Famous American chef, James Beard, was noted as saying “Food is our common ground, a universal experience.” In a world where we often find ourselves apart from our community — whether due to remote work, pandemics, or simply living far from family — how do we continue to celebrate the power of food, our common ground? Enter the collaborative recipe book. In the past, sharing our favorite dishes meant coming together in the kitchen to cook, swap recipes, and gather around the table. While being together in one place is not always an option, collaborative recipe books allow us to still share food, recipes, and community — even from afar. From corporate community-building to collecting family memories, here are our best tips for creating a collaborative recipe book with a group of colleagues, family, or friends.
What is a Collaborative Recipe Cookbook?
A collaborative recipe cookbook is a way to gather and publish a diverse collection of recipes from any group of people. Collaborative cookbooks can be built simply by one person collecting and compiling all of the recipes into one place — say a spreadsheet or document that is easily printed. Other ways to create a collaborative recipe book include utilizing virtual tools built specifically for the task — which we’ll touch more on in a moment. No matter how you choose to collect and publish your recipe book, the goal is collaboration: gathering a diverse selection of recipes from among your family, your book club, your home group, your child’s graduating class, or your company. The experience of sharing a personal recipe, and receiving a finished cookbook that allows you to try new recipes from friends and colleagues, is what makes a these cookbooks so unique.
Good Reasons to Start a Collaborative Cookbook
Collaborative cookbooks come in all shapes and sizes, and each serves a unique purpose. For many people, creating a collaborative recipe book was a great way to stay connected during the COVID-19 pandemic. In place of family dinners, they were able to cook together over video calls and share tips and tricks.For others, it is a way to preserve family recipes passed down over the years. Collecting all of the family recipes and handing out cookbooks at a family reunion is a fun and memorable way to keep family traditions alive. Need a creative way to bring together your team of remote colleagues? One of our favorite uses for the collaborative recipe book is as a corporate team-building activity. Large remote companies use tools such as Newlywords to gather recipes into a collaborative recipe book that gets printed and shipped to each employee. Individuals can then experience the joy of trying each other’s recipes in their kitchens. Not only is this great for team building, but also a fantastic way to foster inclusion and belonging in the workplace. A cookbook allows us to share cultural connections — and love for food — with a diverse and geographically distributed group of colleagues. Just think about all the people who are working from home these days! A cookbook created by employees allows you to create a space where anyone and everyone can share a part of who they are with their team or community.
How to Create a Collaborative Recipe Book With Any Group
Digital tools are everywhere, which means creating a recipe book with a group — especially a group that is spread out across the country or the world — is easier than ever. Instead of chasing down recipes via email or over the phone, online platforms let you contact, collect, and design your cookbook in one place. The first step is to decide who will participate in your collaborative cookbook. Friends? Colleagues? An entire school? The options are endless. Once you have decided who will participate in your collaborative cookbook, you’re just five simple steps away from creating the perfect collection of recipes.
Choose a Platform
The next step is to choose the right platform for your recipe book. Basic tools such as Google Sheets or a Word document provide one way to organize your recipes. The final result won’t look or feel neat, but both are options for collecting everything in one place. More advanced options include designing your own cookbook in a program such as Canva or InDesign. This is a great option for those who have plenty of time to invest in their collaborative cookbook, who only wish to publish a virtual version, and who love to design page layouts. Another fantastic option is finding a platform such as Newlywords that specializes in book templates, design, and collaboration. Instead of chasing down the recipes and designing each page yourself, Newlywords tools allow you to upload recipe content and photos, invite collaborators, and edit content all in one place. Digital templates make it easy to create a recipe book that looks like a professional cookbook. You can share ingredients, step-by-step processes, notes, and even photos of the food, or of you and your family cooking together. Collaboration tools mean everyone can participate in the creation of a virtual recipe book and enjoy both a digital PDF and printed book to share with friends and family.
Create a Structure
Once you’ve chosen the right platform for your cookbook, create a structure for organizing the recipes. Many cookbooks, for example, are organized based on specific meals — breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, and desserts. Deciding on a cookbook structure first will make the collaborative experience easier and more fun.If you’re using a spreadsheet to collect recipes, add a new tab for each type of recipe. Otherwise, create shared Google folders for each recipe type to keep things organized. Many collaborative platforms allow you to create folders or other systems, so contributors can easily add recipes in the right place. If working with an entire company of collaborators, we highly recommend sticking with a digital platform that already has the collaborative tools built in.
Start Adding Your Favorite Recipes
Now you can add all your favorite recipes to the book. You can do this by adding them to the spreadsheet, uploading a document of each recipe to a folder, or adding your recipes to your Newlywords template. As the first to add your recipes to the collaborative recipe book, you’ll make it easier for your friends or colleagues to see how to structure their contributions. With platforms such as Newlywords, it’s easy to format your recipes and photos to look like a professional cookbook. Adding your recipes and photos will inspire your group to visualize the final product and decide how to contribute.
Share The Link With The Group for Them to Participate
Once you’ve added all your recipes, invite your group or colleagues to share theirs! You can do this by sharing a link to your spreadsheet, using Google tools that allow them to add documents to folders, or emailing the link through the Newlywords platform. Be sure to provide any helpful instructions, such as the planned structure for the cookbook or how to add, organize, and design content. Then watch as your group gets to work and your collaborative recipe book comes to life.
Publish Your Book
When all the recipes are in place, it’s time to publish and share your cookbook. “Publishing” can be done in several ways. For spreadsheets, you can simply share the link with others. If you designed your own layout using tools such as Canva and InDesign, save and download your work as a shareable PDF. Collaboration platforms provide ways to download a digital cookbook, although that usually requires a fee. Newlywords, however, offers free publication of e-books (PDFs). Not only that, but if you absolutely love your virtual cookbook, you can easily upgrade to a printed version. Turn your beautiful, one-of-a-kind collaborative recipe collection into a hardcover, professional-quality cookbook.
Final Thoughts
While we can’t always be at the table to share food with our loved ones, friends, or colleagues, virtual tools allow us to still make food a shared experience and common ground. Creating a collaborative recipe book opens the door for us to come together and not just share our favorite foods, but also a part of who we are. These cookbooks are more than just a way to collect your favorite recipes in one organized space. It’s also how we share and preserve cultural and family traditions for other generations, groups, and families to enjoy.
“Your leadership has brought this organization to new heights.”
“Thank you for being my rock.”
If you know someone who melts when they hear these words, chances are their love language is words of affirmation. They thrive on encouragement and verbal support! But what happens when you need to find a gift for someone who simply loves…words? Understanding how someone receives love is actually one of the best clues to finding them the perfect gift. Here’s everything you need to know about love languages and how to find the best words of affirmation gift for every occasion.
What You Need to Know about Words of Affirmation
If you’ve never heard of a “love language” then we’ve got you covered. In his 1992 book titled The 5 Love Languages, author Gary Chapman introduced the premise that everyone gives and receives love in different ways. These preferences, or love languages, are summed up in five key categories:
1. Words of Affirmation
2. Acts of Service
3. Gifts
4. Quality Time
5. Physical Touch
We experience love through all five love languages, but the idea is that one stands above the rest as our primary love language. Do you love surprising your co-workers with treats each morning (Gifts)? Do you feel the warm fuzzies when your partner unloads the dishwasher (Acts of Service)?
While his original work was geared toward couples, the concept of the five love languages has expanded over the past 30 years to encompass every type of relationship. By understanding your own love language, and the preferences of other people in your life, you learn how to better receive, but also express love and value.
Someone whose love language is words of affirmation loves to both share and receive encouragement using affirming words. Hearing “I love you” is like food for their soul. Finding a note on their desk telling them to “Have a great day!” or “You are appreciated!” means the world.
Not sure who in your life receives love through words of affirmation? Consider the way those around you share their appreciation. Does someone at work leave encouraging notes on your desk? Do you have a friend who often texts to remind you they value your friendship? Chances are, their love language is words of affirmation!
Once you are able to identify a person’s love language (and your own!) it becomes much easier to find the perfect gift. Whether you need a gift for a colleague, something for your best friend or spouse, or a way to say “thank you” to a volunteer, knowing their love language sets you up for gift-giving success.
20 Best Words of Affirmation Gifts for Every Occasion
Now that you can identify who in your life has the words of affirmation love language, it’s time to find the right gift for that special occasion. Birthdays, retirements, golden and silver anniversaries for parents, graduations, achievement awards at work or just because — there’s something out there for everyone. Let’s get started.
Affirmation Jewelry
Affirmation jewelry is a great way to give the gift of loving words and a tangible token of your appreciation. Some examples include a bracelet engraved with your sister’s favorite quote. A necklace for a colleague that encourages them toward their goals. From custom-engraved pieces to ones that use morse code or a poem, there are so many options when it comes to the combined gift of jewelry and words of affirmation.
A Collaborative Memory Book
Sometimes the best words are the ones that come straight from the heart. That’s the beauty of creating a custom memory book. A memory book allows you to share your own personal photos, thoughts, stories, and encouragement all in one place. Take it up a notch by creating a collaborative memory book where an entire group (family, coworkers, friends, small group members) work together to combine their favorite memories into the perfect words of affirmation gift. Platforms like Newlywords make it easy to share access with others, upload photos, write personal messages, print, and ship a unique memory book.
“Love Letter” Blanket
There’s nothing quite so cozy as words of affirmation on a personalized blanket! The “love letter” blanket makes a great gift for teacher appreciation week, Father’s Day, Mother’s Day, or just a fun way to share some love with a friend. The best part is, you can handwrite the note you want to be printed on your blanket, making it extra personal.
Group Encouragement
For those who love words of affirmation, sometimes the best gift isn’t a gift at all. It’s words! If you need a way to share some group love with a coworker, boss, pastor, or teammate — consider working together to speak words of encouragement throughout a specific day or week. For example, assign each team member a specific day of the week to either text, call, or share words of affirmation with the recipient in person. In this way, the gift of words will be showered on that person over and over throughout the week, boosting them with love and appreciation.
A Handmade Card
Sometimes it is the simplest gift that speaks volumes when it comes to the words of affirmation love language. A handmade card with a personal message is exactly the type of present that makes your word-loving friends feel special. This applies to everyone in your life who loves to hear encouragement and affirmation. Consider skipping the store-bought card and writing your own.
Why You Make Me Smile Journal
Don’t worry, we understand that writing from the heart can be difficult. For those who struggle with words but want to find the right way to share affirmation, this is the perfect compromise! The Why You Make Me Smile Journal offers prompts and fill-in-the-blanks to help you create a personalized journal for someone special. The instructions are pretty simple: think of a person who makes you smile, fill in the blanks, give to the person who makes you smile, and grab a tissue.
An Engraved Watch
A watch is a popular retirement gift or a great way to celebrate Dad’s milestone birthday. For those with the words of affirmation love language, you can turn a watch into a treasured memory by adding a special engraved word, message, or quote.
Always Remember Keychain
Sometimes the right words just seem to escape you. If that’s the case, this might be the perfect gift. This keychain comes engraved with an encouraging statement to “Always remember, you are braver than you believe…” It’s a great way to encourage a grad, a coworker, or a friend who just needs that reminder that they have what it takes.
I Wrote a Book About You Series
This is another great fill-in-the-blanks option when you need a little help finding the right words. This book series includes options for friends, parents, and romantic relationships. The book prompts you to write things that are special about the recipient, providing an extra special dose of affirmation.
Daily Affirmation Cards
Sometimes we need to give ourselves a little bit of affirmation! These cards are daily reminders that we are loved and valued. They make a great gift for a friend or coworker, especially one who you know could use a boost of self-motivation now and again.
Personalized Journal
It stands to reason that often those with words of affirmation love language also love to write. If that’s the case for your recipient, consider gifting them a personalized journal. Custom notebooks and journals vary in what they offer, but many options allow you to include a special quote, message, photo, and name. You can give the gift of affirmation, while also giving your recipient a place to jot down their own thoughts and words.
Kudoboard Group Card
Need a great idea for a group gift? Kudoboard is a way to make a collaborative gift card for any situation: Mom and Dad’s 50th anniversary, a milestone birthday, retirement, and more. Your words of affirmation recipient will love receiving a digital “card” covered in photos, messages, and GIFs. Not familiar with Kudoboard? Check out these 8 alternatives. Popular collaborative greeting card options include GroupGreeting, which gives the appearance of an actual greeting card, and Recocards, a mostly free alternative.
Positive Affirmation Wall Art
Does your neighbor have a favorite quote? Maybe your newly married friend spent hours writing his vows? Now you can take those special words and turn them into wall art. From wedding vows to poems or favorite sayings, all it takes is the right words to make a great gift.
Inspirational Coffee Mug
Sometimes all it takes is a simple mug to provide a word of affirmation! Companies like Zazzle let you create a personalized mug with a quote, phrase, or word that’s perfect for your recipient. Or if you aren’t feeling entirely creative, they also offer premade inspirational mugs (here’s one of our personal favorites).
Motivational Planter
Do you know someone who loves words of affirmation and plants? Combine the best of both worlds with a motivational planter. These can range from sentimental to absolutely hilarious, depending on your recipient. While some come pre-potted with a plant, others are empty so you can find the perfect plant to go with the motivational quote.
A Handwritten Letter
For someone who thrives on words of affirmation, there’s really only one thing better than a handwritten note or letter: a handwritten letter sent through the mail. Hardly anyone uses snail mail anymore, which is all the more reason to consider writing a heartfelt message — for a loved one’s birthday, a milestone celebration, or a thank you — and sending it through the mail.
Affirmation Desk Calendar
Maybe it’s just us, but it seems like work is a really great place to provide encouragement. This is especially true if any of your coworkers have words of affirmation as their love language! Since they likely spend a fair amount of time at their desk, consider getting them an encouraging desk calendar. These come in all shapes and sizes and offer some great daily inspiration and wordy wisdom.
A Giving Key
The Giving Keys is a company that stamps keys with encouraging words. The keys are made into everything from necklaces and earrings to keychains. The idea is that you give someone a key with a word that is significant for their season of life. They are then encouraged to “pay it forward” by eventually giving their key to someone else who needs the word more than they do. This is a fantastic gift for your words of affirmation friend, coworker, or loved one. Not only will they feel cherished and known, but they will get the opportunity to do what they do best: share a word of encouragement with someone else.
Encouragement Jar
This is a great way to spread some love and encouragement around the office or workplace. And it doesn’t need to be a gift for only those with words of affirmation love language. We all need some encouragement now and then. Put a jar in a common area and give everyone 2-5 strips of paper. Each person should write a positive quote, words of encouragement, or a fun message on the papers. Place them in the jar and let everyone in the office grab an encouraging word when they need it. They can either read it and place it back in the jar, or keep it and replace it with a new word or quote. In this way, the jar keeps on giving. While everyone will love it, we promise your affirmation-loving colleagues will feel all kinds of special because of this simple jar.
Message Board
A fun way to share encouragement with anyone from your kids to your coworkers is using a simple whiteboard. Whether it’s hanging on a bedroom or office door, or outside a cubicle, the whiteboard is a great space to leave little notes of encouragement and appreciation. For a more personalized look, consider a custom message board.
Make Your Loved One Feel Special with the Gift of Words
The five love languages offer incredibly helpful language when it comes to understanding how we give and receive love. There may be times your words of affirmation friend also needs quality time or simply needs help around the home, but at the end of the day, they get the biggest boost of love from words. There are so many ways to shower someone with the encouragement they deserve, whether it’s a simple handwritten note or a collaborative card or memory book. If your loved one thrives on words, imagine them opening a book designed entirely for them — full of affirmation, memories, and messages of appreciation. A collaborative memory book that speaks directly to their heart. However you choose to show them your love, remember, at the end of the day, it’s the words of affirmation that speak louder than any other gift.
Hard work deserves to be celebrated! One of the best ways to celebrate retirement is with a party. But if party planning feels overwhelming, you’ve come to the right place. Sometimes all it takes is a quick guide and some inspiration to throw that perfect celebration. Honor your retiree with a bit of hoopla and fun by following these top tips on planning a retirement party.
Start With Your Budget
Every party starts with a budget. Determining how much you can (and should) spend on a retirement party helps make every other decision that much easier. Here are just a few things to consider when putting your budget in place:
Where the party will take place (venue) and associated costs
Food (formal or informal catering vs. potluck style)
Decorations
Invitations (digital, printed, mailing costs)
Games and activities
Entertainment
Equipment rental costs
Number of guests
Before diving into the finer details of your event, take a moment to decide who will help cover the event’s costs and how much everyone is willing to chip in. Once your final budget is in place, choosing that perfect venue and retirement cake will be a breeze.
Formal or Surprise?
The type of retirement party you plan to throw also influences your budget and party planning decisions. Does the guest of honor love big, vibrant celebrations? Are they introverted and avoid being the center of attention?
Who you’re celebrating, as well as the company and role they are retiring from, play an important role in the type of party you plan. The two main types of retirement parties are formal and surprise parties.
Surprise parties are great for those who simply love a good celebration (and a good surprise). If you aren’t sure what your guest of honor would like, check in with their loved ones and closest friends. Consider your company’s established traditions when throwing a retirement party for your colleague. Perhaps a formal luncheon at a local restaurant, a fancy dinner with close colleagues, or a midday office party are the favored methods of celebration.
Create a Guest List & Decide on The Mode of Invitation
Now you’re in the fun part of planning and throwing a retirement party! It’s time to create that guest list! The big decisions are made, and you can focus on the finer details.
Guests lists are influenced by the size and type of retirement party you are planning, but here are a few important people to consider, including:
Direct colleagues, employers, and work friends
Past colleagues and employers who have remained close friends
Spouse, family, and friends from outside of work
Retirement is a huge milestone; your guest of honor’s loved ones will undoubtedly want to be involved! For smaller, formal luncheons, it’s okay to simply include the retiree’s spouse and closest colleagues. Larger parties are an excellent opportunity to expand the guest list to include children, past bosses, and friends from outside of work or from past jobs.
Decide on Date & Venue
The time and venue of your retirement party set the tone for the celebration. Spend time considering the retiree’s likes and dislikes and discussing timing with their spouse and family.
It is considered good practice to host a retirement party on or just after the date of retirement. Too early, and the retiree’s final days at work can feel anticlimactic. Too late, and they will already be on to their next adventure (that long-awaited European vacation, perhaps?).
Choose a venue that matches the essence of your theme (if you have one) or simply the vibe of your party. Going for a casual summer retirement party? Consider an outdoor venue that allows your guests to enjoy summer games and sun. Aiming for a formal and intimate surprise party? Do some sleuthing with friends and family to find the guest of honor’s favorite fancy restaurant.
What About The Menu?
Let the venue, theme, and type of retirement party help direct your menu. If you’re throwing a travel-themed party, try matching the cuisine to some of the retiree’s favorite destinations.
Some venues (such as country clubs and restaurants) will cater the event to your specifications. For other venues, such as a private home or public park, consider either catering or cooking some of the retiree’s favorite foods. There is no right or wrong answer regarding a retirement party menu. Just be sure to end your menu with a slice of cake or a retirement-themed dessert!
Party Decoration
Part of the fun of planning a retirement party is picking a theme that fits the retiree. While not every party needs a theme, having one helps you decide on party decor.
Some fan favorite retirement party themes include travel (or a specific destination such as Paris or Hawaii), golf, books (for the bookworm, of course), garden tea party, or even a specific decade (disco, anyone?). A theme based on the retiree’s hobbies, goals, or career is a great place to start!
The theme will also influence whether you’re throwing a formal soiree or an informal shindig. Hawaiian BBQ probably won’t jive with your private dinner party, so keep that in mind.
Ultimately, have fun with it! Focus on decor that also works well with your theme and venue. Wine bottles labeled with “Party like there’s no work tomorrow!” add some humor to any retirement party theme. For the lighthearted retiree, funny banners, buttons, and decor with a fun tagline go a long way in making your retirement party a success.
Other Ideas Around a Retirement Party
You’re off to a great start planning the ultimate retirement party! Here are just a few ideas to incorporate during the big event.
Emphasize Speeches
Take some time during the retirement party to give speeches honoring the retiree. For larger parties, assign this task to a few significant people in advance, such as a boss, spouse, or close colleagues.
Walk Down The Memory Lane
Nothing says retirement quite like a walk down memory lane. Take time to share the significant moments and memories from the retiree’s career. This can be done with a photo slideshow, a video, or a collaborative memory book. Memory books are a great way to include the entire office and family members, giving everyone a chance to share their favorite memories.
A Creative Cake
Don’t forget the dessert! Every party needs a cake (or at least something sweet to celebrate). Consider getting a cake that matches your theme or the retiree’s career. Some ideas include a gavel for the retiring judge, a map of the retiree’s first travel destination, or even a simple cake with your favorite quote or office joke.
Have Games & Other Fun Activities
Games are a great way to keep your guests entertained while emphasizing your party theme. For the backyard BBQ, include some cornhole, bocce, or volleyball. For a more formal affair, icebreaker games that can be played around a dinner table are a great option. For larger events, consider music and dancing to keep your guests energized and having fun.
Build The Party Around the Hobbies of the Retiree
Hobbies are a great source of inspiration when planning a retirement party. If you aren’t familiar with your retiree’s hobbies, consider asking their spouse or family for some ideas. Hobbies such as golf, gardening, boating, and travel make great foundations for a retirement party.
Commemorate The Retiree
Be sure to schedule some time at the party to honor and commemorate the retiree. This can take the form of speeches or can be a separate time where a specific person takes a moment to share some of the retiree’s accomplishments. This is also a great time to give the retiree a group gift.
Give a Retirement Gift
Gifts are always a great idea! Common retirement gifts include engraved items (like pens, clocks, or frames), hobby-specific goods, gift cards, and books. A Newlywords memory book makes a unique gift for something a little more personal. It is both personal and custom, a gift the retiree can return to again and again to relive fond memories.
A Fun, Lighthearted Playlist
Did we mention music? There are plenty of options for adding some good sounds to your retirement party. Hire a DJ, hire a band, or simply put together a fun and memorable playlist to play in the background.
Set Up a Photo Booth
One way to capture all the fun memories from the day is to set up a photo booth. You can either rent a booth or make a DIY version. Whichever way you go, when you plan your retirement party, be sure to include plenty of themed props!
Consider Doing Some Charity
For the conscientious retiree, make their party unique with an element of charity. If your retiree volunteers time or money to a specific charity, consider including charity work in the party. This can take the form of hands-on volunteer time before the festivities. It can also take the form of an auction, game, or competition at the party that raises funds for that charity.
Send Your Colleague and Loved One Out The Right Way!
It’s party time! Now that you’re a pro at party planning, it’s time to plan the perfect retirement party. Every retiree deserves a celebration, and your party will surely be a big hit. Your colleague is sure to feel honored and celebrated when you send them into their next season of life with a personal, well-thought-out event.
Planning an upcoming party? Online invitations are a great choice for so many reasons. Whether you’re saving paper, lack physical addresses for your guests, or want to save time by getting it done online — or you’re simply keeping the budget down! — you may be wondering about popular sites like Evite vs Paperless Post vs Punchbowl vs Greenvelope. In this guide, we discuss the pros and cons of each so you can see what’s available and how to make the best choice for your upcoming event invitations.
Evite
Evite is considered the pioneer of electronic invitations. Founded in 1998, it is nearly a decade older than Paperless Post, Punchbowl, and Greenvelope. As one of the original online invitation platforms, it has also experienced the most change as new designs and technologies hit the market. Today, Evite is known for online invitation design and sending, as well as managing guest lists to plan social events. They offer several unique features that set them apart from other invitation platforms.
Advantages
All four companies compared in this article — Evite, Paperless Post, Punchbowl and Greenvelope — share some, if not many, features. Evite allows you to send invites via email, text, or social media, which all the other platforms also include. Evite includes customizable fonts, colors, and layout of your invitation; and the option to fully upload your own design if you don’t want to use a template — all great features to have when working on a digital invitation.
Evite offers different features based on three tiers: free, Premium, and Pro (all the advantages of Premium with the ability to send unlimited invites/events). We’ll discuss pricing later in this article, but it’s helpful to note that with Premium, you have control over your guest list with the ability to send automated reminders, see when guests have viewed your invite, and put guests into categories for better organization. You can send updates about the event, and when the party is over, you can send thank you notes for free (a feature also shared by other companies), and you can track RSVPs plus connect gift registries.
While many of Evite’s most advantageous features are shared by the other platforms, there are some things that make it a great option for your next event. What makes Evite unique starts with its longevity. As one of the longest standing digital invitation sites, most, if not all of your guests will recognize it or know how to access their invitation. Another thing that makes Evite different is that many of the invitation designs include animation, setting it apart from Punchbowl and Greenvelope. From fun, flashy birthday invitations to elegant animation on a baby shower invite, the website offers plenty of free and paid options. Evite is also the only platform to offer video as part of your invitation. You can upload up to 3 minutes of video to make your invitation extra special — and extra personal.
After the event, you can also add photos of the party to share with guests, a fun feature that is also a brilliant technique to keep customers coming back to Evite after the party is over. One other unique feature is the ability to add a co-host to your invitation, so you can share party planning, messaging, and tracking RSVPs with someone else.
Other fun add-ons for your Evite invitation include a poll for your guests, a “What to Bring” list, and even gift suggestions and donation options.
Drawbacks
While the Evite website is clean and simple to use, it can be difficult to find details about features and pricing options without first creating a login. This could be a tactic to get more people to join their platform, but it may be a deterrent for those simply exploring their options who aren’t ready to commit to one digital invitation platform. What we did discover is that Evite’s web pages for both their Premium options and Evite Pro are clearer and more detailed. However, finding these pages from their original site is a mission. The good news is, Evite offers and app, both in the App Store and Google Play, which mitigates some of these desktop website snafus.
The Premium and Pro pages of the site are easier to navigate (and the content is very clear), but there are multiple reviews from long-time users who are frustrated. Customer service can be slow to respond, emails cannot be edited, and multiple customers complain of “glitches” where evites don’t send and they have to pay again to resend.
Some customers also complain that evite emails end up in recipients’ spam folders. And while ads in the Evite emails can be misleading to guests, you can purchase ad-free invitations through the Premium and Evite Pro options, much like on other platforms.
Paperless Post
Paperless Post, founded in 2008, is one of the first electronic invitation platforms that sought to offer unique and elegant designs — and an experience akin to opening a real printed and mailed invitation. If you’ve ever been sent a Paperless Post, then you likely enjoyed the animation of opening the envelope to reveal the beautifully designed invitation inside. One of the differentiators from other online invitation platforms is their printed designs through Paper Source and their partnerships with major stationary designers and fashion icons.
Advantages
Like we shared above, Paperless Post has very similar advantages as the other platforms. You can send your invitations via email or text, create custom designs, track RSVPs, and message guests. But there are also a few features that are unique to Paperless Post.
In 2018, Paperless Post introduced Flyers, a tech-savvy alternative to their classic (read: traditional) invitations. Flyers are invitations that are much more customizable, include plenty of animations, and look great sent via text message. They’re an informal option for easy-going get togethers.
Also, while Paperless Post isn’t unique in offering text invites, their text options are superior to those of Evite and Punchbowl. They take up the entire phone screen to look like a real invitation over SMS (vs a plain text SMS with a link to the invite). This is great for the party organizer who loves the classic look of Paperless Post invitations but also loves the ease of text.
As we mentioned earlier, another fun feature of Paperless Post is that they also partner with iconic artists who are unique to their company, such as Kate Spade, Rifle Paper, Anthropologie, and Oscar de la Renta, among other designers. On top of cute designs, they offer tons of customizations to make each design your own. If you’re planning a wedding, the Paperless Post features are especially beneficial. You can send a digital Save the Date with a map, gift registry link, and even highlight local accommodation. Then, print the formal invitation and get the best of both the digital and classic invitation world.
Finally, both the Paperless Post website and the app are as well designed as their invitations — clean, beautiful, and easy to use. Their designs appeal to a specific style of event: a combination of elegant, fun, and modern, with a slightly traditional twist.
Drawbacks
One drawback that customers express regarding Paperless Post is the cost. Another downside to the service is that they use a coin system that skews the actual monetary cost — and is somewhat confusing, especially for the less tech-savvy crowd. The coin system can be cumbersome for some users. For example, each premium feature costs a certain number of coins per invitation. If your invitation requires 5 coins per guest and you have 20 guests, it will cost 100 coins (or $22).
To purchase a printed version of your invitations, you must go through Paper Source, which can also be a bit pricey. You can’t see the names of plus ones, which can make planning a bit difficult. On the free flyers, you must remove the extras and uncheck “premium” to make sure it’s free. Premium is the default, which can catch customers off guard. You can include video with the flyers, just not with the classic card invitations. And while Paperless Post allows you to gather information from guests (such as addresses), they don’t include the “potluck” or “what to bring” feature that is prominent with Evite and Punchbowl.
Punchbowl
Punchbowl was originally called MyPunchbowl and was a free site for end-to-end party planning. Started in 2007, it was created in the same era as Paperless Post and Greenvelope. Punchbowl grew to become the original provider of Disney characters for online invitations, and added more collaborations with iconic kid’s character companies like Nickelodeon, Sanrio, and many more.
Most recently, Punchbowl acquired Memento, a video recording and shared album platform where people can also make group videos and collaborate memories.
Advantages
Punchbowl sets itself apart as a great resource for family friendly gatherings and fun, casual events. Because it was once a standalone party planning site, Punchbowl is also a great resource for party ideas and favors.
Punchbowl, like Greenvelope, helps support causes focused on sustainability, so they’re well-liked by people who care about using electronic invitations as a means to support sustainability and climate change.
By far the thing that stands out the most about Punchbowl are their great options for kids’ parties and events. Fun characters such as Peppa Pig, Trolls, Spiderman, and Minions make planning a themed party incredibly easy.
Like the other platforms, Punchbowl invitations can be delivered by text or email (or link via social). They also include an app in both the App Store and Google Play — fantastic for people on the go. Organizers can include a custom message to guests, or even use the Potluck tool to ask guests to bring food to the gathering! The best way to describe Punchbowl is the e-invitation site that keeps things simple. The designs, process, and tools all make sending digital invitations simple and fast, so you can get to the fun part of planning and prepping for your event.
Drawbacks
Some drawbacks about Punchbowl include the presence of ads on the invitations, even with the free trial — customers must upgrade to the Platinum plan to have them removed. Also, their texts can look like spam links (as opposed to the full-frame invitation or graphic that appears with other platforms), which can make it confusing for recipients or even cause them to delete the text.
While Punchbowl’s RSVP tracking and messaging features may not be as robust as some of the other platforms, they offer a competitive invitation service for a fraction of the cost. Platinum membership — their highest tier — is only $15.99/month when not on sale, and it allows you to send invitations for up to 500 guests per event. All in all, many customers find the easy-to-use service a great choice for quickly organizing events for family and friends.
Greenvelope
Greenvelope is a Seattle-based company founded in 2008 that is focused on helping people go paperless to preserve the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest. They focus on invitations that have a realistic opening experience and the same elegant “feel” as a classic, paper invitation. Greenvelope specializes in online invitations and RSVP tracking, making the platform a great resource for large events.
Advantages
Greenvelope is lauded for its tracking and planning features. You can easily import guest lists, send surveys, message guests, and more with Greenvelope. The platform also offers email address verification, so you can avoid the issue of double paying and still have theemails end up in junk.
Greenvelope partners with artists across the globe, so you can find beautiful and unique designs. This gives the sense of exclusive designs and a more specialty appeal for your event. Greenvelope also offers a free trial that you can use for an unlimited amount of time with limited features. However, their paid plans offer the bulk of the benefits that are part of the Greenvelope experience.
There are no ads on Greenvelope. They offer device support, and are focused on user experience so you can customize your digital invitations, add registries and more. Custom designs usually come with added fees.
Possibly the coolest thing about Greenvelope is the sustainability causes they support, which include the National Park Foundation, National Forest Foundation, Mountains to Sound and 1% for the Planet. They also have a bus program and plant trees. Greenvelope has overall really good reviews, and they’ve won some awards as well.
Drawbacks
One of the biggest drawbacks to Greenvelope is the cost. It is more expensive (after the free trial) than other platforms but with the big cost comes some big benefits. Greenvelope offers a wide array of services beneficial for larger events, as opposed to family-focused events. The platform is great for the corporate event or wedding where guests need to specify meal options, song requests, and where the organizer needs the best tools available to track RSVPs for a large number of people.
With the pricing issues come a few other sticking points for Greenvelope users. Some people do not like that Greenvelope prices per person — rather than per email. If you send an email invitation that includes five guests but only one email address, you get charged for five guests. Also, if you resend any invites, it’s an additional cost.
Evite vs Paperless vs Punchbowl
Now that we’ve seen the pros and cons of each electronic invitation platform, let’s compare these four services with specific aspects of each.
Features
Evite, Paperless Post, Punchbowl and Greenvelope are all very similar in their features and offer many of the same benefits for users. However, there are a few key differences:
Evite offers users the ability to send cryptocurrency gifts. They also include animated invitations and video invites, great options for your events with family and friends.
Paperless Post lets you order matching party supplies and get printed invitations. They partner with iconic artists and designers so you can have amazingly unique and upscale invites. All invitations have animated envelope opening, and text invites take up the recipients’ screen versus making them click on a link. This is a great choice for weddings and more formal events.
Punchbowl offers party favors and photo/video sharing services. They also partner with artists, and they’re the only one to offer iconic kids’ characters for invitations (like Disney, Sanrio etc). An incredible choice for children’s parties and family events.
Greenvelope also includes animated envelope opening to mimic the real thing. They partner with companies like the National Park Service and are the most committed to sustainability. They have the most robust backend tools for organizing and managing for large events, making them a great choice for corporate events.
User friendliness
Which website is more user-friendly and makes it easiest to use the service? According to customer feedback, the best sites for user friendliness are Greenvelope and Punchbowl.
Greenvelope has amazing customer reviews overall, though they’re more focused on elegant invitations for large events rather than smaller, informal events. Their website is up to date and easy to use and includes all the information a customer needs in order to compare Greenvelope services and make an informed purchase.
Punchbowl’s founders are user interface experts, so the Punchbowl website ranks at the top for user experience. They still have some bugs to work out in their app, but they have a high number of positive customer reviews online than other services.
Paperless Post comes in third, as many customers seem to have trouble figuring out how to design invitations on their site — not to mention, the coin system is unnecessarily confusing. However, their customer service team strives to answer people promptly, making the user experience a tad bit better with one-on-one support.
Evite comes in last, because a quick online search will tell you that more customers have negative experiences with Evite than the other websites — the interface is outdated, and it is very difficult to find the info you need all in one place. However, once you find their Premium and Evite Pro pages, it is easy to see that their upgrading their website experience.
Design Library & Flexibility
Every great electronic invitation website and app comes with its version of a design library. Finding the one you like best depends on what style of invitation you’re looking for and what type of event you’re organizing.
Evite, Paperless Post, Puchbowl, and Greenvelope all offer designs for nearly every imaginable event and holiday, and they all allow for custom designs and uploads (with the paid versions, of course). So which design library is best? It may come down to how much you’re willing to pay.
All libraries offer many free options (or free trials) that would do the trick for your family birthday party or Superbowl gathering. However, if you’re looking for higher-quality — or more unique — options, then you may need to splurge for the paid versions. Each paid option offers a wider array of designs as well as the flexibility to send out invitations to a larger number of guests.
For some fun, printable options, Paperless Post offers matching party supplies and printed versions of their invitations, which the others do not. Paperless Post also offers around 1,000 free customizable invitation templates.
Let’s look more at use cases to see which library would best suit your situation.
Use Cases
If you want household-name designer invitations — and the ability to send both digital and print versions — pick Paperless Post. Evite and Greenvelope also partner with artists, but not as many well-known fashion names or stationery designers. Paperless Post also offers great event planning tools to help ease the stress of managing your guest list.
For fan favorite, iconic kids’ characters, go with Punchbowl, which has characters from Disney and more for all ages.
If you want unique invitations designed by a variety of global artists, choose Greenvelope. They also allow for maps to be included, as well as external links and survey questions for guests.
For ease of use and familiarity, choose Evite. As the longest standing platform of the four, more of your guests will know how to RSVP and access event details. Evite also offers a wide range of options for any event from a graduation party to your office holiday event.
Emailing
Evite, Punchbowl, Paperless Post, and Greenvelope are fairly comparable when it comes to email list management. All four platforms allow you to manage your guests with RSVP tracking and the ability to message guests with updates.
They also all include polling, where you can create questions for your guests to answer that will help with party planning. For example, meal choices or dietary restrictions, song requests, and more.
Greenvelope and Paperless Post also include easy-to-use map features so guests can easily see where the event is taking place. Other specialty features include links to a registry, nearby accommodation, or helpful resources.
Of all the platforms, Evite has many complaints from customers who say emails weren’t delivered or ended up in spam folders. When they tried to resend or edit email addresses, they got charged to resend the emails.
Cost
Some of the digital invitation platforms hide their pricing well, and you’ll likely have to get into designing your invites before you get an accurate price. However, here is what we do know about invitation prices.
Evite’s Premium pricing (which includes the ability to disable ads) starts at $15.99 for their small package for up to 15 guests and maxes out at the extra-large package (up to 750 guests) for $79.99. Then there is Evite Pro, a yearly subscription for $249.99 that offers all the bells and whistles of the premium membership, plus an entire platform to host virtual events. Evite Pro is geared mostly toward businesses and non-profits, giving corporations the ability to invite up to 2,500 guests, add donation options, and even include a custom business logo on the invitation.
Paperless Post is the only platform that uses “coin packages” instead of straightforward pricing. The price per coin varies depending on the package size. There are 5 package options with 25 coins for $12 to 1,000 coins for $115. The coins are non-refundable, but they stay in your account for up to 5 years to be used on later purchases (free coins last one year). The coin system is fairly confusing, as you don’t know how many you need prior to designing your invitation and adding your guest list. This is very challenging for the budget-conscious party planner.
Punchbowl pricing is by far the most straightforward. The site offers subscription plans of Platinum, Premium, and Plus, and their yearly plans are non-refundable. The cheapest plan is Plus, which is $7.99/month (aside from sales — right now it’s $3.99/month). This gives you up to 50 guests per event. The only way you can get ad-free invites is with Punchbowl’s Platinum “Remove Advertising” plan, which is $15.99/month (currently on sale for $7.99/month) that includes 500 guests per event.
Greenvelope pricing is based on the number of guests — not invitations, but actual invited individuals. This means that one invitation for a family of five is charged as five guests. They have single mailing plans for your one-off event that range from $19 for up to 20 guests, all the way up to $3,799 for up to 25,000 guests. They also have plans for unlimited mailings, starting at $125/year for up to 50 people and ranging up to $4,235/year for up to 12,500 people.
Conclusion
Depending on what you’re celebrating, finding a good service for digital invitations is tricky! We hope that our review of these platforms helps you discover which invitation service best fits your needs and expectations for your next event.
Evite, Paperless Post, Punchbowl, and Greenvelope each have unique aspects that set them apart from the others. One may be better for you depending on your needs and purposes. And perhaps you’ll try them all at one point or another! There really is something out there for almost every kind of event, invite, and shindig you can dream up.
In short: if you’re looking for the perfect theme for your child’s birthday party, choose Punchbowl; if you want gorgeous designer invitations, choose Paperless Post; if you want to support places like the National Park Service and some unique indie designers, choose Greenvelope; for the most familiar service or best free tools, try Evite; and if planning a corporate event is on your radar, Greenvelope and Evite Pro have the most robust tools for your needs. And finally, if budget is important to you, you can also choose the one that has the pricing options that makes the most sense for your event.
There are so many options out there, so have fun exploring, creating, designing, and party planning!
Truly effective employee onboarding takes a year. While there are specific parts to onboarding that happen in the first week and months, having a year of onboarding is important for greater employee retention. Especially in today’s great resignation, making sure employees feel connected to your business and have opportunities for advancement is key to keeping them on your team.
Getting to know your team, from both new and existing employee standpoints, is an important aspect of onboarding. This article will discuss why you need smooth onboarding, how to facilitate team building and effective ways to do both.
Even though a Kronos study concluded that onboarding programs that last longer result in better companies and better employees, 22% don’t even have an onboarding program – which means there’s no better time to prioritize this for your business!
First Things First: “Get To Know Your Team” – Employee Profile Book!
Did you know that many new hires will begin looking for another job in their first 45 days to 6 months? That’s why onboarding well, and for an entire year, is important.
A major part of effective onboarding is getting to know the team. This includes much more than simple introductions, because only doing introductions leaves so much to chance. People may forget names quickly, and fast intros don’t help people know who they can rely on, who to ask questions to or who they’ll work with the best. It also doesn’t help to foster a community of teamwork.
Here are some reasons why teamwork is important for teams (whether they’re in-house, remote or hybrid):
Fosters collaboration – it spreads positive and motivational energy when people work together to achieve common goals;
Creates employee relationships so your team can grow together, not to mention having people they look forward to working with.
So, how do you help new hires get to know their new team? The first part of your strategy is introductions. While intros are important, people can still forget names and info due to the overwhelming amount of information they’ll be getting starting the new job. They also don’t get all the information they need about their teammates in the short time you’ll have to introduce them.
Here are two main ways you can help people get to know their co-workers:
1. Introduction “get-to-know-you” books from Newlywords. These give team members a reference to who people are at any given time, and helps them get to know the team better, as it can include more information and photos;
2. Team building activities, which foster actual bonds between co-workers.
You Should Facilitate Team Building Straight Away!
Any company knows that its most valuable resource is its employees. Finding, and then retaining, talented and motivated people can make or break a company’s successes and failures.
How does a company conduct effective team building today, when many workers are remote, people are resigning all over the place, and 31% of employees aren’t into “team-building activities”?
The key is to look at your intention before you plan your strategy and possible activities. If you’re going to foster a positive and collaborative work environment, the leadership has to be first, and it has to be part of your company culture. Many people want more flexibility and purpose in their jobs, so if you want to keep these intelligent, self-assured workers, you need to think about how to shift the way things are done and be open-minded to change.
Here are a few ways to begin generating company culture change so you can effectively implement team-building practices for new hires:
Get clear on what kind of environment you want to promote and make sure you’re modeling and facilitating it yourself – in other words, be the example your employees can follow.
Survey your current employees. Ask them about their experience, how they view the collaborative spirit, and how you’re doing at leading. Ask how their onboarding experience was and how it can be improved.
Also ask employees what they want from you in terms of today’s shift in employee expectations. Get honest feedback, then make changes to what you’re offering new hires. With this, you’ll want to make sure you have systems in place to ensure you reach your goals.
Team Building Practices for New Recruits
What are the best team building practices that HR managers should follow? Here’s a list of best practices and ideas:
Make the activities convenient and enjoyable for employees.
Make team-building events as easy for employees to join and enjoy as possible. When planning team-building, you’ll want to:
Make it during work hours so everyone can attend;
Make it collaborative so people work together;
Make sure every team member can participate: it must be accessible to everyone. This means considering remote workers, as well as, for instance, not making it about sports unless your team is entirely sports-oriented and fit;
If you’re going to do something together and out-of-office, make sure you cover costs and transportation for employees;
Make sure to clearly communicate the goals and purpose of what you’re doing with all employees;
Ask employees for their opinions and feedback before and after the event.
Use the opportunity to create an improved day-to-day work environment.
This isn’t meant to be a one-time thing to half-heartedly make a show of change, but then not to actually change. Don’t do something you can’t deliver on in the longer-term. Make this about implementation of permanent work environment changes.
This doesn’t need to be complicated. Make sure you have a clear focus – like on teamwork and relationship-building – and make sure you:
Do activities that generate teamwork with a common goal;
Reward teams, as opposed to individuals to drive home the idea;
Make sure employees feel like members of a team rather than slaves or people working for a taskmaster – give them some skin in the game, and/or change the way you do things in meetings, for instance;
Make sure people are communicating any issues, places for improvement, etc. so you know how to improve.
Do some activities.
These shouldn’t be too cliche, and should involve everyone, regardless of external factors. Some ideas are:
A scavenger hunt. Let employees work together to find things in the office, or online if it involves remote workers;
Work to foster inter-departmental relationships and collaboration by letting people work together who don’t always get to;
Schedule a team-building activity once every few months at least so people can look forward to it;
Show employee appreciation by giving gifts, like products or experiences, that add value to the people who help your company run.
Bottom Line
Every organization needs proper onboarding for the company to run smoothly, but many aren’t doing any onboarding at all! Because onboarding includes getting to know the team, you’ll also need to implement team building strategies that foster a work environment people want to be in; this helps dramatically increase employee retention, which is needed now more than ever, it seems. A great first step to improving employee onboarding and helping people get to know their team members is giving them a book to help them get to know everyone, that has photos, team memories and company information to help them feel welcome – because your employees are your ticket to a successful business!
Creating a tribute memory book is a wonderful way to honor a loved one who has passed on because memories and stories are a therapeutic way to look back on good times and let that person stay close in our hearts.
In a memory book, you can include photos with stories, quotes, memorabilia and more that make that person special. You can also let people contribute their own content and send copies for a collaborative memorial everyone can share.
Here’s how to make a tribute memory book.
1. Collect Pictures, Memories, Messages
Start by collecting material for the book. You’ll want photos, stories, messages and memorabilia from the people who knew and loved the person who passed. Here’s what you’ll need:
Consider Who’ll Contribute
Start by making a list of family, friends, coworkers, and anyone else that may want to contribute to the book so you don’t miss anyone, and so no one feels left out.
Make sure you include people from every facet of your loved one’s life. For instance, if they went to a religious organization, or if they were involved in a professional organization, they probably have friends in those places. If they frequented a diner with friends, ask the friends and the people who work in the diner. Think about everything they did, the people they might have impacted and give those people an outlet to share memories – it will help them, and it will be beneficial to you as you grieve to hear these stories about your loved one.
Email or otherwise contact the people on the list and ask them for the following things for the book, or anything they’d like to contribute. You can have them send emails with information, they can mail things or you can meet with them in person or video chat. They can also put files on a flash drive or on the cloud to share digitally.
Collect Photos That Matter
When you contact the people on your list, tell them to send any and all photos they can. Also find photos to which you have access.
Then, choose the photos that show stories, bring back good memories or tell the life story of the deceased. Photos of their experiences, family and friends, vacations, milestones, and more are great options to include, since you won’t be able to include every photo.
If you have photos that are well-worn or need improvements, you can edit them in a program like Photoshop to fix lighting, sharpness and coloring, or use a service like MyHeritage to fix or add color to old photos.
Share & Record Memories
Next, write and record memories of your loved one. Write your own stories and get people to share stories with you. This can be through writing (email or letters), or digital recordings (you can transcribe the audio). Recording stories is a great way to get them from older family members who may not be as tech-savvy, but anyone can record stories to get their entire point of view in the narrative if they’d rather not write.
Include Messages from Family & Friends
Besides memories in the form of stories, family and friends can add messages for the deceased, or for the family if the book is a gift. This gives people a chance to say what they would want the loved one that has passed on to know, and it can be therapeutic, plus it can help readers of the memory book in their own grieving process.
Think of Their Favorite Things
Did your loved one have a talent, career or hobby that they loved? Share it in the book! Whether they were an artist, gardener, dancer or something else, include photos and/or examples of their work. If your grandpa was a joker, write out some of his jokes and include them (possibly with images), or even artwork someone else created of your loved one, like a caricature or portrait.
If the person you’re commemorating had favorite artists, musicians, places they loved or movies, you can also include those in the book to remember their favorite things and memories associated with those things. If they were a part of a fundraising committee for charity, owned a business or something else, include memorabilia from those as well.
2. Visualize The Book & Organize Accordingly
After collecting all the materials, the next step is to look at what you’ve collected and decide how and in what sequence to organize the book. This could be a timeline or have varying sections with the different aspects of life you want to remember.
Figure Out The Structure & Sequence of Things
The first step is figuring out the structure and sequence of the materials. You can organize the book as a timeline, by specific events like milestones, or with groups like family, friends, church group, book club, travel, and things of that nature.
Next, make sure you have all the information you need for each section. Get dates, locations, and names of people for all photos. Gather stories and information on each section to include in the book.
Design Page Layouts
If you’re designing the book digitally, choose a program for page layouts, like Adobe InDesign, and either use templates or design your own layouts. Consider:
Themes to fit the subject matter of the page and/or sections;
Page margin size;
Page composition – how many photos on each page, what size should they be and where will they be placed?
Text for each page – how much, where it goes and fonts/sizes;
Background colors, patterns or images;
Borders for photos, including shapes;
Additional design elements, like if you’re going to include photos of things like handwritten recipes or type them out.
Format Correctly
Make sure you’re formatting text and photos correctly, meaning that file type and size is correct, and that everything is in the right place. Make sure the book itself is formatted in the right file type for printing (usually pdf).
3. Printing The Book
The next step is printing the book. You have some options:
There are services that will print out everything and bind it in a book format for you, like at Staples;
Some services let you design the book on the same platform where it gets printed;
A service like Newlywords lets you make the whole process collaborative, so you can avoid handling all the files and inputting all the information yourself – people put in their own photos, text and memories, and you can edit and print all on the same website.
The process of printing a memory tribute book can get complicated, and the outcome might not come out great if you’re trying to execute this step alone. It can be a great weight off your shoulders to choose a professional platform that takes the work off of you for your own peace of mind to know it’s high quality, error-free and of lasting quality.
4. Creating a Scrapbook (If You Want to Do it Yourself)
If you want to make a scrapbook yourself, you’ll need to follow the above steps. Then, you’ll need to organize everything how you want it on each page, print out the pages and combine them into a book.
You can make your scrapbook as DIY as you want, from designing it all online and getting it printed, or placing pages in a book or binder with scrapbook pages you can buy from a craft store that you glue photos and memorabilia onto yourself.
You may also want to consider how many copies you’ll need. If you only want one book, you can use any of the above methods, but if you want copies to give to family and friends, it may be a better option to print the book since it’s more easily reproducible and won’t take as much time to finish and send out to people.
Alternatively, Take Professional Help
Everything we’ve talked about so far is a normal part of the process of making a memory book to pay tribute to a loved one. However, getting professional help can be easier than having to gather everyone’s photos and stories, organize and format them yourself, print them out and create the book, all of which can be incredibly time-consuming, uncertain and possibly frustrating.
Today, services exist that make it easy to make a memory book where people have direct access to the book to add their own information. Plus, it doesn’t take the final control from you – you can still edit, add and refine as much as you need to before printing the final product. When the book is printed, it’s done in a professional, hard-cover format that can be prominently displayed on coffee tables or wherever to be admired for years to come.
This is why Newlywords decided to make memory books easier for people – they automate the entire process so it’s easy to create tribute memory books without the fuss. You just send out the book access to people on your list, they add their memories, and you check it over to edit as needed and order your copies.
Bottom Line
Losing a loved one is never easy, but remembering them can bring you joy in times of grief. Tribute memory books are an amazing way to bring a smile to your face when you’re missing someone, and a great way to combine memories from everyone who knew the person. Helping everyone share memories, and knowing all these people have a copy of the stories, photos and memorabilia important to that special person, makes something sad become a way people can connect and share. Memory books let that person live on through their family, friends and stories. If you’re looking to make a collaborative tribute memory book, be sure to check out Newlywords and see if it’s a good fit for you!
Looking to find a kudoboard alternative? We have you covered with this list of companies that offer a variety of ways to send digital (and physical, if you want) messages, collaboratively.
These options have similarities, but each offers unique qualities the others may not – like incorporating video and/or audio, letting people use their own handwriting, and even making a book that the recipient can cherish forever!
Read on to discover what’s out there for collaborative well-wishes, and then choose which one best fits your purposes.
What is Kudoboard Used For?
Kudoboard is used to digitally replace group greeting cards that are used for special occasions. You know, the kind that everyone in the office, family or other group passes around and signs.
Kudoboard takes the group greeting card to a whole new level by allowing people to post pictures and videos along with their messages, similar to social media. The board can be scheduled for a delivery time and downloaded as a printable pdf.
Are You Looking for Alternatives to Kudoboard?
While Kudoboard offers many excellent features, there are alternatives that are worth comparing before you make a decision to see which is best for your purposes.
We’ll get right to the point: the number one Kudoboard alternative, in our opinion, is Newlywords, which allows you to make a group memory book and gives more options than Kudoboard. Read on for more details about Newlywords plus other top alternatives to compare so you can decide for yourself. Let’s get to it!
Top 8 Kudoboard Alternatives
Newlywords
Newlywords is a collaborative memory book company that does more than a greeting card; it lets you create a truly meaningful gift that someone can treasure for years to come.
Both Newlywords and Kudoboards allow for collaboration in gifts that include a message and memories. The main difference between the two is that Newlywords focuses on physical memory books, whereas Kudoboard is focused on digital greeting cards.
Newlywords was made with the intention that people will have a tangible book to look at whenever they want, so there are more possibilities for design, layout and more.
The 6 main benefits of Newlywords over Kudoboards:
1) Privacy of messages: Only the recipient sees all the messages in Newlywords. In Kudoboard, everyone in the group sees the messages.
2) Newlywords is focused on hardcover book keepsakes while kudoboard is focused on a digital experience.
3) More options for book sizes: While Kudoboard offers either a poster or 7×7 book, Newlywords offers 8×8 or 12×12 books.
4) Newlywords has a high variety of templates for different types of content, specific to various special events like birthdays, retirements, anniversaries and more. Kudoboard has backgrounds for templates.
5) No-stress pricing: Instead of picking a pricing category first, Newlywords lets you make your book without using your credit card until the end when you see who all has contributed, and then you can see how much it costs and tweak as needed. Kudoboards allows a free miniboard that can be upgraded.
6) With Newlywords, you’re in control of your book’s layout. You can make collages, combine messages that are shorter into the same page, edit and reorder contributions and pages, and download a pdf immediately while you wait for your book to arrive. You can reorder and organize with Kudoboards, but there’s less design control overall.
Group Greeting
Group Greeting is similar to Kudoboard in that it replaces a physical card with digital for passing around the group. It’s unique because it’s like a traditional card with writing – it lets you choose fonts and place messages on the card like a real card, but with multiple pages for messages, photos and stickers.
Group Greeting is a great card replacement for remote workers and far-away friends, as it’s focused on being digital – the company plants trees as they work to save paper, though you do get a pdf download you can print.
Payment is required for either individual cards or plans, which is like Kudoboard. Plans are based on how many cards you want in an annual subscription (cards do not roll over and you’ll have to buy a new plan each year), and you always get unlimited pages for every card.
Group Together
Group Together is a collaborative digital greeting card company similar to Kudoboard, but with a twist: You can have people give money towards a physical gift or gift card of your choosing, and there’s an option to send some of the money to a charity of your choice.
Group Together is an Australian company, so some of the options are available specifically for people living in Australia, like experiences in the country. There also may be more shipping fees for some of the gifts if you live outside the country.
It’s free to make the card and collect money. The only fee is incurred for withdrawing the funds instead of using them directly for a gift. The card is more simple, with a photo on the front and messages people add (everyone doesn’t get to add their own photo), and you can print out the card yourself if you’d like.
Group Greets
Group Greets lets you create digital eCards that are slideshows, photo montages and videos. They use AI for editing so you don’t have to edit yourself. They have 9 templates you can choose from.
You can have unlimited contributors and length so people can add photos, videos and messages. Group Greets has a fee, and you can select your occasion, type of card, and background. There are additional customizations you can add for more fees.
Ella Card
Ella Card is similar to Kudoboard in that it lets you send both collaborative eCards and videos. Everyone can add text, photos, gifs and video. Choose your desired card from available designs or design your own card, send the link out and people add messages.
Unlike Kudoboard, but similar to Group Together, Ella Card lets you send group gift cards from a variety of merchants. You can also buy these in groups for employee rewards. Like Group Greets, the videos don’t require editing, but editing tools are available, like cropping and length adjustments.
Pricing is determined by the number of recipients – the first 25 are free. Companies and organizations can get discounts.
Wishyoo
Wishyoo is similar to Kudoboard, but is unique in that it lets people sign the cards in their own handwriting, or they can type their message. People can add voices, photos and gifs. There’s also an option for an infinity poster if you have more people than can fit into the card.
You can add gifts and donations to the cards. For individuals cards are priced per card, and you get 50% off after your 5th card. For companies, you can purchase cards individually, pay less per card if you get a 50 card bundle, or purchase a monthly plan.
Like Kudoboard, you can choose to digitally send this card or download a pdf and print it yourself.
Recocards
Recocards is mostly free, and you can create collaborative memory cards for any occasion, much like Kudoboard. People can add photos and gifs to the fully customizable cards, and you can add a gift.
You can send the cards digitally and download printable pdfs. They don’t yet have video or audio messages, but those features are coming soon.
You get unlimited free cards with Recocards, and there’s a premium membership with a low fee for premium images, high quality pdfs, and more.
Send Wish Online
Send Wish Online is aimed specifically at office group greeting cards, and is similar to Kudoboard in that everyone can add their own photo, gif or video, and the card can be played as a slideshow with music you choose.
You can add logos, upload an excel file and automatically schedule cards to be sent. There’s a portal so you can manage eCards in bulk if you want to have these going all year for everyone’s birthday, for instance.
Send Wish offers free digital invitation cards for events you can design yourself. These cards are primarily digital like Kudoboard, but you can still download pdfs and print yourself.
Frequently Asked Questions on Kudoboard Alternatives
Is There a Free Version of Kudoboard?
Yes, Kudoboard has a free option, which is their miniboards, which include up to 10 posts and can be upgraded if needed.
Do Kudoboards Last Forever?
Yes, but you have to unlock the image for downloading for your Kudoboard to last forever. You can also continue to edit the Kudoboard forever and print the most recent design at no cost added.
How Do You Make a Kudoboard?
First, you go to the website and click “Create a Kudoboard”, where you’ll add the recipient’s name and title, and then your email address. You can add additional recipients if needed, and choose what kind of board you want (mini, premium, milestone etc). If you choose a paid board, you’ll enter your payment details in the next step.
Next, choose a background and add it to your board. Then, choose “add a Kudo” to add your own message, photo, video and/or gif. Then, you can schedule the board for delivery.
Next, invite collaborators by adding their emails or sending the link to potential contributors, adding on Facebook and more.
Conclusion
We hope this article helps you compare the various collaborative greeting companies out there that are similar to Kudoboards, if you’re looking for an alternative. Of course, we’re biased and think Newlywords is amazing, but we also think you should find the company that best fits your needs, so you can let your people know you care about them on every special occasion!
Moms who do the most, deserve the most. If your mom, or a mom you know is having a birthday, it’s an excellent time to find a thoughtful gift that shows how much you care about her! Mom’s birthday is a time when she gets to be showered with attention, so make the most of it. Read on for a list of 75 ideas of birthday gifts for mom and find the one that best fits the mom you’ll be celebrating.
Make Your Mother’s Birthday Special
There are many ways to make mom’s birthday special along with gifts to go the extra mile, which she’s sure to love! Making the entire day special can include:
Cooking her favorite breakfast. She’ll love getting spoiled with her favorite meal first thing in the morning!
Take her to places she loves. Whether this means going to her favorite restaurant, nature spot, or shopping, help her spend the day in a way she’ll enjoy.
Give the gift of self-care. This can be a spa treatment, a haircut, acupuncture or a beach day. She deserves a day of rest and relaxation!
The birthday celebration: Small or large, surprise or planned… you know her best! Make sure to include cake and candles, her favorite drink and food and gifts to make it a proper birthday.
Best Birthday Wishes for Mother
“I remember my mother’s prayers and they have always followed me. They have clung to me all my life.”
– Abraham Lincoln
Along with the gift for mom’s birthday comes the card, which is another challenge in and of itself. Here are some ideas of birthday wishes to get you started:
General wishes:
Use your favorite nickname for your mom.
Think about creative and flattering descriptions of your mom’s personality, and use those. Examples: loving, funny, classy.
Write what you wish for your mom for the coming year – good health, happiness, or that trip she’s dreaming of.
Funny wishes:
Use inside jokes you and mom share.
“Thanks for not telling the others I’m your favorite child!” or “Happy birthday from your favorite child (I know I don’t need to sign because you know who I am)!”
“Stop aging so gracefully! I can’t measure up to these standards.”
Joke about being the perfect child.
Loving wishes:
Write about special memories – “I love that time we…” “I’ll always treasure the memory of…”
“Thank you for being…” (the best ____, there for me always, etc.)
“You taught me to…”
“Cheers to…”
Write your hopes and wishes for mom.
75 Outstanding Birthday Gift Ideas for Mom
A Photo Collage of Friends and Family
A collage from Zazzle is something she can treasure and hang on the wall, so it won’t just sit around. She’s sure to appreciate a high-quality collage of photos of people she loves.
An Indoor Plant
Does your mom love indoor plants? How much does she know about caring for plants? You can buy indoor plants for every skill level, so whether or not you know if your mom has a plant she wants, you can browse this list of suggestions and find one she’s sure to love.
A Personalized Memory Book for Mother
Get all the family – or siblings, friends, or work colleagues – together to collaborate on a memory book. Mom will get something she can look at over and over for years to come, whenever she wants a boost. The good news is, you don’t have to be in charge of much beyond letting people know and checking over the book, because everyone gets to contribute their messages and photos directly.
A Versatile Dutch oven
For the mom who loves to cook, or the mom who doesn’t love it and needs anything to make it easier, a cast-iron dutch oven in her favorite color is a perfect idea. She can marinate, refrigerate, cook and serve all in this dish that also keeps the heat of the food.
Coffee Subscription Box
For the mom who loves her morning joe, make sure she never runs out – and that she gets high-quality beans – with a coffee subscription box from Trade. They’ll create matches based on what she loves and you can customize delivery frequency and size. Once mom gets this in her life, she’ll never be bored with her coffee!
A Timeless Engraved Pocket Watch
Since your mom needs to tell the time anyway, why not help her check it in style? Nothing says class like a quality engraved pocket watch that can become an heirloom! Your mom will love that you’re giving her something that can be passed through the family.
A Cozy Weighted Blanket To Snuggle In
Give your mom the gift of a good nights’ sleep with a weighted blanket. This number one bestseller can be used with or without a duvet, so it can fit with any bedding, plus you can choose from a variety of styles, colors and sizes.
An Electric Kettle for Mom’s Tea
Give your mom a new, or upgraded, electric kettle that lets you set your exact temperature. It also has a keep warm option, built-in mineral build-up prevention and a memory function, so mom’s tea never has to be the wrong temperature again.
A Reversible Yoga Mat for Mom
If your mom does any exercise at home, a fun reversible yoga mat is the perfect gift because it will let her get more use than a one-sided mat, plus you can choose colors and designs she’ll love. This Gaiam reversible yoga mat is an excellent choice that comes with a lifetime guarantee.
A Pendant To Hold Dear To Her Heart
If your mom loves jewelry and family, get her an initial pendant like these from GLDN. You can choose her initials, or do a charm for each child with their initial and a heart charm, and choose your mom’s favorite type of metal. She’ll feel loved throughout each day when she wears this.
A Kindle Paperwhite For Moms That Love To Read
If your mom is always reading, the Kindle Paperwhite is the best way for her to have her books everywhere she goes. It uses screen technology like paper, so it’s not a strain on the eyes. Plus, the brightness level and text size can be adjusted. She can have as many books as she wants on every vacation and outing so she’ll never be bored.
Help your mom learn a new skill, or get better at one, whether it’s a hobby, for work or a dream business with a subscription to Masterclass. We never stop learning, and if your mom is the curious type she’s sure to love it!
A KitchenAid And Various Accessories
KitchenAids are the envy of most people who bake, so why not give your mom who bakes a KitchenAid that will last for years? Choose the one that’s perfect for her and then add accessories for things like grating to make it even more special.
A Clutch Keepsake Purse for Moms On-The-Go
Get mom a clutch that she can keep her phone and keys in that also has a photo of your choice in the lining! That way, she can have a keepsake and special photo wherever she goes.
A Cold Brew Coffee Maker
Help mom get her morning coffee fix with a top-rated cold brew coffee maker, which makes less acidic coffee than traditional brewing. This one is durable and BPA-free, and keeps grounds out of the brew. It can also make hot coffee and fits in most fridge doors.
An Apple Watch
Make mom’s life easier with an Apple Watch. She can answer calls and texts, use the calculator, check her heart rate and ECG, and much more with this small watch. Plus, you can choose a watch band that fits her personality.
A Mini Espresso Machine
Whether it’s to save kitchen counter space, price, or for traveling for on-the-go moms, she’s sure to love a mini espresso machine like the Picopresso. She’ll become an expert barista in no time.
A New Pair of Running Shoes For Active Moms
For the mom who’s an actual runner, gym goer, or just errand-runner, get her high-quality running shoes to keep her going in comfort for longer. Brooks has some of the best running shoes on the market for serious runners.
A Revlon One-Step Hair Dryer and Volumizer
If your mom dries her hair, upgrade her hair dryer with Revlon’s popular one-step hair dryer and volumizer that styles and dries in just one step, reduces frizz and hair damage and adds volume and smoothness.
A Custom Candle To Make Her Cozy At Home
Get mom a candle that won’t be harmful for her health with these all-natural soy wax candles. Choose from a variety of fragrances to help mom relax and unwind.
A Shiny New Set of Gardening Tools
For the gardening mom, get her a high-quality set of tools to keep her gardening in style and make sure she has everything she needs. This gardening tool set has 12 pieces with comfortable gripping handles.
A Customized Bracelet for Mom
Customize mom’s bracelet with your own note, in your own handwriting (or the kids’) with these bracelets from Caitlyn Minimalist in the metal of your choice. She’ll have a keepsake she can wear and treasure for years to come.
The Always Pan To Reduce Kitchen Clutter
Help mom with the dishes and cooking with the Always Pan that replaces 8 traditional cookware types. She can cook pretty much anything in this pan, so no more banging around in the pan drawer or not being able to find the exact one she needs.
A Top-Of-The-Line Roomba Vacuum Cleaner
Make sure your mom never has to vacuum again with Roomba, which now works with Alexa voice control. This small robotic vacuum knows how to avoid objects, allows scheduling for cleaning at specific times, continuously learns your home to get better, and self-empties.
A Hammock For Relaxing Outside
Give mom the gift of relaxation with a durable eno hammock that fits two people, so you can join her. It can be used wherever you can find study trees, so whether you’re in the yard or camping, mom will be set to chill.
Lululemon Leggings for Comfort On-The-Go
For the mom that loves to train, or just loves athleisure, she’ll definitely flip over Lululemon leggings. There are various colors and styles, so choose one that fits hers.
A Luxurious Designer Bag
If your mom has designer handbag dreams, why not give her the bag she wants for her birthday? Ask her what her coveted brand and style is, or pick something that fits her style and include a gift receipt. Shops like Nordstrom have various brands and styles to choose from.
House Slippers for Ultimate Comfort
Who doesn’t dream of the comfiest slippers to wear around the house? If your mom is the type to put off buying these for herself, then these Intelex slippers should do the trick. They’re fully microwavable to help her warm up quickly, and are filled with all-natural grain and French lavender for relaxation.
Hooded Loungers For Those Lazy Sundays
Help mom relax with a hooded lounger, which comes in various styles and lengths from Softies. Loungers are a gift that’s sure to please, so if you don’t want to go wrong with clothing, this is an excellent option.
Harmony Trio Bracelets
Add to mom’s jewelry collection with stacked gold or silver harmony trio bracelets from Maya J., a family-run business. They’re classy and simple so anyone who loves jewelry can find an excuse to wear them.
Stylish Scarfs For Any Outfit
Get her a fun, fancy scarf – it’s a small item she can add to an outfit that’ll make her think of you while adding a pop of style and color.
A Birth Month Flower Heart Necklace
Celebrate mom’s birthday with her birth month flower. These unique, eco-friendly necklaces from Uncommon Goods encase a small flower in a 3D heart shape so she can add something romantic to her jewelry collection.
A Lululemon Fanny Pack
Stylish, roomy fanny packs are in, and this fanny pack from Lululemon can be worn as a purse as well. Mom can carry anything, anywhere without having to keep up with a big purse.
Comfy Pajamas for Lounging
Replenish mom’s pajama stock with some comfy PJs, because who doesn’t love a comfy, new set? Athleta PJs include whatever styles your mom wears – pants or shorts, t-shirts or long-sleeved.
Fashionable Golden Bracelet Bands
A set of gold bracelet bands in a variety of widths is a great choice because they can be worn together or separate with nearly any outfit, and any jewelry-wearing mom will love them. This set from Kendra Scott is an excellent option.
Custom Engraved Bracelet
Whatever your mom’s jewelry style, engrave her name or a special message on a bracelet that she’ll wear from Thoughtful Impressions. They have metal cuffs, silicone bracelets, adjustable and leather bracelets.
A Collapsible Garden Seat for a Break in the Soil
For the gardening mom, a collapsible garden seat will save her from getting tired of kneeling to dig in the dirt. This collapsible garden bench includes pockets on the side for all her tools, too.
A Custom Fingerprint Necklace
For a piece she’ll absolutely treasure, put your fingerprints on this heart necklace mom can keep on her all the time. If you have kids, you can put their fingerprints on it so she can have them near her.
Accessorize Her Wardrobe with Round Reading Glasses
If your mom uses reading glasses, Zenni has super stylish round reading glasses that you can get to fit her face in all kinds of styles with scratch-resistant, UV protective and anti-reflective lenses.
Allbirds Women’s Eco-Friendly Sneakers
For the eco-friendly mom, get her some everyday sneakers from Allbirds in her favorite color. She’ll have high-quality shoes to go around town or travel that she’ll love to wear.
A Tempur-Pedic Cloud Pillow For Great Nights Of Sleep
These Tempur-Pedic pillows adjust to head shape and come with a hypo-allergenic cover, plus they roll into a smaller shape for easy packing, so mom can take her pillow with her wherever she goes and always get a good nights’ sleep.
Lavender Heat Pillow
This lavender pillow from Uncommon Goods is made to be put into the microwave and used for relaxation at the end of a long day so mom can rest her tired muscles.
Flower Bulbs to Sprout At Home
If your mom loves flowers, give her flower bulbs of her favorites to plant at home. You can even plant them for her, or include flower pots and soil with your gift.
A Luxury Soap Collection For The Bath
Get your mom luxury soaps from Bronnley, an England-based soap company that has all kinds of cool-looking soaps and packaging your mom will love to use for the bath.
A Cooling Blanket For Perfect Sleep
For a weighted blanket that won’t cause overheating, get mom a cooling weighted blanket for a good nights’ sleep. These blankets from Luxome are scientifically designed to help sleep while keeping cool, have no bunching, and are hypoallergenic and machine-washable.
Cutting Board With Engraved Recipes
For a gift that’s both practical and sentimental, print a favorite family recipe (in handwriting) on a cutting board. This Etsy shop prints them for you, so you can keep that favorite recipe both easy to find and easy to pass along to others.
A Custom Puzzle Of One Of Her Passions
These puzzles from Minted let you send in a photo of your choice and have it printed on a custom puzzle. Find a treasured family photo or inside joke and give mom a puzzle she can put together and possibly frame.
Shortbread Cookies With Custom Messages
Shortbread cookies are loved by many, but you can make them extra special for mom’s birthday with a special message printed onto each one from Uncommon Goods.
Collapsible Nylon Storage Containers
If your mom is outdoors-y and adventurous, or if she’s obsessed with storage, these collapsible nylon storage containers are foldable and can be used anywhere from the tops of trees to indoors.
Mom Life: A Snarky Adult Coloring Book
Humor-loving moms will get a kick out of this snarky adult coloring book for moms! She’ll get to de-stress from mom life and laugh it off with this fun book.
A Reusable Canvas Carry All To Take Grocery Shopping
If your mom loves practical gifts, these reusable canvas bags are perfect for grocery shopping, besides being eco-friendly! She can keep them in her car and not have to use plastic bags.
An Interesting Picture Book To Share On The Coffee Table
Whatever your mom loves, there’s probably a coffee table book for it. Search this list of photo coffee table books for anything from travel to nature, to fashion and more to find something that will make her smile every day!
A Neck and Back Massager
Get this top-rated back and neck deep-tissue massage pillow from Zyllion, with soothing heat for tight and sore muscles. Mom will be relaxed in no time!
A Fluffy Throw Blanket
Who doesn’t love a brand-new fluffy throw to snuggle in while watching TV or reading in the evenings? Get mom this alpaca throw from Pottery Barn, made from faux fur and available in more than one size that will look amazing draped over the couch or mom’s favorite armchair.
Wanderlust Artisan Candles
Wanderlust Artisan Candles are 100% soy and free of toxic ingredients, but they also give part of their money to fund classroom needs for teachers. Especially if your mom is a teacher, this is perfect – either way, giving back is always a good idea!
A Digital Picture Frame To Share Her Memories
This top-rated digital picture frame will show multiple photos that change, so mom can put it in a favorite spot where she can see all her favorite people, places and things whenever she wants.
A Lamé Ruffle Bag
The Lamé Ruffle Bag is unique so your mom will love the style and colors that she can wear around town or on trips with this super-fashionable purse.
Women’s Plush Robe For Relaxation
Get a fleece robe with mom’s initials or name on it so no one will steal it ever again (or ever at all), and your mom can always feel like she’s living at a resort with a plush robe to relax in!
Put mom’s name on a Camelbak water bottle so she can bring it everywhere and not have to worry about losing it – plus, she’ll think of you for giving it to her.
Personalized Wall Clock To Keep Busy Moms On Schedule
Get your mom a wall clock with a background you decide on – a favorite photo, image or message – so she can always see it when she checks the time. It will give her a moment in her day to stop and think of nice things other than her to-do list.
A Smart Mug With Temperature Control
Make sure mom literally never has to worry about her coffee or tea getting cold again with Ember mugs! They come in regular mugs and travel mugs, and they work with an app to keep drinks at a temperature you choose for hours. The coaster that comes with them can keep drinks hot all day long, and they come with a safety switch as well.
A Custom Rug Of Her Interest
Build your own rug – or let your mom build her own – from The Rug Company. You can choose the color, size of the designs, and material to fit your budget and timeframe.
Wireless Heated Hand Massager
This wireless heated hand massager is perfect for anyone with joint issues, cold hands or other issues. It uses pressure massage to help with relaxation, helps circulation and prevents dryness, plus it’s wireless and portable.
Kitchen And Home Hanging Signs
If mom loves to cook, get her a kitchen sign that you get to pen. You can also do signs for other rooms of the house with loving or funny messages.
An Engraved Wooden Spoon For Cooking
Is mom always cooking and using her favorite wooden spoon? Why not give her a wooden spoon with a loving message from you? She can feel loved and appreciated whenever she cooks and she’ll treasure it forever.
An Insulated Tumbler for Coffee On-The-Go
Get mom a Yeti Rambler tumbler, one of the best insulated tumblers on the market for all her coffee and tea needs! She can bring it anywhere and everywhere, and keep hot drinks hot and cold drinks cold for hours at a time.
A Spa Gift Box for Stress Relief
Give mom an at-home spa kit with soap, a candle, a bath bomb and more so she can really relax and have some self-care.
Who doesn’t love a good charcuterie board? These swivel cheese boards can be personalized and have sections for various cheeses and other items, so mom can always be ready to host (or just use for herself)! There’s even a hidden drawer in the bottom with a stainless steel cheese fork and two knives.
Cooling Eye Mask For Headaches
These reversible gel eye masks can be used as cool or warm compresses. They help with headaches and dry eyes, as well as puffiness and relaxation.
A Kitchen Spices and Seasonings Kit
Make sure mom can cook with all the seasonings for the best meals with a kit filled with every kind of spice she needs. Spicewalla has spice sets that are perfect as gifts to replace expired spices on mom’s rack and add new flavors.
An Electric Corkscrew for Wine Nights
Does mom love wine? Get her a top-rated rechargeable electric corkscrew that will look amazing on the kitchen counter as well as being super useful and making wine bottle opening simple and fun!
Your mom’s birthday – or anyone who’s a mom that’s special to you – is an important celebration! We know how special moms are, and how much they do for us, which is why giving a thoughtful gift and card for her birthday is an important way to show you care. We hope this list can help you find something that’s perfect for the mom you’re celebrating!
So your loved one is retiring, and you need a gift that’s perfect for them. We know that retirement gifts for close family members or friends deserve extra thought, which is why we curated this list of gifts with items meant to reflect that sense of closeness. Retirement is a special time that can be met with mixed emotions, and we took that into consideration as well. Browse through our list to find something that fits your loved one’s unique personality and interests!
What You Should Look for a Retirement Gift
When searching for that perfect retirement gift for your loved one, there are a few considerations that can help you choose the right thing. Think about:
Value: Monetary value won’t always ensure your loved one will appreciate their gift. A card is a thoughtful and necessary part of your gift, but there are definitely affordable gifts out there that they’ll love to add that extra emotional value to the occasion.
Practicality: Many retirement gifts are made to be funny, but the person getting the gift may not have an actual use for it, and it may get thrown into the giveaway pile or stowed away in storage. Instead of gag gifts, make sure your gift is usable and high-quality, and they’re sure to love it!
Setting: Consider where and when you’ll be giving the gift. Is it at a retirement party? Is the party in a home, at work or elsewhere? This can impact what you decide to get, and also if you want to go in on a bigger gift with multiple people.
35 Awesome Retirement Gift Ideas for 2022
A Personalized Retirement Photo Collage
Photos of cherished memories are always a good idea for loved ones. If it’s a close work friend, memories from work or quality time outside of work can remind the person that people care and make them recall good times. A collage like this one from Zazzle is perfect, because it’s easy to mount on the wall and looks nice in any room.
A Collaborative Memory Book For The Retired Person
Getting people to contribute to a memory book can require a lot of work from one person, but a collaborative memory book from NewlyWords literally takes the work off your hands because it allows people to put in their photos and words themselves, directly! All you have to do is check that everything looks good and order the book. Not only are words and photos meaningful, but a memory book is something they can go back to over and over and show off to others. It also lets them know the impact they made and continue to make in people’s lives.
A Garden Tool Set
If the retiree is already a gardener or plans to garden, a garden tool set is a practical gift they can appreciate and use for years to come. Check out this list of 7 best gardening tool sets to see which one fits the type of gardening your loved one is doing, whether they’ll be really digging in the dirt or planting small flowers.
A Beer Subscription Package
Every beer lover will be absolutely delighted by a craft beer-of-the-month subscription like this one that includes hard-to-find rare beers and will allow them to try new ones every month from the comfort of home, and without effort! They also send microbrews from all over the world, so your loved one can travel the globe from home as well.
Customized Playing Cards for Loved Ones
Print photos and/or messages of people, places and things on these customizable playing cards from Shutterfly. Whenever your loved one is playing cards at home, with family or others, they’ll have those special memories making their time that much sweeter.
An Engraved Pocket Watch
Engraved pocket watches are a timeless, classic gift for men and women, or anyone who appreciates things that feel meaningful that can become heirlooms. Engrave your personal message and more on a watch in the metal type that fits your loved one’s style and personality.
Monogrammed tote bags or backpacks are a great way to give someone a practical gift they’re sure to use for years to come. When you choose a high quality brand and engrave their initials, you can’t go wrong – but to be sure, consider their favorite color and/or style to make the gift even more personal.
A Reversible Yoga Mat
For any yogis or aspiring ones, or anyone who does workouts of any kind at home, a high-quality, nice yoga mat will be greatly appreciated. Gaiam is known for their yoga mats, as they specialize in everything yoga. They have various patterns and colors, and their yoga mats are reversible so they last longer.
A Smart Mug With Temperature Control
Make sure your loved one can always enjoy their coffee or other warm drinks of choice in their retirement with mugs that won’t let coffee get cold, ever – really! Ember mugs let you set your exact temperature on an app and they come with a coaster that keeps them warm all day long. Without the coaster, they also stay at temperature for hours at a time, so they work on the go as well as inside.
A Kindle Paperwhite for Avid Readers
The newest Kindle Paperwhite comes with adjustable warm light, and reads like paper so it takes away eye strain you get with normal screens. For any loved one who enjoys reading, a Kindle is an amazing gift because they can take it anywhere and have multiple books to read without having to carry around a ton of books.
Personalized Travel Journal
Journaling is not only a great way to process life and get to know yourself better, but it’s also the perfect way to capture memories and experiences. If your loved one plans to travel in retirement, this journal will have their name on it plus your personal message, so they can have a special place to write their experiences to share with you later!
A Mystery Book Box Subscription
For those who love a good whodunnit, a Mystery book subscription will keep them occupied and satisfied in their retirement with new books coming as fast as they can read them!
Heated Back and Neck Massager
This Zyllion Shiatsu Back and Neck Massager is top-rated, and includes a 3D-kneading deep tissue massage pillow, heat and AC adapter. This is perfect for encouraging your loved one to relax in their retirement – because they deserve it – and relieves pain as well as tension.
A Collection of Luxurious Soaps and Incense
Get your loved one quality soaps, incense, and/or other luxury items without harsh chemicals to keep them relaxed and healthy. Flamingo Estate has garden-fresh soaps, candles, honey and other products that can make excellent gifts for those who either wouldn’t buy for themselves, or already do but would love more.
A Personalized Retirement Mug
Designing a high-quality, unique mug like this one from Shutterfly is always an excellent gift idea for a loved one. They’ll use it every day and never tire of their high quality, special mug when their name, treasured photos or other special message is on it to bring them joy!
A Personalized Bird Feeder To Put At The Window
Delight bird watchers – and help burgeoning ones to begin appreciating the everyday joy – with a beautiful bird feeder they can put outside a window. This crafted wooden one with a super unique design is a great example.
A Custom Gift Basket Of Their Favorite Treats
Harry and David is a company that has any and every kind of gift basket you could ask for. Show your loved one you know them well with a basket full of their favorite treats, so that they can have something to munch on that will make them happy!
Tickets To A Event
If you know your loved one loves a good sporting event, play, concert or movie, give them tickets to a live performance or game, and they’ll be elated! You can also buy a gift card from a place like Ticketmaster so they can choose their own event and date or time.
A Retirement House Plant
Unless your loved one is a plant fanatic – and in that case, find out what plant they’re looking to add to their collection – there are plants that help air quality and are easy to care for that nearly anyone can keep alive. Check out this list of suggestions for easy care, low light, and more to find the perfect indoor plant for your retiree!
A Custom Chess Set
Isn’t the quintessential retirement dream to be playing chess daily in the park? For any retiree who plans on this lifestyle, or anyone who wants to play chess in general, a personalized chess set is a really special idea. Plus, chess keeps brains active and healthy for years to come!
A Cooling Weighted Blanket For Perfect Sleep
Studies show that sleeping in cooler temperatures is healthier and gives a better nights’ sleep. You can also give this to people in hot climates or who complain about being too hot at night. These blankets from Luxome are weighted and cool, so they keep from collecting heat while providing weight – the perfect combo for amazing sleep.
A Fitbit to Maintain Fitness
Fitbits are a great way to get motivated to stay healthy, and to track health in general. If you’re wondering what the big deal is, they’ve helped people with insomnia, to survive heart attacks, improve mental health, save lives and more – read the stories here.
A Whiskey Making Kit
For anyone who appreciates a good whiskey, what can top a whiskey-making kit? It’s the perfect retirement hobby and they get some good whiskey out of the deal – practical and fun. This set from Uncommon Goods lets them pick their own vodka, wood chips and botanicals so they can play around with flavor and become an expert!
An Airbnb Gift Card For Any Travel Desires
Give the gift of travel to anywhere with an Airbnb gift card, so your retiring loved one can live the life of their dreams. Airbnbs exist all over the world so they really can travel anywhere their heart desires!
A Lightweight (Travel) Hammock for Outdoor Lounging
A lightweight, durable best-on-the-market hammock that can even fit two people is an excellent gift, not only for outdoor lovers but also for anyone who wants to hammock in their own backyard as they soak up being retired and all the freedom it brings!
A Retiree Personal Insulated Tumbler
An insulated Tumbler with their name on it (or other personalization) like this Yeti travel mug is something practical that every retiree can love, because they can use it at home or on the go and it will keep their drinks hot or cold for hours on end.
A Personalized Lounging Robe
Help your loved one retire in style with a personalized robe they can lounge in to feel like they’re at a resort, anytime, to feel the benefits of their new retirement lifestyle!
A Masterclass Subscription For Continuous Learning
Whether they want to become vegetarian, learn to cook better, improve their singing or start a business in retirement, a Masterclass is an out-of-this-world gift. It can help improve their lives, because we never stop learning!
A Custom Golf Bag For the Golf Links
Give golfers a customized bag for their golf clubs and more so they can get more out of their time at the golf course and always know which bag is theirs!
An Audio Book Subscription
A subscription to Audible allows anyone to listen to any book, anywhere, anytime from their headphones! They don’t even have to be reading to enjoy great books – this is perfect for anyone who gets car sick, has sight issues, or just loves to be outdoors but wants to listen to something.
Luxurious Candles
All natural, non-toxic candles are a great gift that can induce relaxation without harming the air or your retiree’s health. Check out this list of ideas, and choose what scent your loved one will love.
A Monthly Book Subscription
Whether your loved one retiring is already an avid reader or not, a book of the month subscription can motivate them to discover new worlds through novels. You can pick which type of books interest them or go random so they can discover new genres. The books save on cost and take the research time out of finding new books.
Cozy Retirement Socks
Give that crazy sock-lover what they want – more funky socks! These socks from Etsy are unparalleled, because you can put your loved one’s face on the socks with a retirement message! They’ll love showing these off to everyone, and probably annoying you in the process (but you know you love it).
Personalized Retirement T-Shirt
Give your loved one a personalized retirement T-shirt with an inside joke or other message just for them, like this one from Not On The High Street!
Frequently Asked Questions on Best Retirement Gifts on 2022
What is a good retirement gift?
The best gift you can give to someone retiring will reflect their value back to them so they feel appreciated. It’s more about bringing memories, letting them know they’re special and meeting their interests and goals in any way possible. Think about the individual and make sure the gift is something they’ll like (don’t buy for yourself, or get a cheap gag gift). Ask friends or family of the retiree if you need help. A heartfelt message, donation or online subscription to a skill class for new hobbies are great ideas. Check out our list of pandemic gift ideas for retirees and celebrations for more.
How do you thank someone who is retiring?
A gift is a great way to thank a retiree who has impacted or helped you, but a thoughtful note goes an extra long way to help them really know that you appreciate them. Not only will they be able to read your words, which are way more meaningful than just a gift, but they’ll get to keep reading them whenever they need a reminder or pick-me-up, which people always appreciate. Something like a collaborative memory book can help you do this with multiple people at once, and give something that is high-quality that can be read and treasured in the years to come.
What’s a good retirement gift for a man?
Think about the man as an individual and consider his hobbies and interests. If he has certain goals for retirement, think about those as well. Giving something that shows you pay attention can go a long way! Some generic ideas include engraved watches, personalized liquor glasses or tumblers, personalized grill sets, golf clubs or a wallet or travel bag, journal or a collaborative memory book. Additionally you can read our guide on the Best Retirement Gifts for a Man.
What’s a good retirement gift for a woman?
Think about the woman as an individual and consider her hobbies and interests. If she has certain goals for retirement, think about those as well. Giving something that shows you pay attention can go a long way! Some generic ideas include engraved watches, personalized liquor or wine glasses, personalized coffee mugs or tumblers, an espresso machine, hammock or journal or a collaborative memory book.
Conclusion
We hope this list of researched ideas can help you find a perfect retirement gift for your loved one! Whether it’s a tangible or intangible item, memories or thoughts that they can read over and over, we know they’ll feel your appreciation with the time and consideration you’ve put into making their gift special.
Ahhh, retirement… that time of life that many people anticipate. Whether the retirement at hand is celebratory or otherwise, humor is always an excellent way to approach retirement gifts. While funny retirement gifts can be gag gifts, they certainly don’t have to be – they can be thoughtful at the same time.
Wondering what to get your retiring coworker that will make them laugh? This list has a wide variety of options to help you find the perfect gift, so read on for considerations and ideas!
What Makes a Great Retirement Gift
What separates the good from the great retirement gifts? It’s when the retiree’s personality, likes and dislikes, and dreams are taken into consideration first. A great gift is more than a gift; it’s something that will make the recipient feel something, to bring fond memories or a laugh for years to come. A great gift reflects your appreciation, respect and relationship with your coworker. Read on for key considerations to help plan your gift.
Considerations Before Choosing Retirement Gifts for Coworkers
Decide what kind of “funny” is acceptable for the person
Gag gifts can be fun, but they’re not always funny to the person on the receiving end. This may be because they find the gag gift offensive, but it may also simply be that they feel that a gift they won’t use is wasteful. On the other hand, some people love a good gag gift, because it makes for a fun time for everyone involved!
Decide based on the person if a “gag gift” type of funny or a more sentimental funny is appropriate. More sentimental gifts can be just as, if not more, hilarious with funny memories, inside jokes or the person’s unique sense of humor to create a unique gift that can definitely feel more special than a cliché gag.
Consider gifting as a group
Many times, coworkers choose to chip in for one group gift. Group gifts can bring more communal laughs than individual ones when they’re thoughtful. Something that includes heartfelt messages is perfect.
Make it more about your relationship than the event
Retirement can be bittersweet, and a heartfelt message can mean a lot. Since retirements aren’t always the person’s choice (or they may have to find more work), stay away from being overly focused on congratulating and instead, focus on thoughts about your relationship, the difference they made, or funny memories.
Consider their personality, hobbies and retirement goals
Have they talked about what they want to do when they retire, such as travel or taking up a pottery class? Are they an avid golfer, traveler or gardener? Or do you know they have a passion or hidden talent?
If you’re not sure, ask a spouse or close friend. Then, get a gift to help them chase after all their retirement dreams and goals.
Choose a gift they can experience over and over again
A retirement gift should be more than a lazy store bought item or card. A great gift will make the recipient feel something, not just once but each time they see or use the gift for the years to come. Creativity makes for the most treasured gifts because they’re personal.
Think about if the gift needs to be big or small
Is your coworker going to take off and travel? Is he or she a minimalist or maximalist? Sometimes it’s best to go with something small. Whether you should go big or small depends on the person, your relationship with them, and their plans for retirement. They may not want to be burdened down with more “stuff”, as they may even be looking to downsize.
28 Unique Funny Retirement Gifts That They Will Love
Coworker Funny Memory Book
For a perfect collaborative gift that checks all the boxes – thoughtful, hilarious, and memorable enough to be a keepsake for years to come – gift this collaborative memory book with funny memories and photos! Each coworker can contribute on their own, so the process is simplified and the work is done for you. The recipient will have a memory book full of things to look back on whenever he or she is feeling nostalgic, needs a laugh or wants to share with friends and family!
Funny Message Coffee Mug
Since everyone loves a good favorite mug for their daily coffee, tea or other favorite beverage, choose a ready-made retirement mug, like this hilarious “weekly schedule” mug perfect as a gift from a coworker!
Scratch Off Map For Travelers
If the retiree is going to travel, a scratch off map gives them a fun, visual and interactive bucket list that they can show off as they go! You can find world or USA scratch-off maps for whatever kind of travel they’re going to be doing.
Funny Message Toilet Paper
This one is for the jokers! This funny retiree toilet paper is a fun gag gift that isn’t a waste of money, because it’s still usable in a practical sense – and, everyone will get a laugh when they see the retiree open this one!
Personalized Coffee Gift Basket
Does your retiring coworker love coffee, or do you have a lot of memories gathering around the coffee pot at work? This one is for coffee lovers, travelers, and travel aspiring retirees. This basket includes coffee from all around the globe for travel via coffee!
Engraved Pocket Watch
This vintage pocket watch with leather case can be engraved with a special message for any retiree! It has a classic style and you get to choose a funny, heartfelt message or other engraving to personalize.
Potty Putter Toilet Golf
Another gag-inspired gift, this mini golf set is for those that love golf and a good joke – plus, they’ll likely actually use this gift, which will make it even more hilarious when everyone watches them open it!
Personalized BBQ Grilling Utensils
Engrave a special grill utensil set for the ones who are going to be grilling in style in retirement. This will give them a way to have special memories for the years to come, and maybe even invite you over!
Cold Brew Coffee Maker
If the retiree is going to have extra time on their hands – and alternatively, if they’ll be needing to save money – there’s no better time to improve their coffee making skills! Give them a cold brew coffee maker so they can make the perfect cup of iced coffee right from the comfort of home.
Retirement Shot Glasses
Send your coworker into retirement in style with a funny retirement shot glass. They’ll have something they can display and/or use, whether they collect shot glasses or can just use a good one that will bring back great memories.
Retirement Whiskey Glasses
Is the retiree a whiskey-lover? Then they’ll love nothing more than a personalized set of whiskey glasses, or a funny retirement set to mark the occasion – then they can relive the good memories over and over.
Personalized Cutting Board
Hopefully, retirement for some people means a lot of really good cooking, now that they have the time! Anyone who stays at home, or in an RV to travel, can use a good cutting board, so why not give them a special engraved cutting board?
Engraved Travel Journal
Make sure the traveling retiree has a place to write down all their experiences, so they can have a keepsake no matter where they go! An engraved journal will give them personal travel experiences to remember.
Day of the Week Clock
A day of the week clock only keeps track of what day it is, so your retiring coworker can get a good laugh and remember their newfound freedom! Tell them they’ll have to call you to get the actual time to make sure they keep in touch.
Funny Message Engraved Tumbler
Get a high-quality Yeti or other tumbler with your personalized message for the retiree. They’ll be using this mug a lot, at home and on the road and they’ll get a good laugh and memories with every use.
Funny Retirement Baseball Cap
Retirees can live up their retirement in style, and make sure everyone knows it with this fun baseball cap with a message. This one even comes with a sash they can wear to parties.
Digital Picture Frame
A digital WiFi picture frame is a perfect retirement gift to house treasured memories. You can fill it with photos you know they’ll get a good laugh from, and they get control over changing the photos as needed.
Retirement Chef’s Apron
A funny retirement apron is a perfect gift idea for chefs, or aspiring chefs out there. With all the options of messages available, it’s easy to find one your retiree will resonate with!
Give a funny hanging retirement sign for a good laugh. Any retiree can find somewhere to hang a sign like this one where it will make other people laugh, too.
Funny Retirement Koozies
Every fun-loving retiree who drinks any beverage from a can will get a kick out of these fun koozies with various retirement jokes and sayings, that can double as party favors.
Personalized Retirement Bottle Opener
Another beverage-inspired idea, this hangable bottle opener can be personalized for someone’s retirement so it can be a new staple in their home decor to turn heads and bring smiles.
Funny Engraved Beer Caddy
Print inside jokes or retirement sayings on a beer caddy like this one with a built-in bottle opener so the retiree can bring it everywhere – you can put their name on it too, so they can be sure to let people know they’re retired and loving it!
Solo Stove Portable Fire Pit
Help retirees turn their backyards into a place they always want to be – especially now that they don’t have to be at work instead! Give them a solo stove portable fire pit so they can enjoy time with family and friends.
Funny Retirement T-shirt
A funny retirement t-shirt with a message like “I’m retired, do it yourself” will be something a retiree will find themselves wearing for fun around family and friends so they can joke about it all day long!
Lightweight Hanging Hammock
What says “I’m retired and I’m loving it” better than hammocking? Eno has the best hammocks, and they come in sizes for one or two people. Help your coworker make relaxation his or her new lifestyle.
Gift an Experience
When in doubt, go the experience route! Gifting anything from in-person or online skill classes to event tickets, gift cards or money towards a trip they want to take will be appreciated by any retiree.
Oil Painting Of A Work Memory
Use one or multiple photos to create a sentimental or hilarious work memory oil painting for the retiree! This will show that you put real thought and effort into getting a gift that will be remembered forever… and that you’re willing to go the extra mile to get the best laugh!
Frequently Asked Questions on Funny Retirement Gifts
How much money should you give a coworker for retirement?
If it’s a collective group effort, a monetary gift from $5-$20 per person is standard, and you may want to go ahead and match what others are giving. If it’s from just you, anything from $30-$50 is acceptable. Consider your relationship with the person – how close are you? Also consider their years at the business and that you worked together, plus think about what else they’re getting or what’s being done to honor them.
What is the best gift to give a coworker who is retiring?
The best gift you can give to a retiring coworker is something that will reflect their value to them, and make them feel special. If it can bring good memories, it’s an excellent choice, and if it’s something they want or that aligns with their interests, hobbies or goals, then it’s also a great choice. The key is to think about the person you’re giving the gift to and make sure it’s a gift they’ll appreciate – don’t buy it for yourself. Ask their friends or family if you’re unsure. A heartfelt note, donation to a charity they like or tickets to something they’ll love can also go a long way, as can a subscription to online or in-person skill classes for new hobbies. If your coworker is also your boss, you can check out our article on the best boss retirement gifts.
Where can I find a unique retirement gift idea?
Check out this blog post for ideas for unique retirement gift ideas! If you’re still feeling stuck, look at the considerations in this blog post and write down what you know about the person. You can also talk to their other friends and family to get more ideas of what they might love.
What is an appropriate retirement gift?
Appropriate retirement gifts include thoughtful notes from individuals or groups – like in a collaborative memory book; money, tickets to events or charity donations; or any item that will make the person laugh or be something they can use that aligns with their interests or retirement goals. This can be something they can use to travel or do a hobby like golf, or decor items. Personalizing items like beverage glasses or tumblers, watches and more can make the gift extra meaningful.
What do you give a man for a retirement party?
Think about the man as an individual and consider his hobbies and interests. If he has certain goals for retirement, think about those as well. Giving something that shows you pay attention can go a long way! Some generic ideas include engraved watches, personalized liquor glasses or tumblers, personalized grill sets, golf clubs or a wallet or travel bag, journal or a collaborative memory book. Additionally you can read our guide on the Best Retirement Gifts for a Man.
What do you give a woman for a retirement party?
Think about the woman as an individual and consider her hobbies and interests. If she has certain goals for retirement, think about those as well. Giving something that shows you pay attention can go a long way! Some generic ideas include engraved watches, personalized liquor or wine glasses, personalized coffee mugs or tumblers, an espresso machine, hammock or journal or a collaborative memory book.
Conclusion
The key to a hilariously funny retirement gift for your coworker is to consider who they are as a person, like their hobbies and goals. Think about their sense of humor and what they’ll get a kick out of, whether that be a funny gag gift or a sentimental gift with inside jokes. People appreciate when a gift or note reflects how well they’re known by others, so make it all about them and you can’t go wrong! We hope you find some inspiration from our comprehensive list.
