Help for a Friend

[SheFly]

A VERY good friend of mine, who is also my training partner and sounding board, is getting married this month. Her fiance just asked me what he should get her for a wedding gift - price range is $400 - $500. She bought him a 'cross bike...

I have suggested an HID light system, but am still on the fence about whether this is a good idea. Any thoughts from you ladies (or Mr.?) - the wheels were a good idea, but I think they will be outside of the price range.

Thanks!

SheFly

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Gee, I didn't even know the bride and groom were supposed to give each other wedding presents....isn't their vow of undying love forever enough? I never heard of this. Like, "Yes, I promise to love and cherish you for the rest of my life through sickness and health, good times and bad.....but could you just throw in a toaster too to sweeten the pot?" :cool: :D :D ;)

[Grog]

Humm, wish I could help, but we went traditional. We exchanged letters, and I gave my Dear Partner a pair of cufflinks to become family heirlooms (the previous family heirlooms were hideous!!) and he offered me a sweet bracelet.

Maybe a pair of those wonderful wooden fenders? :D

[DarcyInOregon]

The Garmin Edge 305, full package.

Darcy

[Zen]

A donation to a Dog Rescue organization (http://search.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=8172785) ?

[Blueberry]

I think I'd hesitate to do something like a HID light that you *know* going on will have a limited lifespan. How about a gift certificate for a biking related trip somewhere a couple of months after the honeymoon? Otherwise, I'm kind of at a loss....

[teigyr]

After thinking about this, I'd also hesitate to give something that had a shelf life. I do agree with a future heirloom....or something that can exist throughout the relationship.

While I'm not mercenary, I do place significance on things. I can have a ribbon that came off something from a place that was special and that ribbon is incredibly valuable to me. So I guess I see giving gifts as an opportunity to have the recipient always see the gift and be reminded of the person that gave it to them.

Now THAT all being said, I know some people are far more practical than I am!

So maybe something for the house? Artwork? A trip (that was said before) and I also agree with donation. Marriage is kind of special so I think the gift should reflect that. We didn't do gifts but we had one heck of a wedding :D

[Mr. Bloom]

The Garmin Edge 305, full package.

Darcy

That's my vote....uber kool!

[Zen]

That's my vote....uber kool!

I dunno. It's a toy.
I'd go more along the lines of something that you won't pull out of a box in the garage years from now and say" Pierre gave me that as a wedding gift" without a sarcastic sneer.

[Blueberry]

Another thought - how about a really nice piece of bike jewelry? An engraved cuff bracelet? A sterling necklace made of tiny chainrings? Just a couple of thoughts:)

[teigyr]

I dunno. It's a toy.
I'd go more along the lines of something that you won't pull out of a box in the garage years from now and say" Pierre gave me that as a wedding gift" without a sarcastic sneer.

See, that's what I'm thinking. There are holidays and birthdays and all sorts of times to give toys. I like toys. But toys, especially electronics, are outdated so quickly not to mention the marriage will last FAR longer than the toy...

So I'd say something classic or something small but with meaning or anything with meaning, actually. I am leaning more toward something celebrating their relationship or, I don't know. I just know that the jewelry I got for our wedding (which was as much of a present as anything though I'm not a jewelry person) means so much when I go somewhere special and wear it...it just reminds me of the day all over again.

[uforgot]

But if SHE got him a cross bike, then I think family heirloom place settings are out. I'm afraid I have to go along with the Garmin Edge. Instead of pulling it out years from now, they may have pics and be saying "remember when we went biking on our honeymoon? Oh, look at the GPS you gave me. I loved it!" Why does everything have to signify the marriage? You have plenty of stuff from the wedding for that. Have a little fun, too, and the day will be that much better.

I have to say that my favorite all-time gift from a significant other was a Nintendo 64, (with Zelda) on the day it was released. He KNEW me! N64s are out now, but I still have it and love it because of how I acquired it. My least favorite? My ex-husband (clueless) gave me non-stick cookware for Christmas because he said I was always burning stuff. Yeah, I burn it because I HATE to cook and I tend to forget it.

I think women tend to give gifts they would like, and since she gave biking related, I think it would be definite hit if it was biking related. And hey! Who DOESN'T want a Garmin Edge?

[Aggie_Ama]

Uforgot- Your post made me laugh. Best flowers I ever got? Grocery store lilies from DH, he knew I loved lilies. Worst flowers? Dozen red roses from ex-boyfriend. I remember being disappointed that he bought something without knowing me. I would have preferred yellow roses if I were to receive roses and I thought everyone knew this! :D

I do like the idea of bicycling jewelry, if she wears jewelry. Other than that I have no input, we were far too broke at our marriage to offer more than a hand. I do love his hand and his vow though.

[silver]

I like the Garmin idea. Kelowna and her sweetie gave them to each other as wedding gifts.

Mr. and I also gave each other Road ID's for our anniversary. I actually already wear a sterling silver ETSterling ID bracelet, but figured it wouldn't hurt to have a road ID too.

And I don't mean to spam but I can get a sterling silver bicycle chain bracelet from my supplier and can sell that for $100. I wear mine and treasure it. He could give the garmin and a piece of bicycle jewelry.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y169/etsterling/100_0959.jpg

[Tuckervill]

Silver, does your blue bracelet say Forgotten?

What's it for?

Karen

[silver]

Silver, does your blue bracelet say Forgotten?

What's it for?

Karen

The blue bracelet says Never Forgotten. Last August, 2 state policemen were killed while doing a Charity Ride around the state. They were riding in memory of Fallen Officers. This was in a town about an hour from me and I followed the story closely.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2006-08-22-police-bike-crash_x.htm

http://www.indianacops.org/

Then on October 1, 2006, I was riding with the cyclist who was killed.

Then just one week later I rode the Hilly Hundred. I was still pretty raw and emotional about everything. So the COPS for cycling organization had a table at packet pickup area and they were selling these wristbands. I wear it for the state police officers and for Sam and for all cyclists killed by vehicles.

[Zen]

And hey! Who DOESN'T want a Garmin Edge?

Me:o

[silver]

Me:o

Haha! I didn't want the Edge one myself, I got the forerunner (wear it for running)

[Zen]

she forgot;)

[SheFly]

Thanks for all of the replies! Some great thoughts in there.

uforgot - She only bought him a 'cross bike because that's what HE wanted (he basically wanted a new bike, so said to her that it could be her wedding present to him...).

I agree with most of you on the bike parts thing, after some thought. Those are better gifts for birthdays and such. Her fiance and I have been talking some more, and have agreed on a bracelet and/or a framed print from where they are getting married (Waitsfield, VT).

Me - I'm all set. We bought them a tandem :D .

SheFly

p.s.
Silver - I love your bracelet!

[Crankin]

Ah, I just showed this thread to my husband and he said, "We were supposed to give gifts to each other? I gave you me!"
Seriously, Cathy, you gave your friends a tandem???? My birthday is in November, and the anniversary is in December.....

[uforgot]

Seriously, Cathy, you gave your friends a tandem???? My birthday is in November, and the anniversary is in December.....

Good one Robyn! By the way, when DID the gift giving thing start? I didn't give my ex-husband anything when we got married. I saw a friend's wedding album the other day and she had pictures of the gifts they gave each other, and I thought "how nice, they gave each other a little gift", but I guess it's now part of the tradition? Where have I been?

[SheFly]

Seriously, Cathy, you gave your friends a tandem???? My birthday is in November, and the anniversary is in December.....

:D A group of us who ride with them went together to purchase the tandem. It's slightly used, but DH put on a few new parts.n We're presenting it to them next week...

BTW - DH and I didn't purchase gifts for each other when we got married either.

SheFly

[teigyr]

And I don't mean to spam but I can get a sterling silver bicycle chain bracelet from my supplier and can sell that for $100. I wear mine and treasure it. He could give the garmin and a piece of bicycle jewelry.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y169/etsterling/100_0959.jpg

I love that bracelet! Not to threadjack....but, ahem, I'm always on the lookout for things like that.

I think a tandem is a wonderful present! It is highly symbolic too and combines togetherness and cycling. That is a perfect wedding present in so many ways.

[DebW]

And I don't mean to spam but I can get a sterling silver bicycle chain bracelet from my supplier and can sell that for $100. I wear mine and treasure it. He could give the garmin and a piece of bicycle jewelry.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y169/etsterling/100_0959.jpg

Now, if the silver bicycle chain bracelet had no clasp but became riveted into a loop on her arm on the wedding day. :eek: Maybe that's symbolism of forever (unless she has a friend with a chain tool :rolleyes: ). Sorry, bad idea. I've riveted too many chains in my lifetime.

[Tuckervill]

The blue bracelet says Never Forgotten. Last August, 2 state policemen were killed while doing a Charity Ride around the state. They were riding in memory of Fallen Officers. This was in a town about an hour from me and I followed the story closely.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2006-08-22-police-bike-crash_x.htm

http://www.indianacops.org/

Then on October 1, 2006, I was riding with the cyclist who was killed.

Then just one week later I rode the Hilly Hundred. I was still pretty raw and emotional about everything. So the COPS for cycling organization had a table at packet pickup area and they were selling these wristbands. I wear it for the state police officers and for Sam and for all cyclists killed by vehicles.

Very touching. I thought it might be related to veterans. Several in my former unit have been killed in Iraq.

Karen