Do you have a friend’s birthday coming up soon, and have no idea of where to start in terms of a gift? At ‘She Approved’ we are here to make choosing a memorable gift that little bit easier! Deciding a gift for one of your besties, especially when you have known them for a considerable amount of time can be difficult. Two of my best friends I have known for 14+ years, so you can imagine avoiding the repetition of birthday gifts has been an annual challenge.
Over the years, I have earned myself the title of being an amazing gift giver. So much so that my friends regularly say that buying presents for me is always nerve-wracking. I have always loved gift giving, the brainstorming of what someone would like to the anticipation leading up to their birthday and/or special occasion. Let’s talk about 4 unbeatable presents that have gone down a treat!
An Evening at the Theatre
Let’s talk musicals, now as much I believe this is an amazing way to surprise your best friend on their birthday… please make sure that they actually like musical theatre! I cannot stress that enough. One of the pros of gift giving for me has been showcasing that I listen to or know my friends well enough to know what they want. So, if your friend isn’t a musical theatre buff, this may not be the best place to start. However, if they do love a cheeky evening in the West End then it is definitely a foot in the right direction.
Hamilton at Victoria Palace Theatre
Hamilton, a musical that my best friend watched religiously on Disney+ for months on end. We always said that we would eventually buy tickets to go and see it live in London, but with other commitments that was not looking anytime soon.
So, with her birthday coming around I immediately thought of this as a present. My friend has always expressed that if she ever watched it live she wanted to be as close to the stage as possible. In her words, ‘I want to see the sweat dripping down their faces’. Therefore, if I was ever going to surprise her with tickets I had to make sure to get seats that would allow her to see every detail whilst still staying within budget. However, one thing about me when it comes to gift-giving, a budget is the last thing on my mind.
Regardless, I still managed to find surprisingly amazing seats that allowed us to see every facial expression and ounce of perspiration. Whilst still seeing the overall production and choreography on the stage. Click here to read more about the tips and tricks I discovered on how to find the perfect seats at checkout!
Needless to say, she loved the surprise and the show, despite us both being accustomed to the original American Broadway cast and soundtrack. The show did not disappoint, and we already said we would 100% go back again.
You can book your visit to watch Hamilton here!
SIX at Vaudeville Theatre
On my birthday, I was surprised with tickets to SIX at the Vaudeville Theatre in Covent Garden. Growing up I was a self-proclaimed history buff, especially when it came to the Tudor era and Henry VIII. Hence, my best friend surprised me with tickets to this British musical comedy. A modern retelling of the lives of the six wives of Henry VIII, presented in the form of a pop concert. Despite, there being mixed reviews about the format of the musical being essentially a pop concert, I thoroughly enjoyed myself and it was a nice way to end my birthday.
You can book your visit to watch SIX here!
Professional Photographer – a gift of memories
As I previously touched on, thinking of new gifting ideas for friends can be challenging. Especially when you have known someone for a long time. One thing that will always be a good gift is not only making but also capturing memories. With my best friend’s 23rd birthday coming up at the time, I wanted to give her a gift that she would cherish and look back on.
A group of her cousins and friends (including myself), had come together to plan a surprise party for my friend. With the planning of the party, and seeing the vision of what the end result could be… I wanted to give her the opportunity to capture the memory. Therefore, I started to look into photographers. Each photographer’s rate is different, some charge overall by the day. Whereas, others go by an hourly rate or a fixed rate for x amount of hours. All in all, the photos turned out great, and despite my friend not liking photos being taken of her, she loved the photos.
The Gift of Food
Personally, I love the idea of taking a friend to a restaurant for their birthday. Whether it be for brunch or dinner in the evening. You get to spend intimate, quality time with your friend which in adulthood can happen few and far between. Moreover, you end the evening with a satisfied belly, and therapy that only your best friends can give.
Not to mention, ‘the gift of food’ and quality time is a present that is easily accessible and if you know what kind of cuisine your friend likes can be very straightforward.
The Gift that keeps on Giving
We’ve spoken about hiring a professional photographer, but hiring a professional can not only be expensive but requires prior planning. For the times where you want a more DIY approach, that requires less time and planning I would always recommend a Polaroid camera. Especially, if you have a friend who loves to capture memories and photos. I gifted my best friend a Fujifilm Instax Mini Film for her birthday, an easy-to-use instant camera, which can be used again and again.
Since being gifted the Instax Mini Film, she has brought it out for several special occasions and moments to capture memories. From my birthday to days out to weddings, this robust and portable gift always makes an appearance.
However, it’s important to mention that the camera doesn’t come with the polaroid film included. So depending on the event/demand, it’s worth buying the appropriate amount of film:
- Fujifilm Instax Mini Instant Film (Pack of 20)
- Fujifilm Instax Mini Instant Film Bundle Pack (40 Shots)
- Fujifilm Instax Mini Instant Camera (White Clay) with 40 shot Film Pack
There you have it, just some ideas that you can gift to your best friend. Come back for more gifting ideas at ‘She Approved’!
