Gifts for parents?

[StrongInside]

Hi,

As much as I’m not planning on following tradition for everything at our wedding, I’ve been thinking about ways of showing our parents appreciation for their support and love. We aren’t confident public speakers, so I don’t think either myself or my H2B will give a speech (which could include our thanks). Do we need to give our parents something, and if so, what?

My parents don’t like pointless trinkets lying around, they have a specific taste in wine (which they can easily get themselves before/after the wedding) etc. Maybe something personalised? Or is a gift only given when you have a traditional bridal party?

Thanks!

You could do it separately, on the day before or the day after or on the day, but out of the public gaze if you don't want to make a show ?

Couples will often get their parents a photobook or album of wedding pictures?
Often on the day, parents' are given flowers.

I got married very recently and bought my mum a pair of earrings to wear on the day and my dad some personalised cufflinks - the engraved box said "father of the bride" and the actual cufflinks had his initials but very small & tasteful.

We did the usual flowers for the mums and also a gift of a 2 night stay for both sets of parents in a nice hotel they wouldn't normally go to (different hotels!) which worked well, they all enjoyed a weekend away somewhere they hadn't really been before.

Flowers and a hotel sound nice. I always get stuck on what voucher, experience or hotel location to get someone (even when the choice is narrowed down by the Groupon selection) because I have been gifted a hotel stay before in a place that I don’t like and also had to take two days off work because the voucher small print stated no weekend stays and the hotel was 3 hours away!!

Our dads don’t wear cufflinks and my mum doesn’t do jewellery, otherwise they are lovely ideas. Any other ideas?

BackforGood, good idea, will definitely not want to make a show of it.

I have made each family a picture, similar to the type attached. Both our parents are separated and therefore we wanted to include our step parents in the gift in some way but they aren't part of the bridal party as such

I bought my parents an afternoon tea and tickets for a West End show as a thank you gift.

Both ideas sound nice! I am now town between a keepsake that they would cherish looking at and an experience like a hotel stay or meal.