Wedding season is upon us! Most weddings happen between May and October. If youβve received a multitude of wedding invitations for this season, youβre probably wondering what gifts would be best for the couples whose weddings youβre attending. Whether youβre looking for engraved gift ideas or something different, here are some wedding gifts that will last the test of time!
Do I Need to Get a Wedding Gift?
Before discussing any gift ideas, letβs talk about gift etiquette. If youβve been invited to a wedding, or youβve been asked to be part of a wedding party, you might be wondering whether or not you need to get a gift. The short answer is: always! The long answer is that itβs disrespectful to show up to a wedding empty-handed. Even if you simply provide a card with some well wishes and cash, you should never show up to a wedding without a gift for the happy couple.
The only time itβs acceptable not to provide a gift is when the couple has specifically requested you donβt bring one, which is usually listed in the invitation, or you have paid for a piece of the wedding, such as the venue, dress or catering. If youβve provided funding for any parts of the wedding, you should still let the couple know that youβre providing it to them as their wedding gift, so they donβt expect to receive an additional gift on their wedding day. Regardless, you should still bring a card that congratulates them on their union!
Can I Get Something Other Than Whatβs Listed on the Registry?
This depends. Have you found something similar to an item on the registry, but itβs not from the exact place? If so, then itβs much more acceptable than getting the couple something thatβs not on their registry. Couples create registries for a reason. Itβs because those are the items they need as they walk into married life together.
Maybe you canβt afford the Ninja blender on their registry, but you found one from another store thatβs in your price range. Thatβs okay! But, providing them with something that they never asked for, or you already know they have multitudes of at home, probably isnβt a good idea.
What Should I Write in the Card?
When giving a card to the happy couple, youβll want to write something fun, happy and congratulatory! Consider phrases such as βCongrats on your wedding!β or βThank you for including us in your wedding.β If you have a deep personal connection to the couple, you can also include an even more heartfelt message about what their relationship means to you.
Wedding Gift Ideas
Now that weβve covered some of the basics of gift-giving at weddings, here are some gift ideas that will make every wedding couple smile and last for years to come!
- Salad tossers: Salad tossers are great for new couples! Theyβre personalizable, too, so you can have their name or wedding date engraved into them to make the gift feel even more special. If these arenβt on their registry, double check that they donβt have any already. If they do, but itβs a set that doesnβt have any personalization or doesnβt appear to be good quality, then youβre clear to get it for their wedding.
- A picture frame to commemorate their wedding. Theyβll be having a professional photographer at their wedding, taking lots of beautiful photos throughout their day. While their photographer might provide them with a wedding album, theyβll probably want to have one or two photos displayed on their wall or in their bedroom.
A personalized photo frame with their wedding date is a great gift to give a newlywed couple. You can also add a phrase about love, too, that will remind them of their love for one another. Itβs a unique gift that every couple is sure to love. If theyβre a couple thatβs rescheduled their wedding due to the pandemic, itβs always safer to get them something thatβs personalized but without any names or dates, as those might not be what you think they are.
- A set of glass tumblers. While typically seen as ideas of personalized gifts for him, glass tumblers are great for all newlywed couples! They will love to use their tumblers after their wedding to celebrate their union, or they can break them out throughout the years to celebrate milestones. These include their first house, their first child, graduations or even anniversaries! With a set of glass tumblers, they can use it for all their favorite drinks.
- Matching watches. The couple might get these for each other, but a set of matching watches is a great unique gift that will last for years for a newlywed couple. As long as the couple keeps their watches clean and replaces the batteries regularly, their watches are sure to last for decades. Just as plants or pets need care, as long as they take care of their watches they can both wear them for many years. They can wear their matching set of watches during all their special events together!
- An espresso maker. Who doesnβt love espresso? This is an item that some couples wouldnβt ever put on their registries because itβs so expensive, but many would love to receive one.
If youβre looking for a way to surprise the couple with a long-lasting and fun gift, an espresso maker is the way to go! They will love getting to use their espresso machine to make unique hand-crafted drinks. If youβre looking to make it extra special, consider getting them a combination machine that lets them steam milk as well. Then, they can make lattes and macchiatos for each other every morning!
- A throw blanket. You can never have enough blankets! Consider getting them a throw blanket with their wedding date embroidered on it or a blanket that has a heart pattern on it to symbolize their perfect wedding. Theyβll love curling up together to watch movies or enjoy a quiet evening together.
