As some of you know, I’m to be married August 19th (yes, less than 3 weeks away!)
I want to buy my bride to be a nice gift to say “I love you” right before the wedding to be given to her by her maiden of honor.
I was thinking a book of love poems or something like that, with a nice little note attached.
What say ye? What suggestions do you have? (Any suggestions at all. Do you know a particular title you like? Do you have another suggestion besides a book?)
E3
My wife liked the diamond earings I gave her right before the wedding. They looked nice on her with her gown as well. She still wears them for special occassions.
Well first, you should give it to her yourself. The bridesmaid strikes me as the Wrong Route To Take.
I think it’s a lovely idea. Poems (if she likes poetry) or some kind of memento of your best day together ever.
Congratulations!
I would definitely go with earings or some other jewellery - my Dad gave my Mum earings the night before their wedding day, and if I hear that story one more time…gaaaaah!! (that was over 40 years ago, and she still wears them)
I’m sure whatever gift you go with your new wife will adore it…
Awwwwwwww!
My friend’s fiance is planning to get her a very nice wristwatch with their names and their anniversary engraved on it. That’s a good idea, I think.
While I understand your desire to give your bride something right before you meet at the alter, it simply isn’t practical. So, yes, whatever you choose, give it to her yourself the night before.
A book of poems is nice but as a woman, jewlery is always treasured and can be handed down to children you may have which makes it even more precious. I like the earring idea. Of course they do not have to be diamond if that is not within your means. Perhaps some white gold pearl drop earrings which are classic and elegant.
Congratulations and good luck to you both.
Enright3,
I think it’s a great idea to give your future bride a little gift the day before the wedding. I also think you should deliver it yourself or leave it somewhere she will surely find it before the wedding.
Personally, I favor the idea of a book of poems. But you know your fiance best. What would she appreciate more? Diamonds or poetry written by you.
I am of the ilk that would prefer the poetry. I think that’s the sweetest thing. It’s something she can always look upon know that you love her enough to take the time and effort to create something that only you can give her. I think the future Mrs. Enright is a lucky gal!
Have some champagne and a nice arrangement of fruit/cheese/caviar delivered to where she is getting ready. There should be enough so that she can toast her bridesmaids. Chances are she won’t eat much for breakfast, and this would be a nice light little something. Include a little note from you saying how wonderful she is and how you can’t wait to see her later.
How about some piece of jewelry that your mother wore at her wedding?
I like this idea in that we’re having an afternoon wedding.
I’m going to give her a personal gift the night before. I’m just looking for a nice “I’m thinking of you” type gift with a little personal note.
The diamond earrings are within my means, we’re both older professionals in our early 40s. This is her first marriage (my second, I’m a widower). What I didn’t want to do however is give her anything she would feel compelled to wear right then. besides I’m giving her the ultimate jewelry within an hour of receiving this ‘gift’. Besides she’s already wearing her grandmother’s earrings (something old). I don’t want the message to be in the gift, I want it to be in the thought. As far as that goes I think a simple card with a hand written note in it would suffice, but I make it a little more romantic.
I won’t be seeing her before the wedding on the wedding day. So if I want to give her a "I’m thinking of you’ type gift, I don’t see any other way to get it to her, unless I put in in the room where she’ll be changing at the church, and put it there the night before.
E3
Do you have any little item that you know would make her giggle? My parents (strangely enough since they are anti-military) have a little army man that they hide on each other knowing the other will be tickled to find it. Any way you could get her maid of honor to sneak something like that in, with a little note attached? If she gets nervous at all this would ease her mind!
Wanna give her a gift? When she meets you at the altar grab her hand, kiss her on the cheek, and tell her she is the most beautiful thing you have ever seen, and you are the luckiest man on the planet.
She will remember that long after the gift has been lost! 
There’s no way a stranger can tell you what is the perfect gift for your bride-- only those who know and love her could answer that.
The day before our wedding, my hubby gave me a little booklet he had made making fun of both of our little quirks while listing all of the reasons why he loved me. The cost was probably about ten cents for paper and inks, but it remains the most precious thing that I own.
Whatever you get her, make sure that it’s something straight from the heart-- something that you know that she will love and cherish all of her life. To put it bluntly, unless jewelery have a special meaning for her, that’s not the way to go. The expense of a gift has never impressed me. What impresses me is when a gift shows that the giver cares about my preferences and is not just tossing at me a Generic Expensive Thing.
This is the exact kind of idea I’m looking for! That cracks me up! I love it.
Well, that’s why I said “I don’t want the message to be in the gift, I want it to be in the thought”.
Let me be more clear on my OP… I don’t know much about poetry. My bride (I believe) would cherish a book of love poems. One POSSIBLE thing (but not for sure) that I thought about doing was to have her presented with a book of poems that she would like. I can’t see her on her wedding day until she walks down the aisle.
Do any of the poet types on SDMB have any suggestions of some good titles of love poem type books?
Dob,
I didn’t mean for my previous response to sound as snotty as it did. Please accept my apology. I appreciate all the suggestions.
I didn’t mean to (and didn’t think that I did) convey that I’m asking for you guys to pick the perfect gift for my bride. I was asking for suggestions for some titles of love poem books that some of you might have enjoyed. I then wanted to open it to other suggestions that anyone might have. Sometimes it really is the thought that counts. The gift you received from your husband is the the same type of response I want Miss Enright3ToBe to feel. It’s not about the gift, it’s about the thought in the gift. Thanks Lissa.
Perhaps Elizabeth Barrett Browning? The first line is oft-repeated but one of her “Sonnets from the Portuguese” XLIII
How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.
I love thee to the level of every day’s
Most quiet need, by sun and candlelight.
I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;
I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.
I love with a passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood’s faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints, I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life! and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.
Here is an edition of the complete sonnets. "Written for Robert Browning, who had affectionately nicknamed her his “little Portuguese,” the sequence is a celebration of marriage, and of one of the most famous romances of the nineteenth century. Recognized for their Victorian tradition and discipline, these are some of the most passionate and memorable love poems in the English language. There are forty-four poems in the collection, including the very beautiful sonnet, “How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.” "
To celebrate having been married one month, my husband gave me this book of love poems, and wrote something on the inside cover. I thought the book was a little cheesy, but we have had so much fun finding and reading the ones we liked to each other. Turns out I’m ok with cheesy!
So… Happy almost 8th anniversary to this thread.