• Gifts to the bride that come from the heartA pair of wedding rings on top of exquisite gift boxes. image by weim from Fotolia.com
  
  Wandering through a department store and trying to decipher the mile-long registry printout that the sales associate hands to you may not seem like an ideal way to choose a thoughtful gift for the bride you are shopping for. If choosing something sentimental is more your style, it will be appreciated more than any of the three toasters she is sure to receive at her shower.
  
  

Hope Chest

• The gift of hope that smells just like fresh cedar!--a perfect way for a bride to keep safe her preserved wedding gown or other special belongings for years to come. Hope chests can be any style and wood finish, so don't forget to keep in mind the bride's personality while shopping. Be sure to choose a chest made from aromatic Eastern red cedar since this is the only wood scientifically proven to repel pests such as roaches, silverfish and moths.
  
  

Quilt

• Seemingly as old as time, quilting began in ancient Egypt and has traversed all over the globe to Europe and America. It has evolved from clothing making to a way to immerse yourself in a piece of history.
  
  For all those cold nights that the newlyweds are sure to spend snuggled up close, help keep them warm with a quilt. If you are not skilled enough with a needle and thread to make one yourself, then try websites that feature handmade goods or go to any department store.
  
  

Dutch Oven

• The bride can stay in his heart with cooking.Slow cooked lamb shanks image by JustRodney from Fotolia.com
  
  A Dutch oven is a heavy-duty, multi-use pot essential to any bride's collection of cooking tools. Since every woman knows that the way to her man's heart is through his stomach, why not help the bride with the gift of slow cooking excellence. Help fill her kitchen with mouth-watering aromas and so-tender-it-falls-off-the-bone meats. For a more personal touch, include your own favorite family recipe inside the card.
  
  

Ring Holder

• Promote safe keeping of her cherished wedding band from the dreaded kitchen sink. Ranging in styles and price, an elegant choice would be a simple piece of crystal to accent her new sparkling accessories.
  
  

Family Tree

• When two become one.family tree image by Judy Ben Joud from Fotolia.com
  
  As the two become one, help them mesh their family histories with a genealogy tree. With family tree websites popping up all over the place, an annual membership is a nice option. You could also consider purchasing a family tree chart kit (think scrapbooking but for family trees) online or in a craft store. Either selection will enable the bride and groom to swap stories about relatives, and then chart the progress of their history as their family grows.