Wedding Gift Ideas

[SaraV]

Perhaps this thread will help out more people than just me...

Attending a wedding June 1st for a former intern/friend of my husband's. We may have met the bride once. Took a look at their registries at Target and Younkers today and just went "Bleh." Too expensive, already bought, or too strange to gift. (Congratulations! Here's a mirror.)

I was thinking about buying some kitchen utensils they registered for and packaging them nicely, but they registered for KitchenAid brand. ($12 for an ice cream scoop? Yeeaahhh....no) I could just get a gift card, but I would like it to be a bit more personal.

What's something you received off-registry that was really cool/appreciated?

TIA!

PS - In this specific instance, the couple already has a somewhat established household since he got a job waaaaaay out of their state in February.

 

[RollsRoyce]

Hey I'm going to a wedding that day! South Dakota? Depends on how much you wanna spend. Kitchen aid is always nice to have.

 

[CycloneNorth]

Pocket *****

 

[MrApathy]

get them a blender thats always a good one

I have a kitchen aid pizza cutter the thing is built like a tank and will probably be passed on to next of kin

 

[Angie]

I agree with RollsRoyce - the KitchenAid stuff IS more expensive, but it lasts for forever. Every other ice cream scoop we've ever gotten sucked, including the Pampered Chef one that leaked that crap from inside of the handle out all over our drawers. But the KitchenAid stuff has held up for forever.

Is there anything special that signifies that time they worked together, etc.? Any activity they used to do that could inspire you, etc.? I think it's just sort of a lost cause that you're going to be able to magically guess a special gift for the bride, barely knowing her, but maybe there's an inside joke or story that could inspire a nice gift. Heavy beer mugs from a bar that was special to your husband and his friend at that time, etc.

 

[wartknight]

Even if you think it is too strange to gift, you can't go wrong sticking to the registry. I remember opening up gifts and after too many picture frames to count saying to my wife "Why did we spend all that time on our registry?"

 

[cyrevkah]

I had a kitchen timer on my list, but no one got me one. So months after the wedding we finally got one. I use it all of the time.

 

[CapnCy]

Definitely get them what is on their registry...a wedding is a time to get nicer things or things that last...and things they want! I remember some older folks got us things that my wife basically put right in the garage sale bin.

Obviously, gift cards are easy. Nice restaurants in the area they life or if there is a place like Stephens, a gift certificate for show tickets. I've also done a six pack of local brewed beer with a gift card. I know we kept some of our gift cards on reserve a bit and they were handy when we got settled and then needed/wanted something for a room in our house.

A couple other things I've gotten people in the past are things like a nice bocce ball set (they last forever, one of those things you may not normally buy for yourself), maybe a nice set of "corn hole" bean bag boards, etc.

 

[Tailg8er]

If you know their favorite sports team (I'm assuming ISU...) you could get them something related to that to help decorate their place.

Maybe it's a bit manly, but the couple of times I've gone this route the couple seemed to enjoy it.

 

[Clone9]

Something off the registry.

 

[Cyclonin]

I gave my groomsmen personalized whiskey glasses. Basically their name, established (year they were born), and their were 5 that came in a nice cedar box. I don't know the people at all, but I loved these things so much I ordered one for myself. They are pretty cool looking, but I could be way off on what they like.

Personalized Rocks Glasses Set with Cedar Gift Box

 

[3TrueFans]

I'd just find something on the registry that fits the price range you want to spend, easy peasy lemon squeezey.

 

[cowgirl836]

I'm not a big fan of off registry gifts either - just because I know that we registered for stuff we wanted or needed......and aside from one nice little set of baskets, the off registry gifts we ended up with resulted in an abundance of picture frames, pieces of fine china we have nowhere to display (or use), and even duplicate gifts for something similar we registered for (that someone else had gotten us). I know money or gift cards seem impersonal, but I really liked those because we put them toward bigger items we needed, like a couch. Depending where they are registered, they may have a completion discount where they get 15-30% off remaining registry items, so a $30 gift card could go even further. Someone did get us a couple kitchen gadgets with kitchen towels thrown in - I really liked that!

If you don't like the remaining choices/cash/gift card option, then I would go with something they wouldn't normally get for themselves like a bottle of their favorite wine/beer/liquor and a gift certificate to their favorite restaurant or local attraction. Basically something for a date night

 

[LutherBlue]

I'd give them some money to put toward the cost of the pre-nup.

 

[liljones13]

I just got married last June. One of the best gifts my wife and I got were gift cards to local restuarants. It gave us a reason to go out and have a date night. Or spending money for your honeymoon was great as well.

 

[MNCyGuy]

I'm going to echo those saying to just get something in your price range off the registry, even if you think it's weird, silly, or over-priced. That bride probably has a specific place in her house for that mirror you find odd, and because they just moved and were saving for a wedding hasn't been able to spend the money to decorate. If she's anything like my wife, she'll be tickled that somebody actually bought some of that stuff and not just another set of nice-ish dish towels or something. Unless you are a relative that can gift something of real sentimental value or are willing to put down big bucks to get a really nice appliance the couple didn't register for because they didn't want to seem greedy, off-registry gifts just suck. Even if they are really nice, 9 times out of 10 that just means you have something you can't use or don't see yourself using, but you'll feel guilty about re-gifting it (thanks for the crystal dessert bowls Aunt Mary).

 

[JP4CY]

Have you thought of giving the money to a charity in their name?
I am the local rep for the Human Fund, so you can send me a check, and I'll make sure it gets used.

 

[klamath632]

Okay, well, uh... candlesticks always make a nice gift, and uh, maybe you could find out where she's registered and maybe a place-setting or maybe a silverware pattern.

 

[oldman]

How about, just give them some cash. I know my bride and I were much appreciative, especially for our honeymoon. Another idea might be a gift cad to the place(s) they are registered. Then they can purchase things that they did not get.

 

[CycloneGB]

I'd give them a bread maker..