Whether you are looking for a gift for your BFF, sister, mom, grandma, or your bridesmaids, we have you covered! These 12 Etsy gift ideas are sure to be a hit!

Jewelry is a classic gift idea and this raw opal ring from inbalmishan puts a spin on the old classic with its modern look and beautiful raw edge.

If you know someone who loves to knit, this ceramic fox yarn bowl from Barruntando is a completely unique and adorable way to keep yarn in place!

Sometimes a small gift with a heartfelt meaning like this hand stamped, key right with personalized initial disc from XpressiveMpressions, is better than a big extravagant gift.

These colorful blessing bands with inspirational sayings from amywaltz are fantastic personalized gifts. The message on each bracelet can be customized.

The baker in your life needs this horse embossed rolling pin from HousemateArtist! This rolling pin is a totally fun gift that is so unique!

A camera doesn’t have to hang on a plain ol’ boring strap! Why not give the photographer in your life this personalized leather camera strap from Exsect?

A laptop bag is always a good gift. This Felt and leather laptop bag from kmBaggies is chic and sophisticated as well as durable and easy to tote around!

Do you know someone who lives and breathes art? May we suggest this cute paintbox set mouse pad from PepsiCarola.

Do you know someone who needs a little pampering? Treat her with this relaxing spa gift set from LittleFlowerSoapCo.

This portable Altoids iPhone amp and speaker from ampoids is such a cool gift for music lovers. It’s small, so it’s easy to carry around in a pocket or purse!

This cat wool beanie and kitten gloves set from talkingloves is a great gift to keep your favorite girl nice and toasty while still looking adorable.

This library card phone case from CaribouCreekCases is special gift for the girl who loves to read or even the girl who loves things with a vintage touch.

*This post includes Etsy Affiliate links

If you are not a master cookie decorator, but you still love the idea of baking your own beautiful sugar cookies, then we have the perfect recipe for you! Not only do these cookies taste delish, decorating them is a cinch.  These cookies would be perfect for a cookie swap, or as favors if you are having a winter wedding or bridal shower.

To make these cookies you will need:

1/2 cup of butter (salted)

1/2 cup of margarine

1 cup of sugar

1 egg

1 tsp. vanilla extract

2 1/4 cups all purpose flour

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

Royal Icing:

1 cup confectioner’s sugar

2 teaspoons milk

2 teaspoons light corn syrup

1/4 teaspoon almond extract

You will also need:

Silver dragées for decorating cookies (if you are concerned about their safety, substitute non-metallic dragées)

How to Make Sugar Cookies:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Add sugar, butter and margarine to a large bowl.

Beat until fluffy.

Add egg and vanilla to mixture. Mix well.

Combine flour, baking powder and baking soda in a separate bowl. Gradually add to creamed mixture.

Hand stir using a wooden spoon.

Lay out pieces of waxed paper. Sprinkle flour on the waxed paper and on your rolling pin. Roll dough to 1/4 inch thick.

Use cookie cutters to cut out desired shapes.

Place cookies on baking sheet.

Bake for 17-18 minutes.

To make Royal Icing, stir together confectioners’ sugar and milk in a small bowl until smooth.

Add corn syrup and almond extract and beat until icing is smooth and glossy.

Put icing into a piping bag (a Ziploc will also work), and pipe three horizontal lines on the trees.

Add dragées to the icing portion of your cookie.

Let icing set. Voila!!

High school sweethearts Gillian and Brian, eventually went their separate ways, but were reunited after 10 years apart when Gillian moved back to their hometown, post-divorce, with her three kids. After falling in love all over again, the couple chose to wed at the bride’s mother’s Victorian home where they had shared so many wonderful memories as teenagers. With their kids as their wedding party, the bride and groom officiated their own ceremony in one of the most truly intimate weddings we have ever seen. Here’s how Gillian describes their day:

We always say, just you and I-until the sun burns out. When we found out we could officiate our own ceremony in the state of CO, we were so pleased. It made it so personal, so “us.” When the ceremony began, the kids and I walked down the stairs to a Smashing Pumpkins song that meant so much to me 14 years ago when we dated as teenagers. It was truly magical. I will never forget that feeling.

We have a small black book that we write each other notes in every morning. The last pages in our first book of notes is our ceremony and vows. It’s not poetic, not perfect. It’s just us. I still dream of that night.

Special thanks to Malissa Ahlin for capturing Gillian and Brian’s intimate wedding day so beautifully and sharing it with us.

Gillian, 33 & Brian, 35

Pueblo, Colorado

Wedding Date: February 27th, 2015

Number of Guests: Less than 20

Wedding Cost: Less than $1,000

Wedding Ceremony Location: At the Bride’s mother’s Victorian home.

Wedding Reception Location: There was no reception on the day of the ceremony, but everyone went to dinner afterward at a restaurant called The Shamrock. The couple did have a very casual celebration a few months later where extended family and friends were invited to celebrate the new couple.

Why did you have an intimate wedding?

We always wanted a small wedding. I didn’t feel like I would be as comfortable and honest around a huge group of people.

What are some of challenges that you faced planning an intimate wedding?

There were no challenges.

Was it difficult to pare down the guest list?

No, we already knew we only wanted immediate family to attend.

Did you have any ‘issues’ with the small guest list from friends and family? If so, how did you address them?

Thankfully we had no issues!

What were the highlights of the ceremony?

The children being involved with the ceremony and being surrounded by my loved ones were the highlights – everything about it was a dream.

What were the highlights of the reception?

Being around everyone I loved.

What was the best thing about having an intimate wedding?

It was so personal, so “us”, and it was so real. Everyone I loved had the chance to be involved in a small, but very meaningful way. It reflected exactly who we are as a couple and we felt completely like ourselves.

What advice do you have for couples who are considering an intimate wedding?

I think having an intimate wedding was beautiful, stress-free, and real. The kids loved it, our families felt so close, and it was simply just Brian and I. I think that’s what it should be about anyway!

Vendors:

Photography: Malissa Ahlin Photography 

After falling in love with the city of New Orleans on a pre-wedding birthday trip, Sandra and Larry decide to scrap their original plans for a larger hometown wedding, in favor of a smaller destination wedding in Nola instead. With a small group of close friends by their side – and a tv commercial shooting across from their ceremony site – the couple embraced all that New Orleans has to offer on their wedding day, exchanging their vows in Jackson Square and celebrating their nuptials French Quarter style at the Original French Market Restaurant.

Special thanks to Eddie of Marroquin Photography for capturing all the excitement of Sandra and Larry’s big day and sharing the photos with us today!

Sandra, 31 & Larry, 34

New Orleans, LA

Wedding Date: October 4, 2014

Number of Guests: 22

Wedding Cost: $8,000

Wedding Ceremony Location: Jackson Square by Helene Goldstein

Wedding Reception Location: the Original French Market Restaurant

Why did you have an intimate wedding?

With this being our second wedding each, we wanted it to be more of an intimate occasion with our closest friends and family. We had originally started planning a larger wedding back home outside of Chicago, but changed our minds after visiting New Orleans. We were visiting New Orleans for the first time on my birthday before the wedding and Larry made the joke – but was also serious – that we should cancel the entire wedding at home and have a smaller wedding in Nola. I agreed and after we got home we decided that would be the plan. We fell in love with Nola and wanted to make it a special part of our lives.

What are some of the challenges that you faced planning an intimate wedding?

We had a couple people cancel on us while we were already in Nola, but it did not affect us too much. The smaller guest list allowed us to do more activities all together instead of in separate groups.

Was it difficult to pare down the guest list?

We didn’t really have a problem paring down the list. We have a lot of great friends, but we knew we wanted this to be small, so we went into the planning process knowing there wouldn’t be a lot of invitations going out. Knowing it’s going to be small, however, means that if someone can’t come, it’s going to be even smaller. And that was okay. It meant we were truly able to enjoy every person in attendance and the group could stay together as opposed to having to break up into smaller groups for everything.

What were the highlights of the ceremony? 

The ceremony was beautiful, but it was outside in Jackson Square so we knew going into it that it might not be perfect. Erin paid various musicians outside the square to stop playing for the 15-30min during the ceremony, but even she couldn’t stop the commercial that was being filmed on the other side of the square. It’s just a part of New Orleans though, so we were completely okay with it! It made us smile.

What were the highlights of the reception?

Highlights of the reception for me would be the space that we had it in. I booked everything online and had only ever been in the bottom area of the Original French Market, but it was so beautiful and we had full use of the balcony, which was great.

What was the best thing about having an intimate wedding?

The best thing was how much we were able to enjoy ourselves. It was a little stressful leading up to the wedding day, but it was still definitely less stressful than having a larger wedding.

Also, having a day of wedding planner helped out greatly. Erin helped me find our photographer Eddie as well as the perfect bakery. We could not have had the perfect day that we did without having had such an amazing group working with us.

What advice do you have for couples who are considering an intimate wedding?

For couples having an intimate wedding I would say don’t be afraid of the smaller numbers. It’s your wedding day and you want to spend it with those people you are closest to. Our guests traveled a long way to celebrate with us, and if it had been bigger we may not have spent as much time with all of them. Don’t be afraid that you are going to hurt people’s feelings. If they know you, they’ll understand exactly what you want and wish you well when it is over.

Vendors:

Ceremony Venue: Jackson Square

Reception Venue: the Original French Market Restaurant

Coordination: It’s Your Time Events, New Orleans Wedding Planning & Design

Photography: Eddie of Marroquin Photography

Cake: Bittersweet Confections

Whether you are celebrating your first holiday season as Mr. and Mrs., or will soon be getting engaged – you’ll want to find (or make!!) the perfect gift for your sweetie. If you aren’t going the handmade route (which we happen to think is the most charming), you are faced with the dilemma: what should you get for him? We’ve rounded up 12 Etsy gift ideas that will be sure to make your guy happy! (These also make fabulous groomsmen gifts!)

A durable Dopp kit like this whiskey leather Dopp kit with initials from FelixStreetStudio is a gift he can keep and use for years. This kit also includes the option of adding a little personal message embroidered on the inside so he can always be reminded of you when he travels.

Is your guy always trying to capture the perfect shot? Does his camera seem to be extension of his arm? Does it look heavy? Well for the shutterbug in your life we suggest this tan and white Herringbone DSLR camera strap from TheSweetStrap.

A unique gift idea for the beer lover is this reclaimed wood beer caddy with bottle opener from EcoDecoMontreal. This Eco friendly gift has a rustic look and is a definite conversation starter.

Another gift idea for the beer connoisseur that takes it to the next level is this custom engraved bottle opener from KillorglinCreations. This opener is heavy duty, funny, but sophisticated.

If you’re a couple who loves to travel and wants to see the world in style, why not give him this monogrammed weekender bag from SouthernTradeMark?

An ultra personal gift he can keep close to him is this leather bracelet with personalized latitude and longitude coordinates engraving from THEmodernBAZAAR. With this gift you can commemorate any special moment in your life.

If you live in a place where it is barbecue season all year around or you just can’t wait till the summer to fire up the grill, this spice rub variety grilling kit from SpiceExpressions is perfect.

This rustic, leather, personalized wallet from ShopTribute66 takes a classic gift idea and gives it an unique edge with engraved initials and vintage look.

The guy on the go needs a reliable and sturdy place for everything he may need for the day. This personalized genuine leather men’s briefcase from LuxuryLeatherLondon has two main compartments that are big enough to hold a Macbook and is oh so stylish!

An iPad is an essential item in the techie guys day. This rustic, genuine leather, cross body, iPad carrying bag from 74streetbags will keep his beloved gadget safe while keeping him stylish.

Your bearded manly man should have an equally manly shaving kit like this beer soap beard kit from CraftsmanSoapCo! The set includes brown ale soap, hops flower beard oil and is vegan and palm free making it a smart Eco friendly gift as well.

Does your rock and roll guy love leather? (Of course he does!) If so, he’ll love this genuine leather cuff from LeatherBraceletStore. This cuff looks stylish and comfortable and is made to fit his measurements.

*This post includes Etsy Affiliate links