A wedding is undoubtedly a celebration. Regardless of whether we celebrate them in twos, fours, in a small family circle, with close friends or with hundreds of people, not all of whom we really know. Our holiday, and central persons, undoubtedly, this holiday is us. Our holiday. Our friends. Our guests and parents. That's why we honor ours parents also on this important holiday.

However - unless this holiday is planned for a high mountain pass, the bottom of the sea, the North Pole or something else even more extreme instead, both parents and grandparents of the young couple are present at this moment. "You will never understand how important this day is to us, although not so soon - when your own children get married," that's what her father said before Liv's wedding. And Liv loves it kept in mind when planning how to thank her and her husband's parents at the wedding. We honor our parents by thinking about what is special and a reminder of the love they have given throughout their lives.

"I wanted parents to feel how important they are to us, so that for them this day is only for positive emotions crowded and so that even for a moment they too feel like the main characters.

That is why, together with the carriers, we thought that we would not limit ourselves to traditional gifts for parents. Because at the wedding my grandmother and grandfather also participated, we also planned a surprise for them. First we came up with a story in which we collected the stories of my grandparents (Reiņš's grandparents are no longer with us), my parents and Reiņš's parents, and our dating stories, we found the common and the different.

Reinis is a good speaker, he does it all with humor, addressing the guests with various questions and asking approval from parents and grandparents, told.

Grandma's music was playing in the background and on the screen were photos from their youth and wedding, then the 80s when our parents got married, music and photos.

That's how everyone felt involved, Reina's godmother also told an incident related to his parents' first date. Before we danced our wedding waltz, we invited the grandparents to dance / of course, they didn't really remember exactly what music sounded/ hers, then the parents danced and only then we. And although later there were also gifts, still this moment when they could enter the beginning of our first dance together (of life!) with your dance, it was very emotional for all of us and unforgettable. Although maybe not according to the "correct" traditions."

"I know that there is also an opinion that no gifts are needed for parents and other relatives", says Ilva. "Some girlfriends said - what are you doing with that dowry, you should get the gifts! Say a few words of thanks and that's it. But I found it unacceptable.

I wanted parents and other close people to receive gifts from us - not gifts at all, only gifts and for a tick, but something that will make you remember, will symbolize our new family. And will be made just for them.

That's why I prepared my "dowry" myself, and after mixing, my husband spread it to the guests in an improvised dowry chest. I'm fine I am good at and like knitting, so I had knitted shawls for both mothers, patterned socks for both fathers. Sister and the godmother got lace fingers, the brother-in-law got a scarf and hat, the stepfathers got mittens. We only have one of each grandmother, she could not participate in the celebration, so we visited her between the official marriage ceremony and the celebration, we gave a basket with goodies and a brand new photograph of our marriage ceremony."

Laine has a different experience – there were more than 100 guests at her and Rudolph's wedding, everything was organized by her parents. Both beautiful manor house - guest house - rent, wedding leader, overnight stay and second day's entertainment for all guests.

They even took care of gifts for all wedding participants - each guest (or family of guests) received photos of the new couple and themselves and a neatly wrapped souvenir from the wedding venue. "But that's exactly why we had it it is very difficult to figure out what to present to the parents so that it is a surprise for them and the gift is not just formal.

We finally stopped at the paintings - for my parents, as sworn citizens, a beautiful view of Old Riga, but Rudolph for parents - a spring landscape. On the second day of the wedding, while presenting the gifts, we tried to come up with our own story for each painting to connect everything with us and parents and our future meetings and places. The parents were touched."

When to give gifts to parents and other loved ones? Very often it is done at midnight after the mingling/if any intended/; depending on the wishes of the new couple, symbolic or practical gifts can be presented only to the parents, parents and grandparents, brothers and sisters, godparents or simply very close and important people. The last ones In recent years, it is more and more common to present gifts to loved ones and small souvenirs to guests on the second day of the wedding.

Anta has been a bridesmaid in more than 15 weddings and has experienced various and even surprising gifts from the young couple parents. She emphasizes:

"The value of the gift is not important for parents at this moment, but the fact that the children have publicly shown attention to themselves so on an important day, and made the parents feel special too.

I found the most interesting non-material gifts – a song dedicated to parents and performed by the young couple, a poem (yes, a real poem, not rhymes, although they can also be a nice addition to a gift), specially staged dance Relatively often, newlyweds present their parents and grandparents with self-made photo collages, videos, even feature films."

From her experience, Anta advises young couples - honor your parents, but don't get carried away with longing and heart rambling parenting speeches (especially if you got ideas for them on the Internet). It will probably sound awkward. It is better to say few, but truly sincere words - your own felt and experienced, because only you really you know your parents well and know what would make them happy. Therefore, it is also not possible to give any standard suggestions for gifts for parents.

1. A digital photo frame, which is a favorite gift for loved ones, will seem banal to someone, but it will provide true joy; someone will be happy with the new couple's handmade gifts, but for others it will be important the material value and practical use of the gift.
2. However, Anta shares some ideas - depending on the possibilities of the new couple, the gift to the parents can be shared sports or leisure equipment, a short or long trip, tickets to a concert or show (it can also be a good joint gift for the parents of the bride and groom, so that when everyone attends the event together, they would be a chance to get to know each other better).
3. Any gift can be played interestingly - for example, by giving the bride's parents some kitchen appliances, you can say that they will help to replace the lost helper in housework, equipment for recreation and sports - that this will contribute to good physical shape for babysitting the upcoming grandchildren and the like.
4. The gift can also be a watch, pen, glasses or some jewelry with an engraving, cups with your photo.
5. If parents or grandparents are gardeners, it can be a rose plant or some other plant. Often the parents of the bride or groom are no longer together as a couple; then, of course, everyone has their own gift.

If there is an inkling that the parents of both parties will compare the gifts received and might feel less appreciated, we honor our parents, and after giving the same or similar gifts. And don't forget flowers for mothers and grandmothers (they are served already on the first day of the wedding)!

Anta also advises to remember that the gift is not mandatory; gifting the parents is not the responsibility of the young couple, but only theirs own desire to thank the people closest to you. If for some reason the relationship with the parents has not been formed for years close and sincere, then there is no need to pretend at the wedding either.

But if you want to thank your parents from the bottom of your heart on your happiest day, try not to overdo it worried about practical things, but would feel comfortable, free and able to enjoy this day with pleasure.

Honoring our parents: Wedding gift offers

Photo: LINDA LAUVA

Author of the article: LIENE PÄLĆA