Need help. Wedding gift.

[AmericanGF]

Hello all. I am looking for advice for some artwork ideas for a wedding present I am making. It is for my fiance's sister who is getting married this month. They are a very large Ukrainian family and are very into tradition. Last year I made a similar gift for the brother of my best friend who is Jewish. It was a hand painted 20" x18" image of the tree of life with their wedding invitation and an image of them on their wedding day surrounded in some Jewish sayings. They went crazy over it and I would like to make something similar.

I am looking for designs or patterns or sayings that would be appropriate for a newly married couple or saying about love or whatnot. My fiance can help me with the translation for phrases but I'm really looking more for some patterns or designs that are very wedding-ish.

Any and all input is greatly appreciated. Thanks


-I am 100% Italian but they all lovingly call me the American Girlfriend

[AmericanGF]

Kathy, Ty for your time and effort in helping me with this project. While I think the image of Mary and Jesus is great the mother of the bride thinks it may be too religious. I think the overall style is great and am eager to get started. I do still want to incorporate some poems or something into it. She did like the tree of life Idea though. Maybe I can paint it in a more Uke style. Thanks again!

[Hannia]

In Ukrainian tradition the TREE OF LIFE is baked as a good luck topper on KOROVAI.

??? IDEAS

Many Ukrainian traditions are rooted in Pagan Times.

Symbols of marriage include hand-made broom and hearth & hearth related items.

The KALYNA (plant - viburnum, high-bush cranberrry) is also an ancient symbol of love and fertility. A stylized painting of the kalyna in the framework of Ukrainian design could be very modern and unique, yet very true to Ukrainian tradition???

[Tim Bernee]

I'm attending a brunch reception this weekend for an elopement that happened five months ago. Since the party is so long after the marriage, I'm not sure what to give as a wedding gift. Any idea.

[Hannia]

Elopement means no fuss, for them and for you.

You do know that you are not obligated to buy a gift for a wedding you did not attend?

Good etiquette is a post elopement brunch in this case, where no gifts are expected.

If you feel you absolutely, absolutely must, bring a no fuss department store gift certificate.

[AkMike]

My step son is getting married this week-end! I have to work but my wife went there and she'll present a bulova for him and an ornate carved wooden rolling pin for her. ( Showing that he's the leader of the family and he's got her permission to say it! )

[Hannia]

An elopement is not a wedding. Different rules apply.

AK, ALthough I must say your step son is getting some nifty gifts w/some huge symbolism. Very clever.