Wedding Present - Chicago,IL

I love frames but I'm particular about the ones I display. Not a fan of the invitation idea, no offense. It's a sweet thought but I wouldn't like it displayed in my house.

Honestly, I'd give cash or give a gift from the registry. I wouldn't want to spend so much money on a gift that you don't know will be appreciated. She's already let the guests know what they would really like. I always give money, but if I didn't do that, I'd give a gift from the couple's registry.

Ugh.. not the framed invitation!!! We were just talking about this the other day with a group of moms and laughing at how many we all received when we all got married. There was only 1 mom that said she liked the one she got.. The rest of us prefered to pick our own frames.

No FRAMES... They will receive a million.. (and I used to be a frame buyer)
They were always being exchanged for different styles..

Are they registered?
If they are they took the time to pick out the items they wanted, so consider going with something on there.

Or look at a personalization website and get some ideas.. They have beautiful entertainment items.

Really think about this couple. If they are into traveling.. Maybe a monogrammed Garment bag wit their new Monogram. If they like to Camp.. Maybe some special camping equipment.

Do they like to entertain? How about one of those Beverage Buckets with the stand. The Bucket an be monogrammed.

New home? Monogrammed Sheets and cases.

You could also ask their travel agent about having a bottle of sparkling wine and chocolates delivered their first night on their trip

I would check the Registry....and if there is something on there that maybe you could elaborate on...I once gave a wok that someone had registered for, but I also bought an Asian cookbook, and some really beautiful boxed chopsticks to go with it.. Also...one of my all time favorite purchases for myself..that I would have died if someone gave me?......my Kitchen aid stand mixer!!!

I loved our invitations! Made them myself with my favorite font, used the colors of our wedding... I still wouldn't want it framed. However, I'm not one to build a shrine to our wedding. You know her best, obviously, so it's just something to consider.

I gave a friend of mine a beautiful Waterford crystal vase for her wedding and she loved it! Maybe something along those lines? I agree with you on not contributing to the honeymoon fund. I just think that is a bit tacky, but that's just my opinion. Good luck with whatever you decide to get them! :)

Your idea sounds very nice and thoughtful. Do you think it would be appreciated?

Like you, I would not be contributing to a honeymoon fund... it amazes me at how tacky some people can be.

I love Waterford crystal and when I want to give a nice give, I will give a beautiful Waterford vase or bowl.

I got 3 of those professionally framed wedding invitation things. Don't be offended by my take lol but it was something that when I opened the first one I thought hmmm thats weird. the second one I thought what am I going to do with that? and by the 3rd one I was thinking hmm pretty weird gift. If your giving a $200 gift get a nice card and put that in it. she will like that a lot more than a photo frame with the invite.

Things to remember... Wedding

http://www.thingsremembered.com/section/Wedding/2114.uts

My mother gave us some beautiful things from here... Now when I want to buy something special for friends we have one at our Mall but here is their online store.

I personally, wouldn't want something framed, sorry don't mean to hurt your feelings.. If you're planning on spending 200.00, I'm sure she'd want a check or gift card :)

I would look at the registry first, then move on to a gift that is different. I would enjoy the framed invitation personally, but mine are already being hand made and the person making them would be doing that because it's HER thing. Not a fan of the honeymoon registry either, but for that kind of money there are WONDERFUL items on the registry I am sure that can be taken care of!

Someone framed my wedding invite for us. It was very nice but it's been years now since its been up on the wall. I don't understand not wanting to contribute to the honeymoon fund? If you are willing to spend 200 why not give that towards something that they want/need. If you are that against giving them something they are asking for, get them a 200 GC for bedbath and beyond .....there is always something we all need for the house at some point.

Your ideas sound great, personal and elegant : ) I know that several disagree with me, but I would have LOVED these!

I would have appreciated something like that, but then again, I am sentimental. I also would have liked to have saved my wedding flowers and I know there are organizations that dry them and then re-arrange them. I would have allowed someone to do that for me but I did not feel we had the money to do myself. Have you looked at their registry? I also do not like those honeymoon funds - seems a bit tacky to me.

I'm an art nut, and consequentially people have given me a lot of art over the years. It's nearly all in my basement collecting dust. Art is sooooo incredibly personal, as is one's living space, that truly knowing someone else's taste is quite rare. I very highly recommend triple thinking giving anyone any kind of art that they have not explicitly said they would love a certain piece.

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Personally, my wedding invitation did not mean a whole lot to me. I figured most people would just look at it briefly, write the date on their calendar and throw it in the trash. Therefore, my invitation was pretty plain (I think) I honestly do not remember but I do know I would not want it framed and displayed in my house. It would also make me sick if I knew someone spent that much money on it. Although I would greatly appreciate the sentiment I would honestly feel horrible that someone spent so much on a gift I didn't like.
Why don't you give cash and tell the couple your intentions and if they want to frame their invitation they have the money to do it.
Sorry for being such a downer.

The framed invitation idea is nice....IF they get O..
We got a watercolor of a tree with our initials carved on it, and wedding date from a local artist and we love it.

Is there a chance that you could (early) get O. framed with a really wide matte and have someone take it to the reception for all of the guests to sign? That's a unique idea I have seen done by brides and grooms and it will be treasured. (You'll just need an accomplice that's going to the reception, place it and provide a few thin Sharpies).

When my mom & stepfather got married, I remember O. gift in particular that was very sweet--a crystal vase for him, and a crystal candy dish for her with a note that he was to keep the vase filled with flowers for her and she was to keep the candy dish filled with candy for him.

You could also do a nice basket of spices/spice rack with a book about keeping the marriage "spicy"!

I have done that for several people for a wedding gift (framed wedding invite). They all LOVE them. At least I think they do. They're all hanging in their homes anyway......

If you're near Bartlett I know a great little mom and pop frame shop that can do it. They do a beautiful job. Very artistic.

Have to say that i agree with the majority here. Why not give to her Honeymoon fund if that is what she really wants.

I know that when i got married I spent time, thought and effort on my gift registry for items that we both really wanted.

We really appreciated the time & thought that went behind those gifts we received not on the registry even though some of them weren't our taste or were duplicates of what we already had. Some of these items have never been used and are still in original boxes in the garage. i'm sure that the givers of the gifts would not have wanted their time, effort and money to be in a box in our garage either. Seems like the money would have been better spent on something that we knew we would use and enjoy over the years. Hence the gift registry.

My Aunt made us a custom quilted piece replicating our invitation. It is beautiful and we've hung it up in every place we've lived in the past 15 years. Not sure I would have done the same for a nicely framed invitation. We might have even taken out the invitation and reused the frame for a photo of our son.

Hope this helps!

Why don't you want to contribute the $200 to her wedding fund?....

I haven't read through the responses so forgive me if someone suggested this. My favorite wedding gift I received was a Tiffany crystal plate that has my invitation engraved into it. Just the wording of my invite...in the same font, same size, etc. It is absolutely gorgeous. I have it displayed in my china cabinet and it brings me fond memories every time I look at it. Good luck : )

We got a vase that was engraved with our invitation details- so pretty! I use that all the time when I get flowers.

I also liked someone's idea of the tree trunk art with initials and date engraved- Etsy is a great place to check for things like that.

BUT my biggest suggestion is to check out Jessica Rust Designs. http://www.rustdesigns.com/ She makes personalized servingware with the whole engraved tree concept- such a fun unique gift idea! I gave some to my sister and that was such a hit with family and friends! You can even do gift certificates through the site. Good luck!