Bestest Friend and I are doing a blog project. Each day we will write a blog post on a pre-determined theme chosen by a random noun generator. The theme for the thirty-first day of the month is "Activity."
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I've got two main topics for the day.
1) We have friends who have been engaged for a little over a year. They have complicated family issues -she's from Canada and her parents are too fragile to travel very far, he's from the west coast of the US and comes from a divorced family - so they've been dillydallying about setting a wedding date, but they contacted us last week on Friday and said they're going to get married at the courthouse on Friday (as in two days from now!) and they'd like us to be the witnesses.
We're obviously on board with this. This should go without saying.
I have two main concerns as of this moment, though. What does one wear to a courthouse wedding and what present does one give for this occasion?
Let's go over my thoughts on these. The man in this relationship is not known for his sartorial sense. I do not want to be better-dressed than the couple! BUT. I also don't want to show up in jeans if they're really dressed up. We're getting no guidance from the couple on this and I am so confused.
This couple has a house together and they don't need stuff. So maybe I just give them a Menard's gift card and call it a day? Is that weird? Argh. So many decisions, so little time.
(Okay, I have been updated. The groom will wear a jacket and dress shirt and the bride a summer dress in pink/coral. Dr. BB and I will be likewise attired. We're going to a lunch afterwards - the first time I will eat in a restaurant since 2020 - and I will get the bride a small bouquet to carry with her. But what of a wedding gift?! I still don't know!)
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| These are the books I ended up buying for my niece and nephew. |
Is anyone up for A Tree Grows in Brooklyn book club? I did end up giving my niece a copy of it for her birthday and it reminded me that it's been a while since I read it.
I was thinking we could maybe start July 10 and read five or so chapters a week and we'll be done in September? Basically, I will just have a post up on my blog on Monday morning with a quick summary of the chapters and a question or two to start discussion and folks can add to the discussion in the comments.
If you're in for ATGIB book club, let me know in the comments! I'll keep you all updated about the book club progress.
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Okay, so to recap:
1) What gift do I give to the couple?
2) Do you want to be part of ATGIB book club?
I am a resounding yes for ATGIB. I have not read it in probably a decade (at least) and it would be fun to read it again.
ReplyDeleteRe the wedding gift, personally I think a gift card for Menards is great. I love gift cards and see no issues with giving one and in fact would prefer it. I feel bad when I get a gift that I am not going to use or that I will need to return or that ends up going in the Goodwill pile a few months later. I would much rather have an Amazon or Menards or REI gift card that I can spend how I want! In some cultures they also just give cash! Nothing wrong with that either!
I'm so happy you're in for a reread of ATGIB! I wonder if we'll have anyone read it with us who will be reading it for the first time!
DeleteCongrats to your friends! Instead of gifts we asked for donations to the cancer center that treated my MIL, and a handful of friends gave us a few things on top of that which we didn't expect and it was very nice. Our neighbors gave us an assortment of gift certificates for local restaurants that they knew we would enjoy, and another friend gave us a gift basket with wifey & hubby mugs, chocolate, and a bottle of champagne.
ReplyDeleteI'll definitely follow along for ATGIB. Have you read her other books? I read them back in college so it's been a long time. Every time that I reread ATGIB I keep meaning to continue on with the other books but it never happens. Maybe this time!
I haven't read any of her other books, either. Maybe if the ATGIB book club goes well, we can continue with others!
DeleteOh my heart, ATGIB was one of my core books growing up. I'm in, too!
ReplyDeleteYay! I'm so happy people seem excited about this.
DeleteI NEED to re-read ATGIB. It has been years and I loved it. I'd love to follow along; I might not always be able to chime in because July is shaping up to be nutso, but I'll do my best and I can't wait to see what you write as summaries.
ReplyDeleteI'm horrible at coming up with good gift ideas, so I'll other - wiser - people chime in on this one!
How exciting. I actually love the idea of a last-minute wedding. The spontaneity feels extra romantic to me (speaking as someone who was engaged for a whole year).
My husband and I decided not to do any additional gifts beyond the bouquet for now. If they end up having a reception/party/celebration, then we'll do something else, I think.
DeleteI think the courthouse wedding sounds really romantic, too. I loved our wedding and wouldn't change anything about it, but the idea of just the two of us with a couple of close friends sounds so sweet!
Congrats to your friends... and congrats on being picked for the bridal party :)! A gift card sounds perfect for such an individualistic couple. Totally down for a ATGIB book club!
ReplyDeleteYay! I'm so happy so may people are getting inot the ATGIB spirit!
DeleteIf you don't have a gift by Friday, you could say that you haven't forgotten and are still thinking about it.
ReplyDeleteI think we'll probably just pay for the bouquet and skip an additional gift for now.
DeleteOh, I love ATGiB. I think I was 9 or 10 when I first read it. I'm in.
ReplyDeleteI like the idea of a personalized gift basket mentioned by Birchwood Pie, above. Not sure what you planned on spending, but even a few small things that represent their hobbies and then a Menard's gift card would be nice.
Because food is so fraught in our house, I really avoid any food-related gifts. I always think it sounds like a good idea for someone else to do, but I just stare at the gift certificate to a local restaurant someone gave us for a housewarming present five years ago that we've never used. Ha. If they have a reception/party later on, I might consider the gift basket option.
DeleteMy favorite gift when we got married was gift cards to restaurants for date nights! So I would go in that direction because it's a FUN gift. We thought of the couple who gave us the giftcard when we dined out. I can still remember who gave us restaurant gift cards. Everything else is a bit of a blur (although anything we received was appreciated of course). I would wear a sundress of some sort. How special to be their witnesses. This would have been my husband's ideal wedding if it was up to him. He doesn't like attention but he did end up enjoying the wedding we planned. We kept it as small as we could but with a family as large as mine, there were still 120 people there.
ReplyDeleteI'd love to re-read AtGiB. That is one of my all-time favorite books! I'd be up for a slow but steady read so I can keep up with my other books but I'm flexible.
Yes! Slow and steady is how it's going to be, I think. I need to buy a copy of my own, but once I get that copy, I'll sit down and figure out how any chapters we should read each week and then I can publish a schedule. I'm so excited about this!
DeleteI think in this situation (couple established with a house), a gift card for the wedding would be absolutely fine (and probably appreciated). I used to think gift cards are boring gifts, but honestly, unless you have THE BEST IDEA for a gift, I'll always reach for a gift card these days.
ReplyDeleteI'd love to re-read ATGIB and would be interested to join! :)
I am so excited that everyone seems to be in on a ATGIB re-read! Yay!
DeleteI haven't read that book for an age! Sure! I'll...have to figure out how to get a copy. I mean, I can always buy one. But I'm moving and will be "between libraries" but also, I won't be able to borrow a copy for that long...I'll probably just buy a copy!
ReplyDeleteMy good friend gave me a gift card for our wedding and I used it to buy a bedside lamp, and I think of her every time I use that lamp, which is often. So I say yes to the gift card!
There are free versions available online (at least here in the US) through the Internet Archive. If you don't want to buy a copy, you could read it online!
Deletehttps://archive.org/details/ATreeGrowsInBrooklynByBettySmith/page/n7/mode/2up
This is a pdf version that seems easier to read: https://ia801200.us.archive.org/25/items/ATreeGrowsInBrooklynByBettySmith/A%20Tree%20Grows%20In%20Brooklyn%20by%20Betty%20Smith.pdf
Yes! In for the book club. I am re-reading Maggie Now right this minute, actually. I love the restaurant gift card idea
ReplyDeleteYay! I'm glad there's enthusiasm for the book club. Maybe we'll move on to her other novels if it goes well. There's only four in total, right? So it wouldn't be forever.
DeleteI've never read A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, but a read along seems like such a lovely idea.
ReplyDeleteI always just give money at weddings - preferably cash, but a check is fine too. Maybe that is a cultural thing? Taiwanese people are all about the red envelopes of money.
What an honour to be the witnesses for your friends' wedding!
Oh, it would be EXCELLENT to have someone reading it for the first time! I'd love to know how it holds up for adult readers who aren't nostalgic about reading it in their younger years.
DeleteOkay, i'm a little late here but I have THINGS TO SAY. My son just finished Ender's Game and he loved it. He said he actually wishes he had read it when he was younger, and thinks it's perfect for a 14-year-old. I'm going to read it next so we can discuss! Anyway I'm glad you got it for your nephew.
ReplyDeleteYes! I'll join the book club! I read ATGIB in high school, so I'm definitely due for a re-read.
i just had a similar experience yesterday- i had to buy a wedding gift for two people in their 60s- obviously they have a house and everything they need already. I almost got them a gift card, and I think that would have been fine, but I ended up getting them wine glasses and a wine aerator, which I'll give to them with the gift receipt (and a bottle of wine.). This doesn't work if your friends don't drink, of course.
Oh, I think I recommended Ender's Game to you for your son, so I'm SO HAPPY to hear that he loved it. It's really such a good book. I'm not sure if my nephew will read it or not, but I gave it the old college try.
DeleteWhen my husband's father got remarried and they moved into a new house together, I bought them a return address stamp with their new address on it. His wife really loves it and mentions it to me on a regular basis. I think this will be my go-to from here on out for hard to shop for people.
I want to join the book club! :)
ReplyDeleteYou're in!
DeleteThere is a copy of ATGIB on the bookshelf directly ahead of me as I type this, and I haven't reread it in years, so I will, well, say I'll join and then try not to forget and panic when I realize I've forgotten.
ReplyDeleteI read Ender's Game later than many people seemed to think I should have, even though I had read many other OSC books. I agree with you both about his books and his beliefs (oops, now I think I'm mixing up two posts, oh well) although he has at least seemed less belligerent and more sheepish about the beliefs than certain other authors. I have given away all our Harry Potter books and we still have them in my K-8 library but the other librarian won't add any more copies.
Oh, I still have JKR books and regularly read them. I also have read the Galbraith books, but have gotten all of those from the library. I don't know if I'll ever truly be able to give her up, so maybe I'm truly a hypocrite about the whole thing. :(
DeleteThat is a beautiful copy of ATGIB! I am so down for a reread and book club. That sounds like so much fun!
ReplyDeleteI'm all about gift cards, too, so a Menards gift card or to a local restaurant is perfect.
Yay! I really am thrilled that so many people are excited about this book club. I'll have to think about how to best organize it!
DeleteCount me in for the book club. I'd never heard of it (being Australian) but it looks interesting, and good to read before we go to NYC.
ReplyDeleteOh, another new reader! That would be so awesome! I'd love to hear how a first-time reader feels about the book.
DeleteI hope you had a nice time at the wedding and enjoyed eating out after!
ReplyDeleteThe wedding is done and it was wonderful!
DeleteACK! My late comments come back to bite me. Can I join the ATGIB book club? I LOVE THIS IDEA!!! (Also, we could totally do a Madison area silent book club... just sayin'...)
ReplyDeleteHope the wedding was wonderful. And that you saw my comment - totally reading along. I already finished chapter 1 and... it was just as fabulous as I remembered. <3
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