So I'm going to be in a wedding in June. I'm wanting to give my friend a scrapbook after everything is over and done with. It's most definitly going to have stuff from the showers and parties and the wedding.
The question I have is, would it be appropriate to also include memories and pictures from our friendship in general. Kinda like it starts with middle school when we first became friends and then ends at the wedding reception.

So the choice for this wedding present is making a scrapbook that
1)Starts in middle school ends at the reception
or
2)Just wedding things.

5/26/2008 4:44:19 PM

Sorry, I know you didn't mean to be funny, but this just is:

Quote :

"It starts with middle school when we first became friends and then ends at the wedding reception"

Anyway, for a wedding gift I would give her a wedding scrapbook with the supplies for her to finish it (she will have more things than you, plus she'll want to have courtin' pictures with her husband that you may not have). Give her another scrapbook about your friendship later (birthday or Christmas).

5/26/2008 4:48:07 PM

just wedding things

5/26/2008 7:02:58 PM

i'm sure they would prefer something off of the registry.

5/27/2008 8:29:49 AM

I would just do wedding things since the wedding is about her and her husband not her and you. If you want to do a separate friendship one, then thats cool, but I would give it to her later, not as a wedding present.

5/27/2008 9:55:16 AM

I agree on two separate scrapbooks.

That said, this is one of the coolest gifts I ever saw given at a bridal shower. Someone had taken a scrapbook, and made a bunch of different layouts. So layouts for "The First Dance" "Cutting the Cake" etc etc and also ones that didn't have a specific theme spelled out on it. It was all coordinated together.

BUT, there were no pictures in it. Instead on each place where a picture would go, she put sticky notes that showed what the orientation of the photo would be. And then she included acid free glue and some cutting tools with the scrapbook. That way the bride could just go in and insert her favorite photos from the wedding, bridal shower, etc once she had all the photos.

5/28/2008 12:00:43 AM

just wedding things - she's going to show it to people that don't know you throughout her life that don't really care about the pictures of you two growing up

5/28/2008 12:03:30 AM

i agree just wedding stuff for the book.

and since i'm bored i'm going on a rant not specifically directed at you, smath, but it is motivated by this comment

Quote :

"i'm sure they would prefer something off of the registry. "

yes, i'm sure EVERYONE would prefer something off the registry. but registries piss me off to NO END. like i cringe everytime i purchase something off of one. like i get it, it makes it easier to purchase a useful present for someone and it makes it so you don't get doubles, etc, etc, etc. but honestly half the stuff i see listed on registries isn't even useful. and second of all, it just irritates me because it makes the whole wedding about presents. thats really all anyone thinks about it seems like. "oh where are they registered" "oh what are they registered for" "oh what if i HEAVEN FORBID get them something off of the registry" blah blah blah. i mean do you REALLY REALLY need a freaking race for the cure pink spatula?? no, you do not. i'm sure people already have 90% of the things on their registry anyway. if you're in your 20s or have ever lived away from home, you certainly have like a freaking ironing board and a toaster oven and a blender and maybe EVEN a few dishes here and there. i get asking for stuff like a china pattern or colored linens to match your first "together" kitchen. but asking for like bedding and vacuum cleaners and all the other fucking pointless shit i see on registries just makes me really really mad. i'm sure people HAVE a freaking whisk that will do. but no, they need the $50 hot pink whisk. if you're really into weddings shouldn't it be about the ceremony and sharing it with your friends/family....not about the presents?? yes, it should. and a freaking scrapbook shows more thought than a stupid spatula. and who knows maybe she is getting something off the registry as WELL as a personal gift. and if not, so what. its like when people get married they're just saying "here, throw all your money over here at ME." so, in sum, while i understand the practicality of registries, i really hate them, what they represent and how materialistic some people are.

i think a scrapbook is a good idea. i like the idea of it being a wedding scrapbook with maybe some stuff filled in but room for her to add on.

5/28/2008 12:24:48 AM

^ you'll understand registries more once you get engaged and make one

5/28/2008 12:26:38 AM

i mean i understand them now. i just don't really care about having a "together" blender. i have a freaking blender that is fine. i have most of the stuff i need since i do own a condo and live alone. while i realize you want "together" things, i'm just not that into things. if i have to get rid of my super cool blender because he likes his better, then whatev. but i'm not going to sign up for a new one when we already have 2 that work fine. i guess i'm totally confused but, i'm only going to register for stuff i really really need. then i want people to donate money to oxfam or something. call me crazy but sparkly kitchenware and bamboo napkin holders don't really get me all hyped up.

5/28/2008 12:40:17 AM

Maybe some people want nice stuff instead of the $10 clearance bin crap they bought when they were in college. So they're hoping someone will splurge on the Kitchenaid which is far superior to their hand mixer they currently own.

I don't really see anything wrong with asking for a bunch of random stuff on the registry. Where it becomes ridiculous is when people get pissed off because people gave them stuff that wasn't on the registry. Or when it becomes like that post of the crazy mother of the bride that's somewhere here in the lounge.

5/28/2008 1:21:15 AM

no that is true and i understand that. but i just feel like i have everything i need. i mean i guess if you get married right out of college it is different. but if you are mid 20s or later...i hope you at least have SOME nice stuff you have accumulated haha. but i mean, yea the point i was trying to make is that some stuff on registries is ridic. i get kitchenaid mixers..that is fine. but by the same token i'd never want my friends to spend that much money on me (those things are $$$). and seriously the pink spatulas and stuff kill me. and like the nit picky napkin rings. its just me, i know. i just won't ever understand. but i agree, i think it is TOTALLY ridiculous when people get mad that they get something that isn't on the registry (see: crazy wedding mom thread)

5/28/2008 1:37:49 AM

^ you'll understand registries more once you get engaged and make one

5/28/2008 3:13:02 PM

great idea! my sister in law makes a pre-wedding scrapbook/wedding planning workbook for her friends! it's really cool when she gets it all together. she includes the colors from the wedding, so you might want to think about that when designing your pages

I would definitely just do pictures from the wedding, pre-wedding parties, etc. my best friend did a collage for a bride's wedding she was in, and she asked the bride and groom's parents for can make photo copies of baby pictures to make it even more personal for them.


re: the registry

sawahash says she wants to give the scrapbook after "everything is over and done with," which implies to me this is a personal gift, not on the registry, after the fact, for a close friend (in addition to the traditional gift that's probably from the registry). i could be totally wrong...but this just sounds like a personal gift on top of a Cuisinart!




btw...best gift that was not on the registry i've ever seen--a chain saw! crazy

[Edited on May 28, 2008 at 3:35 PM. Reason : ]

5/28/2008 3:32:59 PM

Yeah I'm going to do just wedding stuff.

Also elkaybie is right. I'm giving this after the wedding. I've already bought the stuff on the registry. I've already bought the bridesmaid dress and the shoes and paid to have it altered. This is just something to be a little more special to them, and I'm sure they will like it. He already knows about it, cause obviously guys aren't as sentimental about it and I figured I could use his help in getting some pictures and things. This will be a surprise gift for her.

I bought the actual book today, and it's the same colors as the wedding, didn't even plan for it to be that way, but it totally worked out the right way.

Thanks for the advice everyone!

5/28/2008 8:20:39 PM

Quote :

"yes, i'm sure EVERYONE would prefer something off the registry. but registries piss me off to NO END. like i cringe everytime i purchase something off of one. like i get it, it makes it easier to purchase a useful present for someone and it makes it so you don't get doubles, etc, etc, etc. but honestly half the stuff i see listed on registries isn't even useful. and second of all, it just irritates me because it makes the whole wedding about presents. thats really all anyone thinks about it seems like. "oh where are they registered" "oh what are they registered for" "oh what if i HEAVEN FORBID get them something off of the registry" blah blah blah. i mean do you REALLY REALLY need a freaking race for the cure pink spatula?? no, you do not. i'm sure people already have 90% of the things on their registry anyway. if you're in your 20s or have ever lived away from home, you certainly have like a freaking ironing board and a toaster oven and a blender and maybe EVEN a few dishes here and there. i get asking for stuff like a china pattern or colored linens to match your first "together" kitchen. but asking for like bedding and vacuum cleaners and all the other fucking pointless shit i see on registries just makes me really really mad. i'm sure people HAVE a freaking whisk that will do. but no, they need the $50 hot pink whisk. if you're really into weddings shouldn't it be about the ceremony and sharing it with your friends/family....not about the presents?? yes, it should. and a freaking scrapbook shows more thought than a stupid spatula. and who knows maybe she is getting something off the registry as WELL as a personal gift. and if not, so what. its like when people get married they're just saying "here, throw all your money over here at ME." so, in sum, while i understand the practicality of registries, i really hate them, what they represent and how materialistic some people are."

5/28/2008 8:35:24 PM