December Wedding / Christmas Shopping Blues

ChaoswithGrace

Hello Ladies! New Bride - Married December 7th, 2013. My H and I are very happy and enjoying the holiday season and honeymoon phase. We decorated the tree last night and added our new "Happily Ever After" ornament to our tree. After all the decorating, we finally sat down and wrote our gift list for Christmas. We feel pretty crappy as we’re very strapped for cash now, especially after the wedding. Now, any money we received at the wedding was put towards paying off any wedding debt / and spent on the honeymoon. My H says everyone will understand if the gifts are less than stellar this year, but I’m having a struggle with it – as so many people helped with our wedding, I just want to be able to show our appreciation correctly. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

Has anyone else ever struggle with this? Any suggestions? Advice?

Thank you ladies in Advance!

-Mrs. B

WendyGR

I think that there are very thoughtful gifts that don't have to cost a lot. In fact, I personally think that buying big gifts is a cop out. But that's just me and how I was raised. I much prefer my mom's handmade apron over the pile of expensive presents from my MIL. 

erollis

I can't even remember what all we gave people the year we married. I do know everyone I had an address for got a Christmas card and a wedding picture of us. If they came to the wedding I included a picture of them (if the photographer took one).

Your photos most likely won't be ready in time so do something small and thoughtful. Doesn't need to be expensive. Are you a good cook or baker? Make and gift cookies/breads/cakes. Make ornaments for everyone. Christmas stuff at the craft stores are on sale now. I'm sure you can figure something out.

Leftie22

I agree that the thought is more important than the cash amount. DH and are are strapped for cash after moving across the country, me being a SAHM and expecting our 2nd child. Instead, I'm doing a lot of baking for people. We know lots of others who are strapped for cash too, so we've agreed to have a dinner together or an appetizer party, instead of doing gifts. I actually enjoy that much more!

NavyBlue143

We made our parents photo albums on shutterfly. They are almost always on sale/ on groupon. They loved them, and took a lot of work to make (each was personalized and I'm a perfectionist.)

Lilyrose4242

Wedding photos are always a great gift for parents. I liked what was said earlier about making an ornament. They have ornament shells at Walmart for 88cents and I've seen them at other stores too. Maybe you could make an ornament about the person you're giving it too. Like if they like baking fill it with recipes and paint cookies on that outside. Shouldn't be too pricey plus it'd be really cute.

ChaoswithGrace

These are all great ideas. We won't have our photos for another week, the digital ones are all saved from the photographers sneak peek blog. I think I'll go the baking route and make people they're favorite cookies

Thanks for the suggestions ladies!!