Mr. Mink prides himself on being a talented gift giver. He is one of those people who truly derives more pleasure out of giving a gift than receiving one. By the time Halloween rolls around each year, he has already started to brainstorm ideas for Christmas presents. It’s one of his many charming traits.
Mr. Mink is all for giving gifts, but he was a little surprised that brides and grooms give wedding gifts to each other. He thought throwing a wedding and going on a honeymoon was a pretty spectacular gift that we were giving ourselves. As someone who isn’t apt to splurge very often, our wedding feels like a fabulous gift for us and our guests. I told Mr. Mink that I am definitely fine with throw the tradition of the bride and groom exchanging gifts aside.
Now I have to employ an oft used bee tactic to prevent someone from clicking through…
Now that it’s just us, I can tell you a little bit more.
A few years ago, I made an offhanded remark about liking David Yurman jewelry. Since then, Mr. Mink has surprised me with a new piece for almost every holiday. I have a nice little collection of Yurman pieces. I originally asked Mr. Mink to look at men’s rings by Yurman to see if he wanted his wedding band to be from his collection. I thought it would be funny for him to wear a Yurman ring every day just as I wear one of his necklaces or bracelets every day. Mr. Mink looked at the rings and wanted something a little simpler. I still thought that Mr. Mink needed a piece of David Yurman jewelry of his own.
Photo by Miss Mink
This box has been tucked in a drawer that Mr. Mink wouldn’t touch for months and I took it out just to take a picture for you all. I bought this many months ago, before we had our discussion about not exchanging gifts. I got Mr. Mink some David Yurman.
Sterling silver and leather cuff links by David Yurman / Photo by Miss Mink
I wish I could have gotten him something he’d wear every day, but aside from his wedding ring, I don’t see Mr. Mink suddenly wearing jewelry in the future. Perhaps I’ll buy him a few new dress shirts with French cuffs for his birthday so he has a few more reasons to wear cuff links in the future.
In a time when more couples are able to pay for their own weddings and honeymoons, do you think brides and grooms should still exchange gifts? Did you buy a gift for your groom? Is it something he uses every day or just on special occasions?
we have gone back and forth about buying gifts – and we decided that we will each do something small and sentimental – it would have been wonderful to be able to splurge for something big – but we are paying for the majority of our wedding and we just aren’t able to do it – we have decided though that we will each get a piece of jewelry while on our honeymoon to commemorate that. I LOVE those cufflinks – and you are one lucky lady that he picked up easily on your love of yurman! 
We also went back and forth on this issue and finally decided to exchange gifts after deciding on a spending limit. He will buy my wedding day earrings (I did give him some guidelines and show him some I loved) and I bought him a wedding day watch (he told me what he was looking for) that I plan on getting engraved. I’m happy with our choice!
I definitely don’t think gifts are necessary, but I liked the thought behind it. I am very sentimental, so the thought of having a gift from my husband from our wedding was very appealing to me. Plus, it’s good practice for future anniversaries 
We haven’t discussed it in detail, but we both love giving each other gifts so I imagine we’ll do wedding gifts for each other. Truth be told, I already know what I want to give him: a pocket watch to wear during our wedding! I don’t wear a watch, so I need him to have one on the big day! (Normally I rely on my cell phone.) I haven’t thought about what I’d like from him… Frankly the engagement ring is gift enough!! I feel bad he has to save up for a ring and I don’t traditionally give anything in return. (nothing physical, anyway)
I’m making star wars cufflinks for my FI and his guys, that’s my gift for him. i also want to get him something else, as I have dropped a tiffany necklace type hint around the house a few times
Ah I am so excited for my FI present.
I am doing a boudoir photo shoot in bridal lingerie, my veil etc. Very tasteful in an old brick building. Anyway I’m having the photo collection leather bound and giving it to him privately.
We’ve decided to do gifts. He knows I’ll be getting him cufflinks to wear the day of, but I want to get him something else. My “gift” is also going to be boudoir photos. I’m going to give them to him at our rehearsal and tell him to open it the morning of the wedding.
My FI and I have gone back and forth on giving gifts– mostly me saying “why?” and him saying “you know what would make a great wedding gift for me….” As of now, me marrying him is the gift he is getting!
@MissKabers: What a sweet idea!
@coasterkim: I like that you were getting something you were apt to buy anyway.
@Mrs. Pony: Agreed. Mr. Mink is such a great gift giver that I don’t mind not having something. He’s done all the planning for our honeymoon, which is a huge gift to me. I don’t think I could have handled that on top of everything else on my plate!
@Miss_Manda: Also a great point…our engagement rings are pretty fantastic gifts!
@Ms Rocky Point: Aw, they sound cute! I hope you post about them on the boards when they’re done!
@nataliegrace90: Have fun! It sounds like a cool location!
@TriciaAndDazzling: Ah…another boudoir sessions. I think these are becoming fairly common!
@takemyhand: Hee hee. Makes sense.
I’m surprised more people don’t see throwing the wedding as a gift. Perhaps there would be a difference in opinions between people who paid for their weddings and people whose parents paid for their weddings. If I had time to study it, I would. But I don’t.
We didn’t do gifts but I always love seeing what other couples choose for each other! Love these links, miss m!
I gave Mr. Kayak a bike and he gave me pearls that I wore on our wedding day.
The Mr. decided that since we are paying for the wedding ourselves, we weren’t going to exchange gifts. I kind of pouted and said I wanted something from him on the day. (He said “What, you don’t think I’ll be at the end of the aisle!) He came up with the idea that we could exchange gifts, but they couldn’t be over $5 and they had to remind/rerpresent something in our relationship. What a sap he is turing out to be…I love him! He also told me I could tell anyone…oops.
I love the idea of giving him something of David Yurman’s.. I’m sure he’ll love it. We aren’t sure about the whole gift thing.. mostly because Foxy has never heard of it and isn’t really one for mushy, sentimental stuff. I’ve hinted a lot at this one pair of earrings I want.. so we’ll see.
Mrs. Mink, Charlottesville, Virginia Age and Occupation: 34, College Administrator Fiance's Age and Occupation: 40, Craft Beer Consultant Engagement Date: November 26, 2010 Wedding Date: June 2012 Venue: Pippin Hill Farm & Vineyards About Me: I left a pre-war brownstone in Boston six years ago to live in a funky, Southern city where Thomas Jefferson, Dave Matthews, and urban chicken keepers enjoy equal social standing. I still love my Patriots and Red Sox, but have fallen in love with Virginia. I work in education and specialize in integrating technology into my work to improve the student experience. I’m a diehard blogger, animal lover, jamband follower, and DIYer. I paint to relax and have transferred by energy from home projects to wedding projects in recent months. When Mr. Mink and I started talking about marriage, we knew our wedding would be outdoors, that my golden retriever would be part of the day, and that the music would be fantastic. We’ve taken a few risks during our planning process and we’ve been enjoying the process immensely!
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