Men have it easy when it comes to giving their bride a wedding day gift. They can just give us some jewelry, any kind of jewelry, and they’ve done a good job. But us girls have a harder task, especially if, like me, you are on a budget. As a grad student, I didn’t have the means to buy anything fancy for Mr. Poppy Blossom, so I had to be creative. Traditional grooms gifts like watches were well beyond my price range. I could have purchased some cheap cufflinks, but I didn’t want to force Mr. Poppy Blossom to wear something tacky to our wedding.

After much brainwracking, I finally decided to get him cologne. It’s a nice personalized gift available for a reasonable price. I picked out a scent that I liked, put it inside a Mr. Potato Head Spud Trooper (Mr. Poppy Blossom collects Mr. Potato Heads), and had my maid of honor deliver it to him on the morning of our wedding.

Photo by Michael Hawk Photography

Photo by Michael Hawk Photography

And this clever gift had an unexpected bonus. I could smell it the entire day, from our i dos to our first dance. Now when he wears it, I am taken back to our wedding day. Though I didn’t intend for this romantic consequence, it is a gift we can share for the rest of our lives. (awww)

What clever and romantic ideas do you have for your bride or groom gift? Do you plan on going all out on your gift, or will you get you special someone something small?