Getting ready for a wedding is exciting, but the strain can really start to wear on the beleaguered couple long before the big day. A wedding can be a complex event to pull off, and there are many separate aspects to consider. Stressful situations can be a common occurrence in the run up to the big day, even if they are celebrations meant for fun. Why not take a bit of that heavy seriousness off the occasion with a funny wedding or pre-wedding gift for the bride, groom and their attendants?

Funny wedding gifts are highly underrated. The gift of laughter, especially the gift of laughter under stress, can be one of the most precious gifts you can give. When everyone else is going out of their minds trying to choose useful, memorable and serious wedding gifts, the gift that makes everyone laugh can be the most precious gift of all.

Some of the funniest wedding gifts fall under the category of apparel. T-shirts and hats with funny pictures and sayings are among the easiest and most popular humorous wedding shower and pre-wedding gifts. You can find t-shirts for the bride and groom with goofy pictures or cartoons that spoof marriage or that assign titles to the bride and groom like Queen of Hearts and King of Hearts. One popular t-shirt for either the bride or the groom features a cartoon of an elderly couple and the definition: "Finding that special someone to annoy for the rest of your life".

An additional advantage of t-shirts and caps is that they allow for easy personalization with the names of the bride and groom and the date of their wedding. Wedding party character gifts take personalization to a whole new level by allowing you to choose figures for each member of the wedding party. You can pick hair color and skin tone for the bride, groom and wedding party members, and even choose dress colors for the bridesmaids. The wedding party can end up on mugs, plaques, and plates or even on playing cards to help the bride and groom while away the hours between planes on their honeymoon.

Of course, you can always choose a gift to help the happy couple remember their new stations in life. Matching t-shirts or pillowcases that proclaim Mr. on one and Mrs. On the other guarantee that everyone will know that they’re happy honeymooners. Of course, not all t-shirts are quite so polite – you can spark a laugh at a wedding shower with a t-shirt for the bride labeled "Ball and Chain" if your bride has a sense of humor or one for the groom marked with his Bachelor Expiration Date.

T-shirts are such an ideal canvas that you do not have to confine yourself to just those t-shirts that have sayings pre-printed on them. Pick out a funny line from the lives of the bride and groom, or do a little research to find your own funny wedding line and have it printed on a plain black or white t-shirt or a black or white baseball shirt.

If you are looking for an unusual and funny gift for the groom, skip the t-shirt and go straight for the boxers. There are lots of funny boxers, but one of the best groom’s wedding gifts going is a pair of boxers that mimic a tux, complete with the bride’s initials embroidered in a heart on the leg of one boxer.

You can also go for the cuteness factor with a gift like the Precious Moments Magically Ever After figurine that features an adorable bride and groom all decked out for their big day, right down the Mickey Mouse ears – in white, for the bride, of course! Precious Moments are perpetual favorite wedding mementoes, and you can find quite a few of the big-eyed couples enjoying their first dance, cutting the cake or setting off on their new life together.

Some gifts, though, are both funny and touching at the same time. If you are looking for a very special gift for the happy couple, why not commission a work of art specifically created for the bride and groom? A specially drawn caricature of the bride and groom on their wedding day is an heirloom gift that’s a bit out of the ordinary. All you need to provide is a clear photograph of the bride and groom and let the artist do the rest.

Just keep in mind that if you decide to be funny there is a fine line between tastefully funny and stepping over the line. Consider the personality of both the bride and groom, and whether or not they will both appreciate your sense of humor. After all, a good laugh is not worth losing a good friend or unsettling feelings on such an important occasion. Poke gentle fun, be good-humored and watch the smiles when they open your funny wedding gift.