My son is getting married to a girl from outside of our state. Since I do not know her or her family well, I would like to give a personal gift to the bride to help start our mother-in-law relationship on a good footing also to warmly welcome her to the family. Are there any suggestions?

I would first take her out to dinner just you and her and try to find out what she likes and maybe do a little window shopping with her and her mother if time allows. This will give you an idea of what is special to her and what a great mother in law can do to help with the stress of welcoming her to a whole new family. That's what my future mother in law did with me. It has worked out wonderfully. Plan a girls day out without the guys and get to know her. That is a wonderful gift in and of itself. She is her own person and not an extension of your son, many people forget that when dealing with a marriage... on both sides. I think it is wonderful that you want to do something special for her.