Stumped about what to get your groom as a wedding gift? Give him an experience he'll never forget, including meeting his favorite celeb, playing a round of golf with a PGA star or driving a Lamborghini around a racetrack!
By: Sharon NaylorIt can be tough to pick out a wedding-day gift that will be truly special, especially if you know that your guy already has enough watches and an engraved flask just isn't going to cut it. A new trend is gifting a personalized "experience" — the memory will last longer than most wrapped gifts ever could. Here are some of my own personal experiences that I've gifted to my husband throughout the years, as well as other fun ideas to help get you started:
Superstar Sports Encounters
Keep an eye out for pro athlete autograph shows or celebrity book signings near you. For my own wedding gift to my husband, I gave him a VIP ticket to meet NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Marino. We stood in line for just a short while, and soon my groom was in disbelief to be shaking hands with his favorite sports legend. When you do get your groom a VIP meet-and-greet with an athlete or celebrity, be sure to mention that this is your wedding gift to him. They may throw in an extra autograph or pose for extra photos with him, or with the two of you. When I told Mr. Marino about my gift, his mouth fell open — he just couldn't believe that he would be a wedding present!
Surf’s Up!
John Philbin is a superstar in the surfing world — he taught Kate Bosworth how to ride waves for Blush Crush and he starred with Keanu Reeves and Patrick Swayze in Point Break. When I found out that he gives surfing lessons, I emailed him right away to set up my husband's first-ever surfing lesson...with "Turtle" from North Shore, one of the first movies we ever watched together when we began dating. We were both starstruck when we arrived at the Malibu location but John immediately put us at ease. His instruction was so good that my husband got up on the board and rode waves four times, not looking at all like a first-timer (which I know was important to him). During rest breaks, they chatted about movie trivia, which I think was equally exciting for him. We parted as new friends with a promise to surf together again someday and I got major brownie points as the most awesome wife ever.
Hit the Links
Does your guy dream about playing on a course with PGA pros? Thanks to Cloud 9 Living, you can plug in your location and find top PGA golf pros offering basic lessons, as well as more advanced pointers on how to correct your groom's swing or fine-tune his short game. Nothing says "I love you" more than showing support for the game he loves...even if it does take him away from you for part of your Sundays all too often!
Drive a Race Car
Cloud 9 Living also offers adventures in race car driving and stock car driving, including ride-alongs if you're daring enough. If your guy is a NASCAR fan or a gearhead, a chance to speed around the course and do burnouts just might be the most amazing gift he'll never see coming.
Celebrity Meet-and-Greet for Charity
This idea is a double-win since your groom will get to chat with and pose for photos with one of his favorite celebrities AND benefit a charity at the same time. Check out Charity Buzz to bid on the latest offerings in your area, including on-set visits to your groom's favorite TV show or even a walk-on role. As of press time, celebrity prizes up for auction included stars like Jason Aldean, Darius Rucker, Russell Simmons, Buddy Valastro (aka "The Cake Boss"), Sammy Hagar and more. Since we all know that bidding on auctions can rev up adrenaline, be sure to set your top dollar limit before you start bidding so that you don't wind up blowing your entire wedding.
Since auctions may get pretty pricey, you’ll be happy to discover Omaze.com, which works more like a charity raffle. Each once-in-a-lifetime experience is matched with a specific cause and the more you donate and spread awareness, the better your chances of winning. Even low bids get you a chance to win. With prizes like a walk-on role in the latest Star Wars installment, hanging with the cast of Orange is the New Black and rehearsing a scene with Kevin Spacey for House of Cards, your groom will be pinching himself that yes, this is actually happening in real life!
Rub Shoulders with Stars at Conventions
At Comic Con, and at the other "cons" taking place around the country, celebrities of all types (from Oscar winners to D-listers and everyone in between) sit at tables and make thousands of dollars a day, shaking hands with fans and posing for photos. Get in line to meet some fun and fantastic celebs that will bring your groom back to his childhood days. Tag along to capture priceless images and videos! Over the years, my husband has rubbed shoulders with William Zabka, Alice Cooper, Weird Al Yankovic, Jason Priestley and dozens of other celebs. Kari Wuhrer was a particular thrill for him, and I took my turn doing the Karate Kid crane pose for Ralph Macchio (who was a very good sport!)
Sharon Naylor is the author of 1001 Ways to Save Money and Still Have a Dazzling Wedding and and other wedding titles at sharonnaylor.net.
