bride and groom gift tradition... (for each other)

Hi! Interesting reading... in Norway (and maybe elsewhere in Europe?) it's custom to give each other "morning presents" the morning after the wedding.

I gave my husband a really nice watch, and he gave me a gift sertificate to take diving lessons! I just loved it because I've been wanting to do this for years, and he already is a licenced diver.. :) We're planning to go to the Maldives for our honeymoon in May, so I'll have to take the exam before we leave... :) (And that will be a TEST, because it's freeeeezing up here in the North of Europe right now :)

I've heard of evening before presents but you could do both morning and evening! But either way they go both ways. I'm getting my fiance a buy/hold/sell die because he is very interested in the markets. And I'm going to include a cheeky note comparing myself to good buy haha. Anyhow I think kareenq's idea is really great too. For Christmas I had two old photos of men, in my fiance's family, that he really respects retouched and framed. One was of his great uncle in uniform during WWII (also a Navy officer) the other was of his Grandfather during the 1930's looking dapper in white bucks next to his Duesie (which I wish was still around for the wedding ;) just kidding). It was definitely worth it for the sentimental value, it didn't cost me much to have them retouched at kinko's. They printed with their image center on quality photo paper and honestly total cost for their services was under $5.

And I think I've seen past posts where a lot of brides are doing the boudoir images as gifts.

Champagne, that's a great idea! I have a photo of FI's grandfather (whom he looks exactly like) that I've been waiting for the right moment to give him. The day of our wedding is perfect! Gosh, I'm getting a little misty thinking about it...

Haha that will be so darling! And you can find some gorgeous sterling frames (I found mine on sale actually 50% off) so the whole thing is soo meaningful but it doesn't have to cost a ton! Horchow is having a sale now, may be a great place to look for really special frames

I know of many weddings when both the bride and groom exchange gifts. you don't have to do it, but it's nice. I don't think we are, maybe just give him a card or something.

I saw one where the groom gave the bride a classic CAR. With all the expense of the wedding and honeymoon, I can't imagine throwing the cost of a car into the mix as well!

Here is a wedding where she gave him a 1920's rolex
http://community.theknot.com/cs/ks/user/page.aspx?username=MrsHoya&MsdVisit=1
I have it bookmarked under "ridiculous profile" because its ridiculously beautiful but way over the top. Also, I love that her other gift to him were little Yalie Handsome Dan cufflinks, how cute!

I got DH a watch, and he got me a diamond bracelet to wear on the wedding day. However it's not something you "have to" do. We weren't going to at first becasue we saw our marriage, wedding, and honeymoon as the ultimate gift to eachother.

I saw that on an episode of Platinum Weddings...LOL but I think it was a culture tradition. But it was the parents of the bride giving the bride and groom something (she was Persian I think, and the guy was Spanish) HER parents gave him a Rolex ? Or a cartier watch? And her parents gave her some bling.

I think the wedding rings are gifts enough as we'll be broke from the wedding anyhow! lol

There's a show called Platinum Weddings?! I don't even want to know...
Not related side note, ranting (apologies in advance) - in her profile she complains about having to show ID at the gate to a military base. Hello, its not intended for non-military so don't use a military chapel if that's really a problem... That kind of annoyed me, like cry me a river over your major life sacrifice. The base I'm at just lost aircrew and pilots in a crash yesterday (the wives found out from private footage on the local news, not the military because they couldn't get to them fast enough) boo hoo you had to show ID.