Appropriate Wedding Gifts...?

Question

My father is getting married next Friday.

I cannot figure out a gift to get him from my fiance and I that is a bit more personal than money. I would like to spend $125-$150.

Also, I wanted to get a gift that would be VERY personal(in the range of $75-$125), something representing the joining of our families. My dad has me and my brother and the woman he is marrying has two kids also. I am 21, my brother is 15, and her daughters are 11 and 14. I wanted to get something "from the kids".

PLEASE HELP! I need FAST suggestions... because I have to go out and buy them! :-)

Thanks!!

Answer 1

I'd do a keepsake sort of thing they can hang on the wall.

Professional pictures are all well and good, but you could also do a collage of the good times.  Include hand written thoughts and well wishes from all the kids.

Answer 2

I think it would be lovely if you got something like a fruit tree for their yard, or rose bushes, for example. A poem like this would be nice to explain...

A Family to live on

©  Sarah J. Power

Family is like a tree.

A tree that has seeds of love.

A tree of shelter.

A tree in progress.

A tree that will never forget memories to live on and on.

A tree of Love.

-------

Because they are primeval, because they outlive us, because they are fixed, trees seem to

emanate a sense of permanence.  And though rooted in earth, they seem to touch the sky.

For these reasons it is natural to feel we might learn wisdom from them, to haunt about

them with the idea that if we could only read their silent riddle rightly we should learn

some secret vital to our own lives; or even, more specifically, some secret vital to

our real, our lasting and spiritual existence.

-  Kim Taplin,  Tongues in Trees,

Answer 3

How about a brand new ``Family Photo Albumn`` You can get all the kids together to take photos of each other and put them in the albumn to start it off. Maybe each child can write something about why they are happy to be in the new blended family and write somthing that they like or admire about each new family member.

For example. Hi Dad and New Mom...here`s a picture I took of (the 11 year old) I just appreciate little Suzy Q because she always cheers me up when I`m having a bad day.

This way, the younger kids can be involved in a meaningful way and really feel like a family.

Hope this helps.

Answer 4

From you and your fiance:

Contact a photo studio in your area and schedule a family photo session with all of you...  Pre-purchase an 11X14 for your father and step-mother to hang in their new home to show the joined family as one...  Ask the photo studio for a gift certificate.. If one is not available visit Kinko's they can make a beautiful certificate up...

For the wedding itself purchase a beautiful picture frame (11X14 to match the preordered photo) place the gift certificate in the frame...

The photograph and frame should be under $150.00

From the kids  

Why not ask them to go with you for an afternoon take them to a pier 1 or similar store and help them choose a gift they feel is appropriate...  By choosing a store with nice things at a reasonable price you can guide their decision to something nice more easily while at the same time letting them choose...

Answer 5

A sitting date for a new family picture at a professional photographer, say maybe taken in a relaxed setting rather than the stuffy wedding pics.

Some states also see gift certificates to Bed and Breakfast type places that can be used at places that are registered with the chamber of commerce or something like that.  I received one from two friends and it was great, we could use it when we wanted and where we wanted.