The Gifts

While destination weddings are technically held in a location where neither party lives, many of you raised a good point that anytime you travel to the nuptials, it's technically a destination wedding. My friend recently attended a wedding where many attendees flew in from all over the world, and just seeing this welcome box (and hearing her tale) gave me a bunch of great ideas to share:

• Embrace the digital age — While printed invitations are lovely, the purchase price adds up, especially when factoring in overseas mailing rates. If a simple email invite isn't your style for anything fancier than a weekend bar night or birthday party, consider making a personal video to share the wedding details online. This happy couple had a talented friend who created and edited a short clip so everyone could see it at the same time, for no cost at all.
• Follow me on Facebook — For the nighttime celebration on a hotel rooftop, there was a Facebook group and separate flier PDF to share as well. Sure, dear Aunt Sally may not be following you online, but it works for friends and co-workers just attending this portion of the festivities.

Learn about the other things in this box and why they are useful, read more

If you're steering off the wedding registry course or you just want to add something special to your registry gift, why not help the happy couple pretty up the one room that always needs a little TLC: the bathroom? For one, it's a lot easier to pick out little luxuries for the bathroom than it is to buy big-ticket items like furniture. Maybe check out their registry to see what their theme is and then find something unique that will add some pizazz to the space. Don't forget: in many cases, there are two sexes sharing the space, so keep it clean — nothing too feminine or too masculine. I went with a neutral color scheme of browns, blues, and whites, like this plush "Kenya" Bath Rug ($428). See more of my picks below.

Start sharing your big day with our community. Just head to the Lovely Little Vignettes group, click "new post," and check the wedding content box.

I don't need to tell you brides-to-be that wedding planning is one big, very-much-worth-it headache! To ease your troubles, we've created the ultimate wedding registry checklist! It's free, it's downloadable, and it couldn't be more straightforward. Take a quick look over it before you head to the department store and check off things you already own or don't need. Then, simply print it and carry it along with you while you're compiling your wedding wish list. Oh — and congrats!

Start sharing your big day with our community. Just head to the Lovely Little Vignettes group, click "new post," and check the wedding content box.

Before you get a heartfelt handwritten thank you note for your amazing wedding gift, you have to find something to offer the happy couple! I've come up with some tips on how to give a thoughtful and appropriate present. Check them out and feel free to add your own ideas in the comments.

• Act early. It's helpful to send the gift to the bride soon after you receive your invite. You'll have your pick of the registry and the couple won't have to deal with the present on their big day.
• Of course buying something off the registry is not mandatory. Take it as a suggestion and go ahead and offer a more personal gift if you have something in mind.
• Maybe they want money. In some traditions, guests typically give the newlyweds money, so ask around to the wedding party or family to see if money makes for an acceptable gift. Keeping in mind that many cohabitating couples already have set up a household, money might be more useful than a second set of silverware.
• Consider offering a gift even if you can't go. It's in good taste to send something if you receive an invitation, but cannot make the wedding. Something simple, like an item off their registry, a bouquet of flowers on their one month anniversary, or a card noting you made a donation to the couple's favorite charity would work.
• Incorporate the honeymoon. A friend of mine went to Sydney, Australia for her honeymoon, so our mutual friend, who had lived there before, offered the couple a gift certificate to her favorite restaurant. Using the inside knowledge made for a memorable gift they could use on their honeymoon.
• Just send one. Technically you have a year, so there's really no excuse not to send something!

Source: Flickr User Right About Me

Some say thank-you notes are a dying art, but I have to side with Emily Post on this one. Nothing beats a heartfelt and handwritten note to show your gratitude for a gift — especially when it's for your wedding. But that doesn't mean you can't modernize the tradition a tad; here are my five rules for modern thank-yous.

• Divide the work. Face it: thank-you notes are an act of etiquette often assigned to women, so don't let the task fall solely to you. Split up the list between you and your groom. Better yet, make it fun: bang them out over breakfast at your favorite cafe or while watching your shared guilty pleasure TV shows.
• Say something specific. Describe the gift and add a bit of flair, such as "we'll think of you every time we use it" or "we'll be sure to raise a toast to you with the beautiful glasses." If it's a gift card or money, say what you might spend it on.
• But don't lie. Don't say you love the gift if you don't like it. Instead, focus on its unique attributes, the sentiment behind it, or something else entirely . . .

For that something else, and more, read on.