OK - October 4th, my brother and his fiancee are getting married. They are getting married on the beach in Hawaii. They live in Arizona, my side of the family all lives in NY. His wife-to-be's family all live in AZ. My new SIL to be has wanted a beach wedding her whole life, there are no beaches in AZ, and they had planned to honeymoon in Hawaii anyways so long story short, they're getting married there. The kicker is that it is an elopement not because they did not want anyone there but because her family could not afford to pay for the wedding and my parents couldn't either. They're paying for it themselves. I have 3 kids, hubby studying like crazy for the CPA exam, we cannot afford to fly out there at all. Anyways. We are sad they are eloping but it was decided as the best thing to do. They are still having a beautiful ceremony, it is being videod professionally etc. Her family is having a party for them in AZ and we will have one in NY at Christmas time. I want to send something special for them ahead of time but I have so little money! I would love to send something beautiful and meaningful now to them but I can't think of what to do!!! I am very happy she's marrying my little brother, I think they're great for each other....she loves him so much and they are good together. By Christmas we will be able to give them a nicer gift when they are here but do you have any ideas of anything special that we could do for them now?? Thanks ladies!
Send a bottle of champagne and fresh choc dipped strawberries to their hotel in Hawaii. :) The day of.
That way they will feel loved and thought of while they are there. I know that they will know you are thinking of them etc, blah blah blah.. but actually receiving something THAT DAY from you guys would be quite touching.
A gift basket for the Honeymoon....sunscreen, bath oils, aroma soap...etc. All this stuff you can find at a Dollar General, Family Dollar, The Dollar Tree, etc.
If you don't want to pay the postage for the basket, you can get towels and washcloths from the same places and arrange them in the box really nice and cover it all with decorated tissue paper.
Nanc
I live on Kaua'i...
We have a company here that videos live events and streams them online, in real time. Maybe your family could have them at the wedding and then be there "virtually"?
They are called www.hawaiistream.com
It sounds like a great compromise, what a generous couple! She is having her dream wedding/honeymoon in a wonderful place, then a visit/reception type party is AZ and NY for both sides of the family. If only more brides were like this.
As for a gift, you could maybe make a fun photo album of your brother, all his baby pics, goofy growing up pics and such, include a few funny stories of his childhood/teen years. It would be so fun for them to look through. If you know her side of the family,. maybe they can email you pics and stories of her and you can make a joint album. Albums can get price if you go all out, but you can make it simple and print photos online, lots of sites had great photo printing coupons.
We honeymooned in Hawaii and a friend who wasn't able to attend our wedding sent us a gift certificate for one of the the hotel restaurants. It was a very lovely surprise as we checked in. You could also send flowers or champagne to their room as a way to celebrate with them. Or a gift certificate to the spa if they'd like that kind of thing.
Totally agree with Kindred and Victoria- My BFF could not make it to my wedding in Hawaii but called the hotel to arrange for champagne, choc strawberries and rose petals to be in our room when we returned after the wedding. I will never forget that- though she was not there in person her presence will never be forgotten-
Or you could arrange for a room service breakfast the next morning!
an engraved picture frame for a wedding photo is always a great gift
anything monogrammed that they can use like towels etc...(sometimes you can find towels with one initial at jcpenney's or places like that)
Our wedding guests included several college students who could not afford much, but their gifts were the most memorable, creative, and personal. A cross stitch picture with our names and wedding date. A shadowbox with handmade art and a poem. A box with a tab that said "pull here" which had a long message followed by 50 one dollar bills taped together.
Maybe you could make a special video of you and your family wishing them well or something else that's special to the family and send it to them :) I know if I got a video like that from my nieces, it would be extremely special to me! You could also try to Skype the ceremony, or do Facetime if iPhones are members of the family. Or just wait and have them show the professional video during the party!! That would be fun :)
Will anyone else they know be there with them? If so, maybe someone can Skype the ceremony so you can watch it live with your family.
Arrange for a bottle of champagne and some glasses to be waiting for them in their honeymoon suite. Or fresh flowers for the room. Or leis to wear.
Send a collection of iTunes of classical wedding music often played during ceremonies via e-mail to enjoy the music long after the wedding.
Send them a gift certificate for a meal at a nice restaurant or for a picnic lunch they can take to the beach.
Bathing suits and sunscreen? Sunglasses? Nice beach towels?
We got married on the beach on Lake Michigan. We provided sun umbrellas to our guests--they may need them as well depending on the time of day of the ceremony.
Myself, I'd hide in luggage and go. :)
call hotel where they will be in hawaii and ask if they can send something to room even if just fruit or candy of bottle of wine or maybe you can send it form a website
"Our First Christmas Together" ornament for their tree.....don't wait until Christmas....jump the gun & give it now!
I have several ideas but I had to think. Send quilt squares and a paint pen to all the friends and family. Have them sign it and mail it to you. See if you can get some one to make the quilt. Have it waiting in their room.
Take a dvd camcoreder and secretly at the wedding shower for example in a seperate room let everyone say their best wishes and dreams for their new life togather. Mail it to the hotel so they we will have a homemade movie to play at their wedding or in their room.
There are some new lables you can buy at wine stores that are monogramed, Send the monogramed bottle to their hotel room with a heart felt toast to them both to read.
Find all the pictures you can of them togather and make a slide show for them.
Hope this helps.
.
Along the lines of what some already said, my sis just returned from her Hawaiian honeymoon. A friend of hers found out where she'd be staying when, and paid for things like a luau and snorkeling (or surfing or something aquatic!) lessons. She LOVED it.
A heartfelt letter to them. It is so rare to get letters anymore, it would be a real treat.
