on google/here for a recommendation maybe?

fryalot · 13/06/2007 13:54

I know it sounds really, really naff - but could you get them a voucher for either an internet shop that would deliver to them, or a local shop for them?

tortoiseSHELL · 13/06/2007 13:54

A really nice photo frame (flat!)? Or could you get something delivered to their address (don't know how international delivery works), and then tell them there is something waiting for them at home?

Springadora · 13/06/2007 13:56

I'd ring and ask if they have a list. Failing that, ideas for easy shipping stuff: Napkins? Pillow cases? Ladle? Really nice photo album for their honeymoon pics? Or fabulous phot frame for their wedding photos?

Springadora · 13/06/2007 13:57

What about Amazon.com vouchers?

bundle · 13/06/2007 13:57

how much do you want to spend?

littlelapin · 13/06/2007 13:58

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

suzycreamcheese · 13/06/2007 13:58

mostlylurker..i'd go with bubbly too..pink maybe or special vintage if you can afford want to splash out..

MrsBadger · 13/06/2007 14:00

did you check debenhams?
either a photo frame - you can never have too many
or champagne - no shipping required

SpacePuppy · 13/06/2007 14:01

In my country "of origin" it is not uncommon to give cash. (that is a tradition for young couples just starting out.) We got my brother (living abroad, same scenario) something from Carol Boyes. She makes pewter cast things, have a look

PrincessPeaNips · 13/06/2007 14:08

Send him an email
Dear John
Really looking forward to your wedding party on the 10th, especially to finally meeting Rosalind. PinkMartini and I would really love to buy you a wedding present (we use the decanter you bought us far too often than is good for us). Do you still have a list open in Bogota? Or is there anything in particular we could get you from here? Please do let us know.
See you on the 10th
Reginald

PrincessPeaNips · 13/06/2007 14:09

don't buy them a photo frame
they will get 10,000
if he says "no really we don't want any presents, we have masses, no really we don't"

then say hoorah and don't get anything

katelyle · 13/06/2007 14:26

I am here to tell you you can have too many photo frames. 3 is too many. What do people DO with them - use tham as drinks trays for fairies?

AnneJones · 13/06/2007 14:29

I wouldn't think you needed to get anything - it isn't the wedding itself, just a party.

However if you felt you wanted to get something, the bubbly is quite a good idea. Or something produced locally to you if they are going back abroad (eg being Wlesh, Mum often gives those Welsh pewter pic frames as gifts). Picture frames are handy but also easy to slide into drawers if not yet required. (In Joyce Grenfell's words on Useful and Acceptable Gifts, they are not only easy to receive "but ever so easy to dispose of".)

SofiaAmes · 13/06/2007 14:50

I think a card of congratulations would be sufficient. They haven't invited you to the wedding, just a party. And it really sounds like it doesn't matter if they are a little insulted since you will probably never see them again.

babygrand · 13/06/2007 15:01

I'd ask them if they've got a list.

Original poster
PinkMartini · 13/06/2007 15:03

PPH/PPN you really are hilarious but your email is spot on. PMSL at my DH Reginald!
All vg ideas here THANK YOU Didn't mean to post and run.
Will suggest PPH's email to DH and make it his problem fgs. It's his friend!

OP posts:
littlemissbossy · 13/06/2007 15:03

I'd ask if they have a list OR buy a decent bottle of champage/wine

oranges · 13/06/2007 15:05

lol - after one event, my cousin's family ended up with 34 photo frames.

PrincessPeaNips · 13/06/2007 16:03

I thought if he was so rude about us he deserved to be called Reginald

If he'd been politer I'd have called him Brad or Dirk or Thrust or something a bit sexier