Gift ideas for great (but different) friends
February 12, 2012 12:24 PM Subscribe
Help me pick out cool (and inexpensive) groomsman gifts!
I'll be getting married in April (yay!), and have been thinking about groomsman gifts. Originally my fiancee and I talked about getting some beer mugs or something, but I kinda want to do something more special for them if I can. I'd ideally like to get them something based on their lives (which are very different from mine), but can't spend more than $15-20 per person. My groomsmen, and some initial thougts:
My brother, a CPA who travels internationally for work on a regular basis.
--Something related to travel, like passport case?
My female friend, who is graduating from chiropractor's school in June. She and her wife have also been taking care of a 14 year old girl for the past year, who has just started soccer.
--I thought maybe a stethoscope, but maybe something mom-related?
Another friend, who is a painter and sculptor who is recently thinking about doing internet-related things.
--I thought a fancy-ish paintbrush?
If you have ideas for what I might get instead of my initial thoughts, any suggestions are very welcome. I'm sure I can get a nice passport case for my brother, but have no idea what to do with the others. Can I even get a stethoscope / brush of decent quality for $20? Suggestions are extra-welcome for these two, either for better ideas or where I can purchase the ideas I already have.
Thanks hivemind!
I'll be getting married in April (yay!), and have been thinking about groomsman gifts. Originally my fiancee and I talked about getting some beer mugs or something, but I kinda want to do something more special for them if I can. I'd ideally like to get them something based on their lives (which are very different from mine), but can't spend more than $15-20 per person. My groomsmen, and some initial thougts:
My brother, a CPA who travels internationally for work on a regular basis.
--Something related to travel, like passport case?
My female friend, who is graduating from chiropractor's school in June. She and her wife have also been taking care of a 14 year old girl for the past year, who has just started soccer.
--I thought maybe a stethoscope, but maybe something mom-related?
Another friend, who is a painter and sculptor who is recently thinking about doing internet-related things.
--I thought a fancy-ish paintbrush?
If you have ideas for what I might get instead of my initial thoughts, any suggestions are very welcome. I'm sure I can get a nice passport case for my brother, but have no idea what to do with the others. Can I even get a stethoscope / brush of decent quality for $20? Suggestions are extra-welcome for these two, either for better ideas or where I can purchase the ideas I already have.
Thanks hivemind!
The thing is, if you're getting them a gift based on their hobby/profession/personal interests, it might actually make this harder because presumably they have strong opinions about what exact models, brands, etc they like, since you're talking about a subject area that is so familiar to them.
I think it would be so much easier and nicer to get them something else, possibly something that relates to you and your fiance, or to the theme (?) of your wedding. Like, if you and your fiance are big hikers, getting each of these people, say, a canteen might mean something like, "I'm so glad you're going to be a part of my future married life."
posted by BlahLaLa at 12:41 PM on February 12, 2012
I think it would be so much easier and nicer to get them something else, possibly something that relates to you and your fiance, or to the theme (?) of your wedding. Like, if you and your fiance are big hikers, getting each of these people, say, a canteen might mean something like, "I'm so glad you're going to be a part of my future married life."
posted by BlahLaLa at 12:41 PM on February 12, 2012
Does your brother want a passport case? I have traveled internationally frequently since early childhood and I have no idea why anyone would ever want a passport case. If they all like beer, maybe getting them some nice beer would be a good gift.
posted by steinwald at 12:42 PM on February 12, 2012
posted by steinwald at 12:42 PM on February 12, 2012
Leatherman keychain-sized tools all around. Cute and practical.
posted by apparently at 1:02 PM on February 12, 2012 [5 favorites]
posted by apparently at 1:02 PM on February 12, 2012 [5 favorites]
I also like the Leathermanidea. If it seems to be something that would not pass airport security, consider a keyring or other small but powerful flashlight.
posted by Anitanola at 2:50 PM on February 12, 2012
posted by Anitanola at 2:50 PM on February 12, 2012
I considered small flashlights for my groomsmen, but ended up going the opposite route with these 4 D-cell Maglites instead.
posted by Hlewagast at 4:15 PM on February 12, 2012
posted by Hlewagast at 4:15 PM on February 12, 2012
Response by poster: The leatherman idea is awesome, and seems like the biggest crowd pleaser in the post, but are a bit on the expensive side for us (>~ $21 before shipping on amazon it looks like). Is there a slightly cheaper price out there anyone knows about? I'll keep my eyes open, though.
They don't all like beer as far as I know, which is why I was thinking about unique gifts. My fiancee and I do both like beer, though, which is why we were going with that initially.
posted by bessel functions seem unnecessarily complicated at 8:32 PM on February 12, 2012
They don't all like beer as far as I know, which is why I was thinking about unique gifts. My fiancee and I do both like beer, though, which is why we were going with that initially.
posted by bessel functions seem unnecessarily complicated at 8:32 PM on February 12, 2012
Like the leatherman but on a keyring: Utili-Key 6-in-1 Tool. My, uh, friend says that, uh, he never has a problem with it at airport security, because it just looks like a key.
posted by knile at 4:02 AM on February 13, 2012
posted by knile at 4:02 AM on February 13, 2012
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posted by saraindc at 12:40 PM on February 12, 2012