Etch a Magnificent Memory on Engraved Wedding Gifts

By Meredith McKinsey
Vancouver, BC, June 23, 2007

Remember the tale of the “One Ring” in the much acclaimed box office trilogy the “Lord of the Rings”? The “One Ring” with the supernatural engravings on its inside had been the main cause of so much bloodshed and woe. It makes one wonder if there were other etchings that could stir up such powerful emotions in their bearers, however these emotions are more pleasant and joyful. As a matter of fact, some of them can be found at weddings.

A long time ago, man began making a record of their daily lives by engraving and drawing on walls, rock slates, wood and precious metals. They engraved symbols, pictures and ancient writings on cave walls, buildings, crockery and coins. Some of these items were offered to their gods, royalties and loved ones. Today, we present engraved ornaments as gifts to the ones we love and admire. These tokens are either hand-imprinted or mechanically-etched with thoughtful words and are fabulous as gifts especially at weddings.

Specially engraved wedding gifts are lovely to be presented to the newly-weds. However, these exquisite gifts should be selected with care because you certainly do not want your choice of handcrafted wedding gift to be permanently stashed-away in the wedded couple’s attic or storeroom instead of as an admired ornament on their side-cabinet. Therefore, you need to consider the practicality of the engraved wedding present such as their weight, size, usefulness and durability. Of course, you would not intend to present the happy couple with a customized six-foot tall totem pole when it is obviously known that the couple lives on the twenty-fifth floor of an apartment building!

If your choice of a wedding gift is a set of jewelry for both the bride and her groom, then, the jewelry should be correctly engraved with their names and your special message to them. This is to avoid the possibility of returning the jewelry to the goldsmith for modification because of a misspelled name or wording on the crafted piece. It is unpleasant to part with unnecessary extra cash just to pay for the alteration. Besides, the newly-weds might be annoyed with the blunder. So, you have to ensure that you provide the engraver with the correct wording and spelling for the engraving and double check the engraved wedding gift before leaving the shop.

The gift is ready for the special day and every word as well as the pattern is perfectly etched on it. Now, it is the important matter of having the gift wrapped gorgeously for the happy couple. Bear in mind that some engraved nuptial gifts are fragile and they need additional care while handling. It is best to fully wrap the gift with a piece of soft fabric before putting it in a box. This is to protect the engravings from getting spoiled and the whole piece scratched. Next, the box is filled with pieces of Styrofoam to prevent the gift from breaking. Then, the box is properly glued and wrap with an attractive wrapping paper. You can stick a bow or two to make it more presentable. Lastly, the couple’s names are properly printed on the top side of the box to prompt you that the gift is not upside-down.

What if you are the one presented with such a wonderful wedding present? What are the steps you should take to make it a lasting cherished keepsake for your own memorable wedding day? Indeed, it is electrifying to un-wrap a brass plate with your spouse’s and your name beautifully engraved on it. As soon as the unique present is unwrapped, you ought to give it a shine by carefully wiping it with a smooth fabric. Then, you can place it somewhere appropriate but safe from too much sunlight and excessive movement. This is to make sure that the brass plate does not lose its luster. The engravings on it would be illegible if the brass plate has lost its sheen. Apart from that, you are to maintain the gift on a regular basis to ensure it will last a long time.

All engraved wedding gifts must be made and handled with a lot of care because the meaningful inscription, thoughtfully engraved on the special gift will last a life time.