Parent Gifts

Parent gifts vary by social circle. Some couples give them, others don’t. Traditionally those who do give parent gifts will give gifts to their own parents. Some choose to give jointly instead of individually. Do what works for you.


The most common gift is a photo album from the photographer.

We will be giving gifts together. So one gift from both of us to my parents and one gift from both of us to his parents. We may each write a separate note to each of them.

The gift giving concept is overblown in my opinion. Why are we suppose to give gifts to bridal party, parents, and guests? Aren’t we hosting a lovely event for them?
I plan to give a gift only to my MOH which is the only attendant.
If you plan to give to your parents, a photo album is a good idea.

While a photo album is a common gift, some couples give a rose or a small bouquet to the moms and to the dads, things that are based on their tastes/hobbies: for instance a bottle opener, a fishing lure, or you could buy ahead of time a tie/bowtie or pocket square for him to wear on the day of.
We are not gifting them anything besides a couples formal photos, because I'm not sure why we should give them something when the event is NOT about them? It's just silly in my mobd . It's like gifting, your mom oy grandma at your kid's birthday...

View Quoted Comment The idea of giving them both something since my parents are paying for the wedding and his parents are paying for the rehearsal traditionally

* I just like the idea because

View Quoted Comment You are not wrong. Social media (Pinterest/Instagram) has led brides to believe that they are required to give extra gifts that are completely optional: bridesmaid proposal boxes, elaborate favors for pre wedding parties and the wedding, additional roles for guests which mean more thank you gifts, large wedding parties. The spending is never ending.


Some couples don’t give parent gifts because they don’t have parents in their lives or it’s not customary in their families/circles to give them.
Thank you gifts should be given to wedding party members for taking time and money from their lives to participate in your day. Things such as robes/pjs, anything on Etsy listed as a traditional bridesmaid gift, jewelry, covering hair/makeup/dress expenses are all props for you, not gifts for them. That is why it is recommended to shop like it’s their birthday

View Quoted Comment I get it .
However, while it's kind of you to thank them that way, I don't think they would be offended over this since gifting parents is a relatively new trend.
I also think that if you don't want to give them a 'cliché gift', you need to consider what they love in general, like I said for example a fishing lure, bottle opener, flowers etc... as if you were getting them a birthday gift.

Well it’s common in my culture to give gifts to parents, family and friends. The wedding is considered symbolic of families coming together. It’s not just the bride and grooms day it’s a day for all. The gift giving symbolizes appreciation and celebration of the union. I don’t think it’s overblown at all I love the traditional meaning and cultural symbolism of it.

I'm giving a gift to the moms, and he's giving a gift to the dads. We debated not doing them but both sets of parents have helped financially and with other events so we definitely want to show our appreciation

I like the idea of photo albums as parent gifts, so I think we're getting one for each set of parents from both of us. I might write notes to each parent to thank them individually for raising me/ my fiancé as well because they can be kept in the albums, and I think those are more personal than a random trinket that will collect dust and then get thrown away.

I think the idea of giving a gift (to parents) because they're giving you a gift (your wedding) is super odd. If you feel like you must do something i'd highly recommend gifting them a wedding album that you put together after the wedding and writing them a nice thank you note to give at the rehearsal or day of wedding.