Wedding Gift Ideas

Writer

Once you receive a wedding invitation, it's time to come up with a great wedding gift idea. While it's very bad gift etiquette to request a wedding present, to not give one is even worse. The bride and groom invited you to their wedding because you're special to them, so return the favor by finding a special gift for them.

Ideas for Wedding Presents

Many guests want to buy the couple something personal that will be cherished for anniversaries to come. Whether you choose to go the traditional route or with something more unique, the options for giving a great present are endless.

Traditional Gift Ideas

Traditional gifts have been popular presents for years. These items are sure to have a cherished place in any newlywed couple's home:

Engraved picture frames
Engraved champagne flutes
Crystal candlesticks
Wedding photo albums
Personalized champagne or bottle of wine
Cookbook collections
Small appliances
Linens
Heirlooms like tablecloths or antique figurines

Stumped for gift ideas? Just ask!

Unique Gift Ideas

While traditional gifts are great to give and receive, many couples delight in receiving something unique. If you want to give something especially memorable, consider:

Digital picture frames
His and her PDAs
Personalized dinnerware
Personal wedding website
Matching jewelry
Outdoor entertaining kits
Personalized picnic baskets

Think about the couple's personality, not just as a bride and groom, and find a gift they would really enjoy. Think about how they met, where they got engaged, or other stories you know from their life together and how a gift could incorporate that story. For instance, if they met in a city where they don't live any more, see if you can find a tourist shop online that will sell you something from that town.

Experience Gifts

A unique gift for a couple is to give them a gift an experience. Consider the interests and lifestyle of the couple. Do they love sports? Season tickets for a favorite sport might be a hit. Are they movie buffs? Include several weeks of movie passes for a weekly date night or tickets to a film festival. Do they love to cook and like learning how to create new cuisine? Pay for lessons in a certain style of cuisine at a local cooking school. If you choose the gift of tickets, classes, lessons, or other experience gifts, be sure to check the refund and exchange policy and any time limitations or expiration dates so the couple has all the information they need to use their gift.

Subscriptions

Another increasingly popular gift idea is a subscription gift. Movie rental clubs, monthly wine or coffee clubs, cake or cookies, chocolate or candy baskets, meat deliveries, candles - there is a vast number of companies willing to supply subscription or club gifts. Depending on your budget, you can get a subscription gift for few months to a year.

Time-Saving Gifts

A new couple's lives may be busier than ever as they combine their indivudal lives into one. A time-saving gift might be well-appreciated by the couple, such as:

Cleaning service for a specified period of time (If they don't already have it).
Grocery delivery for a week
A menu planning and shopping list service such as Saving Dinner
If you are very close to the couple, purchase a calander and fill in important family events, birthdays, and anniversaries to help the new couple keep track of them.
Create a 'room' gift basket that contains care items or fun additions for that room. For example, a basket for a living room or den could contain a feather duster, scented candles, pretty coasters for the coffee table, and a cozy throw.
Organizational gifts for areas like the kitchen, garage, or bath are often appreciated by the couple.

Luxury Gifts

Some of the best things in life are about the little luxuries. Consider:

Adding a service or special aspect to their honeymoon, such as a special dinner, tour, show, or event
Services at a local spa they will both enjoy, such as a couples' massage
Handcrafted items for the home
Gourmet gift baskets

Charity Gifts

If it seems like the couple has everything, or requests no gifts, you can still honor their wedding with a gift to a charity. Consider the casues that are most dear to their hearts. Be sure to check with the couple's family to see if they have registered for a charity wedding gift beforehand so you can give to their preferred cause.

Bridal Registries

Registries are great because they tell wedding guests exactly what the couple needs or desires. They are perfect for guests who are stumped on what to give the happy couple. Wedding registries take all the guesswork out of buying gifts, making it easier to pick something in your price range and go.

Even if you don't want to purchase a gift off the registry, it is still helpful to take a quick look at it. This way, you get a sense of the bride and groom's style, along with their future home's color scheme.

Gift cards are always good.

A gift card to the stores where the couple registered is also a thoughtful gift. Couples often want to buy things from their registry that no one bought them, so they can pool gift card money to help keep costs down.

Enhancing Registry Gifts

You can also enhance a gift you purchased from the registry to make it more personal. For example, if you purchase wine glasses, you could include a bottle of nice wine. Attach your favorite casserole recipe and some cute potholders to the set of casserole dishes you are purchasing from the registry. Include some gourmet coffee with a coffee maker, scented lotion or handmade soap with bath towels, or a pretty vase with tabe linens. By accenting the registry gift, you make it special and personal while still getting exactly what the new couple wants.

Great Gifts for Happy Couples

Choose wedding gift ideas that show your genuine affection for the happy couple, keeping in mind the bride and groom's personality. Whether you choose something traditional, unique or off the registry, they will think of you happily each time they use or see the gift. As a courtesy, include a gift receipt so the couple can make a discreet return if necessary.