Destination Wedding
Tips & Advice

Tips & Advice

Destination-themed bridesmaid and groomsmen gifts

You’ve got a destination wedding in your future, and it’s time to think about gifts for your attendants. You could stick with the traditional, or you could use your destination wedding theme to help you find something different and unique to your wedding.

Say you’re having a Hawaii wedding, complete with luaus and drinks in coconut shells. Match that with brightly colored beach towels and a tote bag with sunscreen, lip balm and other goodies to carry it in. Or the perfect Hawaiin shirt, shorts or sari to wear on and off the beach.

Another tropical destination is a Caribbean wedding, full of sun and jewel-toned ocean vistas. A flip-flop pedicure kit to show off those toes in sandals or a pair of sunglasses with the person’s initials is a fun way to remember sun-drenched days at an island retreat. Or give them a piece of personalized luggage (you’ll need to give this ahead of time) and a book to read on the plane.

For your Mexico wedding, try local wares like silver or amber jewelry or keepsakes, blankets, finely crafted Panama hats, a traditional woven scarf or maybe a hammock (which are sold by weight). You can also find pierced tin items like Christmas ornaments, memory boxes and wall décor. These are all gifts native to Mexico, so bringing one home brings part of the culture of Mexico home with you.

Personalized luggage tags, cosmetic cases, keychains, passport covers, even a travel alarm clock are all good choices for attendant gifts for a destination wedding. If none of these appeal to you, ask your attendants what they might like and have your groom ask the groomsmen. They may come up with something you wouldn’t have thought of, and it will take the pressure off you to give the perfect gift.

• They have to carry it home, so it shouldn’t be heavy or inappropriate to bring on a plane or crossing the border. This is not the time to give a Swiss Army knife or an engraved flask or mug. If you want to give those kinds of gifts, do it before you leave for your destination wedding.
• It should be in keeping with the tone of your wedding, so if you’re having a fun beach wedding, make it something fun that they can keep to remember your wedding as long as you do. If you’ve gone more traditional, make it something more traditional, like jewelry.
  
• Make the gift specific to the person you’re giving it to. Confirm you have their initials right or their size (for clothing), their taste in books or accessories and colors that suit them. If you don’t know them well enough (someone on his side of the family), ask someone who does to ensure you get something they’ll keep to remember your special day.
  
• A destination wedding should be fun, exciting and not the time to worry about things. Get your gifts early and your bridesmaids and groomsmen will appreciate the thought and time you took to make sure you got something especially for them.