While I can’t admit how close we are to Christmas, I can admit that gift guides are one of my favourite parts about Christmas. I love discovering new things! So with that, I am so excited to unveil our 2013 Christmas Gift Guide! I have pulled together three guides that we’ll show off over the next few days full of products I love and gift ideas for your nearest and dearest- all with a wedding-y twist!
Each guide is full of ideas that are not only great for Christmas, but I hope will give you ideas if you’re looking for thank you gifts for your bridal party, special spoils for your engaged friends and even wedding presents!
Aura by Tracie Ellis Chevron Grande Tablecloth in Bright Yellow ($69), Homebodii Natalie Lace Robe ($145), Thalgo Indoceane Gift Set ($69), Duepunti Diamond Bangles in Aqua & Baby Pink ($99 each), Oscar de la Renta Something Blue Eau De Parfum (50ml $94, 100ml $127 Available exclusively at David Jones), Wanderlust & Co Crystal Wave Rose Gold Ring ($39) Tri-diamante rose gold ring ($35) and Crystal Bar & Stack Rose Gold Ring ($45) , Napoleon Perdis Limited Edition “Empress” Lip Palette $79, O.P.I Sweet on My Beau Nailpolish Set ($29.95), The White Dress In Colour book by Beth Lindsay Chapman, Candice Dowling Coppola and Carla Ten Eyck, Lush Rose Jam Shower Gel ($9.95)
Wearing something special as you get ready on your wedding day is a special treat and I think this Homebodii Natalie Lace Robe fits the bill! Complete with a nude toned slip, the lace robe makes a beautiful gift for a bride to be, or for bridesmaids. Not only does it add a little piece of luxury to the hustle and bustle of the wedding preparations, but it’s gorgeous enough to be worn long after the wedding.
Christmas is always the best time of year to pick up gift sets that work equally as wonderfully under the tree as they do as wedding day gifts. This one from spa skincare leaders, the Thalgo Indoceane Gift Set contains a Indoceane Silky Smooth Cream (for wedding smooth skin), Indoceane Sweet & Savoury Scrub (a mini size that’s fantastic for a gift or last minute buffing) and a Indoceane Scented Candle (light this one on the wedding morning for a dose of spice with a coriander, cardamon, frankincense and patchouli blend)
I like jewels with a difference and these Duepunti Diamond Bangles in Aqua & Baby Pink are unlike anything I’ve seen before. The silicone bangles hold a tiny sparkling diamond. They’re great for stacking and come in 30 different colours, along with the same design in a ring. The fun colours mean you can find one to suit the style of the wearer – I love these as bridesmaids gifts, a great mix of fun and luxury!
Perfume is always one of my favourite gifts, Oscar de la Renta Something Blue Eau De Parfum (Available exclusively at David Jones), makes for a particularly perfect gift for a bride to be. It’s a sweet bottle design with a Larimar blue lid (and a removable ring with the designer’s signature logo). The scent itself is feminine and romantic containing notes of mandarin, linden blossom, stephanotis, lily of the valley, lychee, bourbon vanilla and white musk. I love the thought of this as your “Something blue” on your wedding day.
The jewels from Wanderlust & Co have taken my fancy and I love the Crystal Wave Rose Gold Ring Tri-diamante rose gold ring and Crystal Bar & Stack Rose Gold Ring which make such a great idea for bridesmaids. I love the rose gold of these rings and they’re fantastic for stacking with just enough sparkle for an evening out or for everyday wear.
The Napoleon Perdis Limited Edition “Empress” Lip Palette makes a great gift for your beauty loving bridesmaids. The palette contains twelve shades and is part of the Napoleon Perdis Holiday collection. In a clear case with a mirror, the palette has everything from dark berry reds, to vibrant corals and richly toned fuchsias. Also a wonderful idea to carry with you on the wedding day for touch ups!
This fab nail polish duo O.P.I Sweet on My Beau Nailpolish Set comes complete with a metallic bow printed cosmetic bag. Two wedding worthy shades- “Sweet Heart” ( a soft pastel pink) and “Alpine Snow” (a pure white cream) work not only on their own, but also as a french manicure look. Neutral polishes like these are always a favourite of mine, and the sweet set makes a great gift.
The White Dress In Colour book by Beth Lindsay Chapman, Candice Dowling Coppola and Carla Ten Eyck, is a brand new addition to my wedding book library. The book tells seven tales – each starting with the imagination of a wedding, the initial dreams and takes it into practical wedding advice. Each story is photographed beautifully, packed with plenty of ideas and inspiration. The stories end with “Behind The Design” which translate a beautifully styled shoot into ideas you can take away and use yourself. I love this book as a present for a newly engaged bride to be!
Everybody loves a fun shower gel and this sweet Lush Rose Jam Shower Gel smells just like pretty red roses. A teeny tiny size small enough for a wedding morning treat, or to add as a stocking stuffer for your favourite ladies. It contains goji berry juice to brighten your skin, Sicilian lemon to give your skin a boost and of course, rose oil to soothe it.
Aura by Tracie Ellis Chevron Grande Tablecloth in Bright Yellow ($69) Samantha Wills Fairy Lights Bracelet Set ($99) , Samantha Wills “Sagittarius Skies” Stud Earrings In Gold ($99) earrings, Kit Cosmetics “Fairy-tale Ending” Glitter Nailpolish ($24.95 Also available at Mecca Maxima), Samantha Wills “Heart Of Aries” Earrings in Silver ($130), Wanderlust & Co Bow Twist Necklace In Rose Gold, Moët and Chandon Golden Glimmer Chiller ($89.95 Available at David Jones and independent retailers), The Fashion Book ($59.95), Alannah Rose Something Blue Mirror ($10.95), Sanctuary Spa Daily Spa Escape Creme Souffle ($19.99 Available at Priceline), L’Occitane Fleur D’or & Acacia Eau de Toilette (75ml $90), Stylerocks Emerald Cut Emerald Hook Earrings in Sterling Silver Setting ($271.95), Smashbox Wondervision Lipgloss Set ($37.95 Available at Kit Cosmetics & Mecca Maxima) Shu Uemura Art Of Hair Paddle Brush ($120), Stylerocks Black Pearl Hook Earrings in Sterling Silver Setting ($89.95)
Stacking bracelets is always fun and jewels like these make for a great bridesmaid gift! The Samantha Wills Fairy Lights Bracelet Set has done the hard work for you, the set coming complete with a combination of four turquoise and gunmetal bracelets. I love the idea of them on bridesmaids in dark grey gowns for a modern, funky look.
These Samantha Wills “Sagittarius Skies” Stud Earrings In Gold earrings, are gorgeous if you want to add a little subtle colour to your own look (or of course, that of your bridesmaids). The dark teal is almost jewel toned and when combined with gold add a glamorous touch making a wonderful gift for bridesmaids or for the bride.
Kit Cosmetics “Fairy-tale Ending” Glitter Nailpolish is pretty enough to be a Christmas bauble. This massive sized bottle of nail polish is one of the sparkliest glitters around and the size makes it a fun gift all on it’s own- whether that’s for Christmas or for your wedding day (and the name? well that says it all!)
These Samantha Wills “Heart Of Aries” Earrings in Silver, add a modern, glam touch to your wedding day look. Crystals are always classic, but the heavy design of these take the look to something a little more modern. I also love these for your bridesmaids – in floor length floaty maxi dresses or dark gowns at a black tie celebration.
Rose gold and bows are always a sweet combination and this Wanderlust & Co Bow Twist Necklace In Rose Gold, would make a gorgeous bridesmaid gift. The bow is reminiscent of twisted rope, hanging from a fine rose gold chain and makes for a feminine touch to a wedding day look.
Moët and Chandon Golden Glimmer Chiller makes a wonderful thank you gift for bridesmaids, but I’m also partial to keeping this beauty for the wedding day morning, because if you can’t have fantastic, glamorous bubbles while you’re getting ready for your wedding then when can you? The gold to white ombre style glimmer chiller case just adds that little touch of something extra special.
The Fashion Book is a fantastic gift for your fashion loving bridesmaids or the bride. This baby is heavy, I’m talking 576 pages spanning 200 years of fashion history! The neon cover by fashion illustrator Mats Gustafson is just the start- the book focusing on everything you need to know about fashion. From stories of Coco Chanel and Karl Lagerfeld to Alexander Wang. Anyone who has an interest in fashion would make the perfect recipient for this fashion bible.
I love this Alannah Rose Something Blue Mirror as a small gift for the bride. Everyone needs quick access to a mirror on the wedding day for touch ups and this sweet compact sized mirror, that comes in a printed cotton bag makes a sweet little gift and is small enough to pop into a purse or pocket (plus, it has polka dots on it, which always makes it a winner).
Sanctuary Spa Daily Spa Escape Creme Souffle (Available at Priceline), is a nice treat for your bridesmaids or for your own pre wedding pampering. Containing all the good stuff- like red seaweed extract, vitamin E, jojoba and mango extract it feels like the richest body cream that somehow still feels light and sinks into the skin immediately leaving the wearer smelling of bergamot, orange, lemon and grapefruit. Lovely for warmer weather weddings!
A perfume on our list, is the decadent and Summery L’Occitane Fleur D’or & Acacia Eau de Toilette. With notes of lemon and bergamot; mimosa, acacia, white woods and musk, the scent is described as a musky floral. Beautifully described as the first glow of the December light, the moment when trees come into blossom. I love this scent for it’s warmth and the memories it evokes. It’s elegant clear bottle with a gold lid is a stylish addition to your wedding day beauty regime or a beautiful gift for the bride or bridesmaids.
Stylerocks Emerald Cut Emerald Hook Earrings in Sterling Silver Setting are one of my favourite bridesmaids gifts. Customise the shape, the gemstone, the metal and the finish to suit your own wedding style and Stylerocks will sort out the rest, delivering your custom designed styles to you. The emerald cut emerald stones are one of my favourites from StyleRocks (along with the peridot, which I also adore).
Lipgloss sets always make great gifts, especially when it comes to the endless touch ups on a wedding day and this Smashbox Wondervision Lipgloss Set (Available at Kit Cosmetics & Mecca Maxima) released just in time for Christmas contains five high shine, luxurious lip glosses with the fantastic Smashbox formula. Moisturising and pigmented you could break the set up for each of your bridesmaids, or gift the set as a complete present.
Something I love to do for presents is to think of something that we don’t think much about and find a luxurious version of it. Enter the Shu Uemura Art Of Hair Paddle Brush. Shu Uemura has always been known for their high quality beauty products an this handcrafted paddle brush makes a wonderful gift. It features an air cushion with soft nylon bristles aiming to give your hair a smooth, shiny, detangling look (and a brilliant scalp massage to boot).
For something with a little more glamour, these Stylerocks Black Pearl Hook Earrings in Sterling Silver Setting would work beautifully at a modern style or black tie wedding. Pearls always make for a beautiful present and again- everthing about these earrings can be customised for your own style.
Aura by Tracie Ellis Chevron Grande Tablecloth in Bright Yellow ($69), Lust Have It Bridal Party Box ($50), Diptyque Frankincense Candle ($55 Available at Mecca Cosmetica), Le Shop Guide by Michi ($39.99), Wanderlust & Co “Bird On A Branch” Ring in Silver ($39) “Heart Knot” Ring in Silver ($29), Samantha Wills “Show Your Heart” Ring In Peach ($140), Samantha Wills “Bohemian Bardot” Ring In Turquoise ($99), Napoleon Perdis “Imperial” Collection Gift Set (89), Happy Socks Big Dot Two Pack Socks ($24.95), Stila Cosmetics Tools Of The Trade 5 Piece Brush Set ($45 Available at Mecca Cosmetica), Tocca Margaux Eau De Parfum (1.7 oz $92.00 Available at Mecca Cosmetica) Wanderlust & Co Gem Crystal Spike Earrings, O.P I The Essentials Nailpolish Kit $79.95
We all know sample boxes, but this brand new offering- the Lust Have It Bridal Party Box is a sample box with a wedding twist! Products are tailored towards brides – items that help makeup stay on all day, make the skin glow, help out in little emergencies and pamper your skin. The first box contains treats like masks, blotting papers, illuminating creams, eyeliners and makeup finishing spray from brands like Model Co, Skindinavia, Revlon and Appelles enabling you trial them all before committing to the full size. A great gift for a beauty loving bride or for your bridesmaids.
I’m such a candle lover and this Diptyque Frankincense Candle ( Available at Mecca Cosmetica), is beautiful for under the Christmas tree. The packaging itself (this one is a deep purple with gold and red label) is beautiful and the scent is everything I love about Christmas. I love candles as bridesmaids gifts, especially ones as luxurious as this.
Dreaming of Paris? Then this Le Shop Guide by Michi is a must for your list! Complete with beautiful illustrations by Kat McLeod, the book has all the information you need to plan the perfect Paris shopping trip. From the best season to go, the best places to stay, the best place to find a rejuvenating coffee….and of course all the listings of the chic and stylish boutiques, the hidden markets, the best buys at each and of course the addresses, telephone numbers and opening hours of each! I love this idea as a gift for your girlfriends, or the bride who is off to Paris on her honeymoon!
Anything that has a little personality – like these Wanderlust & Co “Bird On A Branch” Ring in Silver and “Heart Knot” Ring in Silver, for me make great gifts. Wanderlust & Co actually have a bumblebee ring I didn’t photograph but am seriously eyeing off. But back to these- a bird on a branch and the heart knot ring are great for stacking and lovely little keepsake gifts for the special females in your life.
In case it hasn’t been obvious from our gift guide this year, I love jewels as gifts- you can wear them on the wedding day and keep them forever. Samantha Wills “Show Your Heart” Ring In Peach is a decadent looking cocktail ring with a hit of colour. I love the idea of this on bridesmaids with Grecian maxi dresses embracing the warmth of the sun. Jewels make wonderful pieces that can be worn again and again with memories of the wedding.
Samantha Wills “Bohemian Bardot” Ring In Turquoise is one of those shapes from this designer that is always loved. It’s another piece I think is beautiful enough to be worn as a bridesmaid (or a bride!) and pulled out again and again with wedding moments attached. I particularly love non wedding pieces worn as bridal jewels and love the thought of this with a beautiful white wedding gown.
Continuing with my love of Christmas beauty gift sets, the Napoleon Perdis “Imperial” Collection Gift Set, is a great one to pick up now for a bridesmaids gift. It has a shimmering gold nail polish (right on trend for gold weddings!) , the prismatic lip quad palette (in Imperial) with berry red, shimmering champagne tones, nudes and pink which makes a great one to slip into a purse on the wedding day and the prismatic eyeshadow quad (in Imperial) which has a shimmering highlight tone, a slate blue, sparkling copper brown and an inky black all with great colour payoff. Love this all in one gift set!
You know what we don’t own enough of these days? Fantastic socks! Which is why I adore these Happy Socks Big Dot Two Pack Socks. Not only is one set polka dot, but I love the idea of these as a gift to the girls on the wedding day. Especially if the weather is likely to be colder. They’re a little bit of fun, a bit of happy and foot warming dancing shoes.
Everyone needs a fantastic makeup brush set, so enter the limited edition Stila Cosmetics Tools Of The Trade 5 Piece Brush Set (Available at Mecca Cosmetica), it’s a beautiful brush set with the softest bristles and containing the five essential brushes as chosen by Stila’s professional makeup artists. The five piece set contains a concealer brush, a powder brush, an all over blend brush, a precision eye liner brush and finally an all over blend brush. Pick this one up for a bridesmaid gift, I love it!
Tocca Margaux Eau De Parfum ( Available at Mecca Cosmetica) is the final perfume in our gift guide this year. With notes of vanilla, blood orange, green gardenia, amber, and violet, is a brand new scent from the label that is warm and inviting. The bottle has a beautiful antique feel to it which I love and ties into the almost vintage scent of the perfume itself.
Wanderlust & Co Gem Crystal Spike Earrings, have something a little glam, a little edgy about them. With incredible sparkle, these beauties would suit a bride who wants something a little more modern for her wedding jewels or make a fun addition to a bridesmaid look- either way, they make a great present !
If there is one nailpolish set that is a ‘must have’ and an amazing gift – it’s this. The O.P I The Essentials Nailpolish Kit . It contains all of O.P.I’s best sellers- Lincoln Park After Dark, Big Apple Red, Bubble Bath, Tickle My France-y, My Favorite Ornament Start To Finish. l I love this as a gift set for under the tree and for a special present, everything you need for a year of different looks!
Join the conversation