June 16, 2006/Sivan 20 5766, Volume 58, No. 38 SPECIAL SECTION Wonderful Wedding Close window Print this page Saying 'thanks' Bridal party gifts STEPHANIE PALENQUE Special to Jewish News   They've seen the best of times, they've seen the worst of times ... sometimes all in the same day. Your wedding party should be a group of your best friends and relatives - your closest confidantes. This group of special people deserves special gifts to honor their contribution as members of your wedding party. Tradition dictates that the bride and groom give individual gifts to their bridesmaids and groomsmen, respectively. There are a few guidelines and matters of etiquette to keep in mind, though. According to Kim Horn, professional bridal consultant and Arizona state coordinator for the Association of Bridal Consultants, the gifts for the bridal party should not be about the wedding, or the bridal couple, but should be about the wedding party members or the bridal couple's relationship with them. "Keep it even," she says, "and really focus on the things that brought the two of you together. Did you attend college together? Meet through a special hobby or club?" Horn advises, "What do they have at the end of the day?" According to Victoria Canada, wedding planner and owner of Victoria Canada Weddings and Events, the hottest trend in the industry is the shift toward making the gift a form of socialization for the wedding party, rather than purchasing an engraved picture frame that will sit on a shelf for the next 20 years. "Think long wedding weekends ... rounds of golf for the guys, spa parties for the girls. Personalized gifts are always a great idea ... from monogrammed bags to baskets based on a personal interest, like barbecuing." Canada warns, "Choosing and buying gifts for your wedding party can sneak up on you ... make sure it's a part of your budget from the beginning and start thinking of ideas early on." Here are a few ideas to get you started: Monogrammed bags are practical and show the recipients that you were thinking of them as individuals. They can be purchased at L.L. Bean or at www.classybride.com. Bags with special photographs (think pictures of the bride or groom with that member of the bridal party) are hot right now, and even more personalized than a monogrammed bag. You can get these bags at Web sites like www.ginaalexander.com, www.bagettes.com or www.mybragbag.com. "Safety Girl Kits" help to ensure the safety of your best girlfriends. The kits can be purchased for about $40 at Twirl Boutique in Scottsdale (www.twirlboutique.com; 480-221-1222.) Each comprehensive safety kit includes instructions for changing a tire and jumpstarting a car battery, bandages, water, chocolate, breath freshener, nail file and stain remover. A "Miss Army Knife" ($20) will arm your girlfriends for adventure. These cuties are available at Twirl Boutique in Scottsdale. Monogrammed robes ($58) for your bridal party send them a message that they deserve to be pampered ... and their own, plush mono grammed robe is just the beginning. Robes can be ordered at Twirl Boutique. M & Co. Papery (480-824-4286) in Mesa sells darling Kate Spade albums that you can personalize by tucking special mementos and pictures into before presenting them as gifts. They run about $85 each. Personalized note cards and stationary are also difficult to resist. A bag of beauty or gift certificate for a shopping spree at Sephora is always a welcome gift for girlie girls. Anna Sui Ring Rouge lip glosses ($16) are just one great idea from this undeniably fun beauty store. Kai Alise (480-423-9700; www.kaialise.com) in Old Town Scottsdale is the equivalent of a "Build-a-Bear" store for grown-ups. Schedule a "make-your-own purse party" for your bridal party. Groomsmen will often appreciate gifts that are less sentimental and more practical. Sports tickets are always a welcome gift; depending on the date of the wedding, look into sending the guys to a Diamondbacks (www.azdiamondbacks.com), Coyotes (www.phoenixcoyotes.com), Suns (www.nba.com/suns) or Cardinals (www.azcardinals.com) game. Manly accessories are fun; try a stainless steel and black leather flask ($30) from Things Remembered (www.thingsremembered.com). The look is classic, and the stainless steel plate on the front can be engraved with a name or initials. A gift card for a spectacular meal is a great groomsman perk. Consider giving the guys the gift of steak with a Capital Grille gift card; the steakhouse boasts delectable entrÇes, a top-notch wine cellar and more. There are locations in Phoenix, Scottsdale and around the country. Special Sections Coordinator Jennifer Goldberg contributed to this article.