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Relationships

Asked to contribute to a wedding - please help me think of something original!

51 replies

HomeIsWhereTheGinIs · 14/01/2014 10:49

I hope that this is the right place to post (relationships = weddings?) as I can't see a dedicated category. Some very dear friends are getting married in the summer and are having a sort of hippy festival type affair. In keeping with their lifestyle, they've been very clear that they do not want gifts but that they'd welcome homemade help with the wedding (food, cleaning the site, decorating etc). I'll be eight months pregnant on the day and so whilst usually I'd want to build and man a coconut shy or similar, I suspect I will be waddling and puffing by that point and therefore not really able to be that physical. But I want to do something special.

So here's my question. What can I make for them that would be nice? We offered to provide Pimms and lemonade for all guests on the day but they've told us they didn't intend that we should give that much. I'd usually spend £100-200 on friends like these for a gift so can you help me with ideas?

So far I thought that perhaps one of the following might be nice:

  • I could make a huge batch of personalised biscuits (monogrammed or similar)
  • I could rent a candy floss machine and set it up (wedding is about an six hour drive from London though so might be difficult to source / bring / clean)?


Help!
OP posts:
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ilovemydoggy · 14/01/2014 10:52

What about hiring a bouncy castle from somewhere near the venue?

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HomeIsWhereTheGinIs · 14/01/2014 10:53

Thank you ilovemydoggy, do you think that would fit the budget? They've indicated they'd prefer we make something that just throw money at the situation (which is unfortunate). Any ideas?

OP posts:
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Offred · 14/01/2014 11:06

This is tough because they seem to be very clear that they want something and have very strong ideas about what they don't want so it would be helpful if they could give you an idea about what they do want? I think if you'll be heavily pregnant by then they are asking a bit much to expect you to make anything. At 8 months pregnant it will be tough standing in the kitchen making biscuits even.

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Offred · 14/01/2014 11:07

Bouncy castle sounds a lot of fun...

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MerylStrop · 14/01/2014 11:13

hire a face painter to entertain children or some arty-type people to do crafts with them?

organise for a (local) ice-cream van to come and buy everyone a 99?

help to make/assemble some sort of party favours?

cupcakes?

(Pimms sounds like a great idea to me…..)

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PeterParkerSays · 14/01/2014 11:13

Do you sew or crochet? you could make a string of bunting, maybe with their names on it, and hang it across the entrance.

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Lweji · 14/01/2014 11:14

You will have to tell them that at 8 months pregnant you will be able to do very little.

Having said that, could you do place names, menus, flower arrangements for the tables?

In any case, at 8 months you may not be very reliable, as the baby could well decide on an early arrival.
Throwing money sounds good in this occasion.

Or order home made food and present as yours.

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CogitoErgoSometimes · 14/01/2014 11:16

How about one of those memory board type things? Gather lots of photos of the happy couple's friends and relations, get people to write good wishes messages, draw little pictures, etc, collate it into some huge artistic frame and present them with it on the day.

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MistyB · 14/01/2014 11:17

How about making some bunting, assuming it is an outdoors wedding. You could either make lots of simple bunting, or do some special strings with 'Just Married', 'Mr & Mrs', their initials, love hearts perhaps.

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Lj8893 · 14/01/2014 11:17

I think either make the biscuits or make a big punch of something alcoholic and put it into nice bottles or something??

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TheFutureSupremeRulersMum · 14/01/2014 11:21

Could you make them a sign to put up like this? Pinterest has lots of good ideas for making stuff. Just search on wedding.

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notso · 14/01/2014 11:25

Could you plant up some lovely pots to use as decorations. They could keep them after the wedding.

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Lweji · 14/01/2014 11:26

Something you could prepare now and leave until the wedding might be a good idea.

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QuizteamBleakley · 14/01/2014 11:31

What a lovely idea. We got married last year and a very lovely (and arts & crafts-mad) friend got us two gifts that were loved by us and all the guests. First off, she handed out a questionnaire to everyone (similar - but less Yanky - than this ) and then she'd also labelled up two huge old Kilner jars "Date night ideas" and gave everyone a lollipop stick & a felt tip. We dip into the Kilner now and then and sometimes follow what it says or realise that we'd get sent to prison if we did that.

We had a gift list and got some amazing 'money' gifts but these two lovely ideas really stood out.

Good luck with the pg, by the way!

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MyNameIsKenAdams · 14/01/2014 11:34

Could you do their invitations? Then your part is over and done with well in advance of you being heavily pregnant?

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HomeIsWhereTheGinIs · 14/01/2014 12:52

Thank you all! There are some brilliant ideas here!

Offred: Love the name btw! Slightly worried by the idea that I might not be able to stand in the kitchen - I'll have to work for three weeks after the wedding so am assuming I'll be able to deal with that.

PeterParker and Misty I really like the bunting idea too, that might work. I can't sew for toffee but surely gluing should be an option? I also like the idea of homemade punch. And the "date night ideas".

notso the plants are likewise a very sweet thought!

I think it might be an idea to maybe send them a few ideas and ask them to pick? That said, please keep these gems coming, they're brilliant!

OP posts:
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Poloholo · 14/01/2014 12:59

Well very lovely for the happy couple but I have to say in the OP's shoes I'd feel a bit peeved that I was having pressure put on me to commit to do stuff whilst heavily pregnant.

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Offred · 14/01/2014 13:00

You're entitled to reasonable adjustments at work though and shouldn't be expected to stand for long periods! I found cooking the most difficult of all things because it involved a lot of standing, which is painful, moving or sitting was easier (sometimes lying down)! I had spd in my second two pg though!

Asking them to pick is a fab idea IMO!

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slug · 14/01/2014 13:02

My sister did something like this. I drove and decorated the wedding car.

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ShatnersBassoon · 14/01/2014 13:06

I think the Pimms and lemonade idea is excellent. You're happy to pay for it, so it doesn't matter if the bride thinks it's too expensive.

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janeyjampot · 14/01/2014 13:09

When my DSIS got married my Dad made her a wedding tussie-mussie with my DD (who was only 1 at the time). He chose flowers and herbs which symbolised different qualities and they tied them into a bouquet with ribbon. It made an interesting and thoughtful gift which looked beautiful and it sounds as if it might be in keeping with the style of the celebration your friends have in mind. There's some information about the significance of different flowers and herbs here:

www.almanac.com/content/meaning-flowers

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blackandwhiteandredallover · 14/01/2014 13:11

Place settings? We had a beach wedding and I had the great Hmm idea of painting everyone's names on shells for the place settings. It took bloody ages (we had 85 guests) but I collected nice shells from the beach and just did a few every night in front of the telly with a special silver paint pen. They looked lovely and some of our friends still have them!

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blackandwhiteandredallover · 14/01/2014 13:12

Meant to say,if yoi don't live near a beach, smooth pebbles would work just as well!

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iwantavuvezela · 14/01/2014 13:14

Hire a candy floss machine or ice cream machine and provide dessert!

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Joysmum · 14/01/2014 13:18

Why not offer to have her bouquet pressed and dried?

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