Buy Bridal Gifts On A Budget In South Florida

A wedding is already a conventional event and guests and friends are not always willing to stick within the box and select from the usual list in the department store. A gift goes miles when it's thought about and done with the heart instead of just a price. We browsed around town to discover hidden gems to find presents that will stimulate your imagination instead of deplete your wallet.

ETC Miami

1628 Jefferson Ave.
Miami Beach, FL 33139
(305) 673-4382
www.etcmiami.com

As an avid traveler and passionate art collector, Monica's personality transpires in every element sold in the boutique. From the silver, horn and wood pieces of her motherland Argentina, to the most exquisite linens from Milan, the objects found in this boutique are original and one-of-a-kind products of various centuries and cultures. For a couple that appreciates international style and eclectic flavors, ETC is the place to hit for an out-of-the-ordinary gift.

Babalu Miami

1111 Lincoln Road
Miami Beach, FL 33139
(305) 538-0777
www.babalumiami.com

Babalu Miami is the smallest gift store in one of the most beaten paths and looks like a street stand in front of the elevator that takes you up to the parking lot/the Alchemist (the store on the 5th floor of the parking lot). Once your curiosity is killed, it is unlikely you'll be leaving Babalu without a gift. Expect the unexpected, which comes in handy when buying an original wedding gift. The display ranges from candles to sunglasses, a varied selection of books to Moleskine notebooks and exotic jewelry to Fornasetti plates. Babalu's personnel is friendly and used to adapting to international clients and their requests.

The Scarlet Letter

9473 Harding Ave.
Surfside, FL 33154
(305) 867-7366
www.thescarletletterstore.com

The Scarlet Letter is one of the most coveted places in town to go to for invitations. While it's a precious boutique for paper goods, this stationary concept is well rounded with gifts, objects and items that can inspire you when it comes to buying a present for a new home. Stop in and let your imagination run wild with possibilities.

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Friends With You

3930 N.E. 2nd Ave.
Miami, FL 33137
(305) 722-8440
www.friendswithyou.com

Friends With You provides Miami with colorful, affordable art. The showroom sells posters, desk accessories and the most delightful collectable toys that are hard to resist. For the kid that resides in each one of us, Malfi and Super Malfi are the two most popular characters that make an unexpected gift for a couple-to-be. When in the store, it will be almost impossible to walk away without something for yourself too.

Plant The Future

2511 N.W. 2nd Ave.
Miami, FL 33127
(305) 571-7177
www.plantthefuture.com

What's a wedding if not the beginning of a future life? Imagine walking into a store where you can build the future, one plant at a time. Plant the Future is not the usual greenery or the usual flower shop, it's more of an art gallery where plants are the stars. Choosing from live plants (no cut flowers are offered), you can build a terrarium, pick a combination of cacti, have a desert garden designed or get an orchid arrangement prepared for the couple as a symbolic gift of life.

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Francesca Belluomini is a freelance writer covering all things Miami. Her work can be found on Examiner.com.