Meaningful Gift Ideas for Special People

At Add-A-Pearl, we're not just in the business of selling pearl necklaces. We're in the gifting industry, so we're dedicated to helping our customers find the most meaningful gift ideas for their loved ones. An Add-A-Pearl necklace is so much more than a beautiful object, and we have the experience and knowledge to help you find special gifts for her. Are you looking for ways to add more meaning to your gifts? Keep reading for our tips.

How can I make my gifts more meaningful?

In general, coming up with meaningful gift ideas requires time and thoughtfulness. When choosing special gifts for your loved ones, we recommend not putting pressure on yourself by feeling rushed. We advise setting reminders for birthdays and other gifting holidays, so you have plenty of time to shop and make a careful decision without the pressure of a close deadline.

Truly consider what the recipient might need as well as what that person wants (maybe without even realizing it yet). What's within your budget and means, and what would be a stretch for you? Brainstorm a list and start doing your research around pricing and delivery options. Once you choose the perfect gift, you can infuse more meaning by writing a heartfelt message in an accompanying card or by selecting beautiful packaging.

Meaningful gift ideas from real people

Don't take our word for it. Our customers are some of the best representatives of meaningful gifting, and they have so many ideas to share. You'll want to check out our blog for plenty of customer stories.

Megan Black from Kentucky was a winner of our Share Your Story Contest after she shared her perspective on how the Add-A-Pearl tradition can add meaning to lifelong memories. She bought her niece an Add-A-Pearl necklace for her first birthday and for every birthday since then. Megan continued the tradition with her second, third, and fourth nieces! Two of her nieces were able to wear the pearls at Megan's wedding, when they served as flower girls. Megan wrote in her story, "By the time they are 18, they will have a beautiful pearl necklace to wear to their graduations, weddings, and any other special event they will have."

Dad Michael Cimino also shared his story. Michael has a rare disease that may result in a shortened lifespan. He wants his daughter Adelina to have something "sweet, precious, and beautiful just like she is" to wear during her important life milestones. When Michael found Add-A-Pearl, he knew it was a perfect fit. The necklace can be with Adelina even if Michael's not there with her some day.

Tap into the origins of gift giving

If you don't yet feel inspired, keep reading. Learning about the origins of gift giving may help you get ideas about making your gifts feel more personal and meaningful. In another blog post, we explore the history of gift giving and how traditions have evolved over the years.

The origins of gift giving traditions date back thousands of years and can be traced back to our ancestors, the chimpanzees. In addition, cavemen would give gifts to express their affection and appreciation. Some typical gifts that cavepeople would give each other included teeth and stones, since they could be carved with something meaningful and worn with pride. Even the most primitive humans believed in exchanging meaningful gifts.

We can thank the ancient Egyptians for the traditional practice of gift giving, especially birthday gifts. In addition, gifts played a major role in ancient Greek society, as illustrated by Homer's epic The Odyssey. The Greeks believed that evil spirits might haunt a loved one on their birthday, so they would bring good wishes and gifts to ward off these spirits.

Get creative with gift giving

Once you gain a deeper appreciation for the traditions of gift giving, you can start to have fun while getting creative with them. The holidays are the perfect time of year to "think outside of the box" with meaningful gift giving, since everyone's in a festive mood. In fact, we've written another blog post on the topic.

We have five tips for getting more creative with meaningful gift giving during the holidays, and many of these ideas can also be modified for other gift-giving occasions like birthdays, graduations, weddings, and more. Secret Santa is one way to get creative with gift giving around Christmas-time. With a Secret Santa gift exchange, everyone involved becomes a sneaky and mischievous elf. Or you could try a grab bag gift exchange, which requires everyone who's invited to a party to bring a gift that they add to a communal pile. Theme gifting can be very fun, since everyone who's participating in the gift swap has to shop according to a theme. A scavenger hunt can make gift-giving more fun because it turns the process into a game. Adding a dash of trivia into the gift-giving experience can also be creative and memorable.

Special gifts for her

If you're still not sure how to give a gift with meaning, then we have some specific ideas for you. Finding a special gift for the girl or woman in your life can be overwhelming, since you don't want to disappoint your loved one. But some gifts are timeless and sure to please.

Have you ever considered gifting something that could become a family heirloom? These gifts are meant to withstand the test of time, and they don't necessarily have to cost a fortune. A handwritten letter with a heartfelt message on pretty paper, fine china or crystal, coins, secret family recipes, watches, and medals or awards are all examples of future heirloom gifts that tell a beautiful story of love and life.

Pearl gifts often rank high on lists of "special gifts for her" because pearls are so symbolic and beautiful. They don't need much else in the way of packaging and presentation because they speak for themselves. When someone receives a gift of pearl jewelry, they know it represents something special and that it has meaning. Giving an Add-A-Pearl necklace is the perfect foundation for sharing a meaningful gift.

Other meaningful gifts that girls will love include a beautiful journal where she can write her hopes and dreams, a personalized jewelry box or other keepsake box, a photo album full of cherished photos, a print or painting that represents an important life moment, and more.

Special baby gifts

You may find it especially difficult to choose special baby gifts, since a baby is not aware of the meaning behind the gift, at least not at this point in time. But you can still choose gifts that the parents will appreciate and find meaningful or that the child will love someday in her future.

Some of our favorite baby gifts with meaning include an embroidered blanket, a custom Christmas ornament with a photo or monogram, a baby memory book, keepsakes with the baby's handprint or footprint, a personalized picture frame, and more.

Even though a baby can't wear jewelry, an Add-A-Pearl necklace is still an excellent gift idea for a brand new bundle of joy. The parents can hold on to the first pearls and keep them somewhere safe as you continue to give the baby new pearls for occasions like birthdays and Christmas. When the child is old enough to understand the concept of the necklace, then she will likely have collected a few pearls. She'll feel extra special knowing that someone has considered the future of her keepsake gift. It's a truly meaningful moment.

Special wedding gifts

Wedding gifts have lost their meaning in a way, since most guests will give cash or choose something within their budget from the registry. Why not bring meaning back to the tradition of gifting the newlyweds? We have some ideas.

Consider commissioning an artist from Etsy to draw or paint a portrait of the couple, which they will keep forever in their home. Monogrammed items for the home are always a hit, and they're guaranteed to be used with love. Engraved silverware is a luxe splurge.

If you'd like to give something special to the bride only, then an Add-A-Pearl necklace is a beautiful send off for wedded bliss. According to folklore, wearing pearls on your wedding day will lead to marital happiness. They also represent concepts like love and joy. The bride can choose to add her own pearls for life's special moments, like the birth of her first child, her own birthdays, and more. Or she can tell family members that she'd like to be gifted additional pearls in the future. It gets everyone on the same page about gifting and shares the tradition with loved ones.

Now that you've read our tips for meaningful gifting, do you feel more inspired to share thoughtful gifts that will make a positive and lasting impression? Remember to give yourself lots of time to shop and to consider alternative options that break the mold. Considering an Add-A-Pearl necklace is always a great place to start, and we're happy to help you find the most perfect and meaningful gift if you need additional assistance. Start here.