Personalization: The all-occasion gift that truly touches the heart

(ARA) - Finding a gift that really touches the heart is the great challenge of all gift giving, whether the token is for the holidays, a birthday, wedding or other special occasion. A personalized gift is the perfect expression of caring, commitment or gratitude.

Personalizing gifts doesn't have to be difficult, says gift expert Raymond Miller of My Wedding Reception Ideas.com. "Turning an OK gift into something truly special can be as simple as adding a name or monogram to the gift," Miller says. "And these days, it's possible to personalize virtually everything, far more than the towels and bathrobes that were once most associated with the concept of monogramming. It's a cost-effective, thoughtful way to give a very personal gift."

You can personalize a gift in several ways:

* Engraving for glass and metallic gifts, like beer mugs, coffee cups, money clips, etc.

* Debossing for leather gifts such as wallets, clutches and luggage

* Embroidering for fabrics like linens, towels, totes and cosmetic bags

Miller offers some advice on how, when and for whom a personalized gift is appropriate:

Holidays

For many people, gift giving is rarely as stressful as it is during the holidays. Faced with a long list of people to shop for, it's easy to feel overwhelmed and at a loss for gift ideas. Opting for personalized holiday gifts can make the task easier. A simple gift, such as a holiday ornament or mug - the kind of item you might give to an acquaintance or office friend - becomes a unique offering when you add the person's name. And personalization can add an air of sophistication to more individualized gifts, such as a humidor or wine stopper and pourer set.

Weddings

Finding perfect bridesmaid gifts can be a challenge, especially for brides who have a large wedding party and multiple attendants to buy for. Most brides want to give gifts that speak to the individuals who helped make her big day so special. Choosing a single elegant bridesmaid gift, such as a tote bag or cosmetic travel bag, and adding personalization is a great way to make the gift unique and memorable. The concept works for gifts for groomsmen as well. Traditional groomsmen gifts such as flasks and beer steins can all be personalized with a groomsman's name or initials. Personalization also adds a layer of sophistication to elegant gifts like cufflinks and business card holders.

Family events

Whether it's a reunion, graduation, birthday party, anniversary or other family celebration, what better way to remind family members of their common bonds than with a personalized gift? Adding the family's last name, monogram or even a favorite saying to a carefully selected gift can elevate a lovely memento to the status of treasured keepsake.

"Personalized gifts never go out of style, and they're touching, welcome gifts that are appropriate for a wide variety of occasions," Miller says. "Although we're primarily known as a wedding reception website, many of our customers tell us they come to us for personalized gifts for many other occasions in their lives, from birthdays to bar or bat mitzvahs, anniversaries to graduations." For more personalized gift ideas, visit My Wedding Reception Ideas.com.