Presents Please!

Searching for Bridal party gifts is by far the Bride and Groom's least favorite task on the Wedding checklist! How are you supposed to find the same gift for all the bridesmaid's or groomsmen and expect everyone to like it when each person has a different style? Not to mention spend the same amount on every person so nobody gets offended and still worry about staying within your budget? Ok...story time first, sorry if I have to embarrass a few people with this post!
So I have a best friend (not mentioning any names) that has a boyfriend...(still not mentioning any names), that is away in Costa Rica & Panama for two months. Of course that means he wasn't home for Valentine's Day, which also means I was harassed every day to help him come up with a creative gift idea for him to send her while he was in a 3rd world country. Flower's would be the most obvious choice right? Wrong! Her birthday was two weeks prior, so that was a no go!
Any and every girl, even guy, would appreciate something more if it was sentimental with meaning to it as opposed to something expensive with no thought or effort put into it. Maybe he could have sent something really cool he found on the island? Nope, no post office's around him, go figure! It had to be perfect, something unusual & rare to fit his personality, and extra special because she's like the third sister I never wanted! Plus I knew if it wasn't good I would more than likely get the blame for this. So what did he end up getting her?
WAIT FOR IT.............The Perfect Gift......A CUSTOM MAP PENDANT!
I had seen this idea at a bridal show in January and didn't know how he would feel about it, and I couldn't remember the name of the Vendor, so I went to the biggest handmade market...ETSY!
I saw a ton of map necklaces come up in my search, and I looked at almost every single one, but there was only one that stood out and caught my eye! I emailed the shop owner, Taylor, right away and asked how soon she could make it for him, send it, and if she could fit both Costa Rica & Panama on the map.
Taylor was so great, she literally made it that night and shipped it the next day! I really wanted to keep this necklace for myself, but if I loved it that much I knew she would too since it was a piece of him she could keep close to her. She absolutely loved it and he was happy too! Don't worry I've already given myself plenty of pats on the back for this idea!! I had to share some of Taylor's images from her Etsy shop, because this is not only a great idea for the bridesmaids, but she even has gifts to offer to the groomsmen, everything from Cuff links and wine stoppers, to key chains and rings. The very last pic is of the actual necklace Taylor custom made for my best friend's V Day gift.
You can find Taylor's shop, "Paper and Place" on Etsy or at PAPERANDPLACE.COM