The Joy of Giving

Category: Blog

by Johanna Osborne

I love buying presents for people. There’s something so rewarding and exciting about the prospect of making someone happy. But sometimes it’s not so easy… we’ve all been there. Totally and utterly stuck! What to give someone on the most important day of their lives, with the right amount of thought to show you genuinely care? It’s hard! So of course it’s a welcome relief when people have a wedding register, and I for one have been thankful on several occasions for this blessing. However, sometimes couples don’t, and in that case it’s not always so easy to get inspiration on how to provide a touch of joy into their new matrimonial lives.

And for that matter, gifts aren’t just for guests to give! There’s a number of people who may wish to give a present to the bethrothed pair – the groom himself may like to surprise his lovely new wife with a thoughtful token, bridesmaids might like to give their darling friend something treasured to send her happily on the path into forever, parents often like to do something special for their son or daughter as a last token before they truly become an independent adult… oh the reasons are endless. In fact, there’s always a good reason for giving a gift – even if it’s just to say “I love you”.

Image by Jess O'Brien

Giving a present is of course all the more satisfying and joyful for the giver, if you know exactly what it is that is going to make the person receiving it the happiest. And that’s why we have compiled a little list of our current favourite ideas…

1. Up up and away! Nothing beats a get-away!
A lot of brides and grooms are opting to set up travel funds which guests can deposit money into, and we think it’s a wonderful idea. But even if they have not, you can still give the couple a little something to start them on their way to a big trip overseas, a tropical getaway or a weekend escape. Air New Zealand, House of Travel and Harvey World Travel are all beyond helpful in making this special gift an easy one for you.

Image by Jess O'Brien

2. Classic, timeless and treasured …
Gifts from Kirkcaldie & Stains are just that. Wellington’s famous and much loved department store not only stocks the most precious wares, it also has the most finely oiled in-house wedding register section I’ve ever seen. Kirkcaldies offer a great service including online shopping facilities and having the present shipped to the bride and groom direct, making it a hassle-free yet tasteful gift giving experience for everyone. But even if the bride and groom have not registered with Kirkcaldies, a special something from the store picked out by you (or a store gift voucher!) is guaranteed to be a welcome treat!

3. Intimately yours
Bride and Groom presents to each other have become very fashionable of late. A lovely wee surprise on the day really does start the excitement. Jewellery and lingerie are certainly wonderful feel-good ways to embrace the intimacy of the occasion.

4. Outside the box
Other great and unique ideas our in-house wedding planner Paula has come across are books, wine, trees or plants, furniture or something the guests have made themselves. All wonderful and totally unique options!

5. Once in a lifetime memory captured forever
Last but certainly not least, I give you my personal favourite. What could be more wonderful than creating a special one-of-a-kind gift from a cherished memory or precious moment, just for the person you love most? It’s indeed possible. You can commission a painting for your future wife, husband or friend simply though a photograph or image. Olympia Osborne, skilled Wellington painter of Greek origin and President of the Wellington Art Club, can do just that for you. Recently she helped a friend surprise his wife on their wedding anniversary by turning a photo of her favourite childhood spot on Oriental Bay into a painting. This treasured memory has been immortalised forever, as no doubt has Stuart’s status as husband of the decade!

I am proud to call Olympia my mother-in-law, and I too have firsthand experienced the joy of receiving one of Olympia’s paintings. We held our wedding reception at the Boatshed in Wellington, and a year later for our wedding anniversary Olympia gave us a beautiful painting of our wedding venue – just as it was on our special day. Needless to say this painting (amongst several of her others!) takes pride of place in our home, and always will.

Olympia paints beautiful scenery and landscapes – both of local Wellington sights, as well as overseas images. You can add to your art collection and make it really mean something, by having a piece of “your story” displayed in your home forever. For a look at more of Olympia’s amazing work go to www.olympiasart.co.nz