wedding party: men's gifts under $20

{ walnut and maple money clip by holcombswoodworking }

D. writes me with a challenge:

I am not having a bridal party, but I have a friend officiating, another as a musician, another as DJ, and readers... oh my. I want to give them something as a token of my appreciation, but they're mostly guys (so jewelry is hard, unless I have something different for the girls), and the biggest problem is we're pretty strapped for cash. The wedding is this August, so we don't have much time to save for gifts, either...

I'm hoping to spend 10-15 tops per person; something handmade (of course); something unique. Cufflinks are out (these guys aren't the kind of guys who wear cufflinks)... I'm totally at a loss.

can you find unique handmade gifts for random wedding helpers for under $15 each?

yes! yes. some of these are traditional, some unique, some just plain random (firestarter!)... you said no cufflinks, so i included the pair below if useful for other folks searching for similar. will post a separate post for ladygifts.

for your friends, readers, bartenders, photographers, djs, all under $15:








{each photo links to its shop}

also for readers/writers, there is a world of printed/gocco'd moleskine notebooks, many customizable and under $10.

and a few more ideas, for $15-$20:




{each photo links to its shop}

or you could always get handmade frames and put photos in as your token of appreciation:




{each photo links to its shop}

what do you think? other ideas? post links?

men's handmade + vintage wedding hats

{each photo links to its shop}

rachael and her fiancé were having trouble finding a men's summer hat that didn't break the bank. she loved the ones at magar hatworks (see men's collection) and asked me to see if i could find more options.

etsy has lots of men's vintage hats, if you can luck into the right size -- not so many on the handmade side, plus you have to wade through acres of knit. chachashouse and magar are the best so far, with a couple off-etsy handmade options below. (anyone have other suggestions for great handmade hats?)

barbara feinman millinery
worth & worth hats

pommesfrites: upcycled flask safes

{ hollow dictionary flask safe }

the very talented kristen of pommesfrites not only gives me the opportunity to tell everyone (again) how fantastic austin texas is and how not coincidentally i'm from there (and claim it even though i moved when i was 13....) ...

let me start over. the incredibly talented austin-based pommesfrites upcycles wonderful unloved books into even more wonderful best man/groomsman/bridal party gifts. these remind me of the speakeasy trend of late -- bring a little prohibition to your library.

for your teetotalers, she makes book safes, money safes, and all manner of non-alcoholic alternatives.

kristen has graciously offered readers a *20% discount* on book flask safes -- just mention etsy wedding in your note to seller and she will take care of the rest.

etsy wedding would also like to take a moment to remind everyone to drink responsibly and with others. share. be safe with your flask safe. xo.





more at pommesfrites.etsy.com

wishing you all peace and love

{each photo links to its shop}