A wedding is such a joyous time, not only for the bride and groom but also for the family and wedding guests. You want to choose the perfect wedding gift for the happy couple, adding to the magic of their wedding day. It’s not always easy deciding on a gift that’s suited to both the bride and groom.
If you’re not sure about wedding gift etiquette or what type of gift to give the wedding couple, this guide should help you narrow your choices down. Remember, a wedding is a happy time. Try not to worry too much about the wedding gift because all the bride and groom really want is to have you at their wedding, showing support for their lifetime journey together.
How Much Should You Spend on a Wedding Gift?
Do you have a friend or family member who’s getting married? Are you stressing over what type of gift to buy? When deciding on whether to give a cash gift, choose from the couple’s registry or go with your own ideas, it’s hard to know what is appropriate. Another concern when choosing a wedding gift is how much should you spend.
According to Vogue, you should spend at least $50 on a wedding gift, if you’re not very close to the wedding couple, for example a coworker or distant relative. If the bride and groom are good friends or family, you should spend from $75 to $150. When checking the couple’s registry, if everything is too expensive for your budget, you can give a $50 to $75 gift card for the registry store. You can also give a cash gift, using the same amounts as a guide. When giving a cash gift, it’s custom to send it to the bride ahead of time, rather than bringing it to the wedding.
7 Sensational Wedding Gift Ideas
Vintage – Consider giving a vintage gift if the wedding has a vintage theme. Planning a vintage wedding is very popular these days and offers many ideas for wedding gifts. It’s actually fun and unique shopping for a wedding gift at antique shops, yard sales and charity stores. You’ll be amazed at the vintage treasures you can find, from flowered china sets, tea servings, silver platters, Victorian lamps and shabby-chic decor. You can also choose to fill vintage mason jars with jam and other edible treats for the bride and groom to enjoy after the wedding.
Traditional – Traditional wedding gifts never go out of style because they’re practical and useful. The most popular traditional gifts for newlyweds are bedding, kitchenware, bath items and dining essentials. If you decide on bedding or bath items, you can create a theme to make a charming gift. For instance a spa them for bath items like luxury towels, bath oils and scented candles.
If you prefer kitchen related gifts, create a gift basket of all the essentials including a can opener, peeler, hand mixer, juicer and cheese cutter, for example. High thread-count luxury sheets and fluffy pillows make luxurious gifts that the couple might not buy for themselves.
Eco-friendly – If the wedding couple is concerned with the environment and promotes green living, an eco-friendly gift is ideal. Giving a sustainable gift shows your support for the bride and groom’s belief in minimizing their carbon footprint.
Visit a local nursery and choose a fruit tree that the wedding couple can plant in their yard or a community garden. The one-of-a-kind gift of a fruit tree helps prevent erosion, gives shelter to animals, as well as fresh fruit in the years to come.
Water conserving gifts like low-flow shower heads and water filtration units not only saves water but the newlyweds also save money on their water bill.
If you would rather give a sustainable kitchen gift, bamboo-cutting boards are naturally safe, as well as elegant. You can even find bamboo sheets and bedding that are organic and antibacterial, which makes them a perfect gift for an eco-friendly bride and groom.
Personalized – You can’t go wrong with personalized wedding gifts. They last a lifetime and always bring back delightful memories of the wedding day. When you have a gift personalized, the wedding couple knows you’ve gone the extra mile to give them a thoughtful and memorable gift. Whether you choose personalized stemware, luggage or home decor, personalization makes it meaningful. A few ideas for personalized wedding gifts include marriage certificate holders, embroidered pillowcases, photo frame and a silver or crystal wedding bell.
Creative – If you’re creative and love making crafts, think about a homemade wedding gift. If you don’t have time to create something from scratch, pick up natural woven baskets or wooden salad bowls and paint them with vivid colors. Hand-painted items always impress and the bride and groom will love the time you spent creating their gift. Hand painted dishes and glasses add a personal touch to a wedding gift. You can find non-toxic, dishwasher safe paints at most craft stores.
A simple DIY wedding gift that the bride and groom will cherish is a framed wedding invitation. Save the invitation that you received and frame it using the color scheme of the wedding. You can make the frame as elaborate or simple as you like.
If you’re more of a needlework person, knitting and crocheting gifts for the home never goes out of style. A crocheted tablecloth makes a gorgeous keepsake that can become a family heirloom as the happy couple’s family grows. Knitted and crocheted afghans, potholders and doilies are also sentimental mementos for the bride and groom. Put your creativity to work for a memorable wedding gift that lasts a lifetime.
Travel – For the bride and groom who love to travel, opting for a travel-related wedding gift is sure to razzle-dazzle the couple. If they enjoy hiking in the great outdoors, think about matching backpacks stocked with trail mix, insect repellant, sunscreen and eco-friendly water bottles. Two portable hammocks could make for a romantic night under the stars for the newlyweds.
Maybe, they prefer traveling to exotic places where a new camera, binoculars, travel journal or digital frame for travel photos would come in handy.
Another unconventional wedding gift for travel lovers is a wall map where the wedding couple can chart their travel destinations, pinning each spot on the map.
Rustic – Weddings with a rustic theme offer wedding guests a chance to explore charming, rustic gifts for the bride and groom. Rustic gifts can be elegant like a distressed bottle candelabra to a weathered wooden serving tray. You can also consider a rustic, chic gift created from tin canisters, metal milk jugs or grape vine wreaths and pots. Other rustic wedding gifts include hurricane oil lanterns, shabby-chic “Home Sweet Home” signs and barn door shower curtains. Anything decorative with a woodland or wildlife theme would make wonderful rustic wedding gifts.
In the End, It’s all About the Wedding Day Celebration
The sky’s the limit when it comes to giving wedding gifts. You can stick to the registry created by the wedding couple or get the creative juices flowing with knockout wedding gift ideas. Whether you want to give a traditional or trendy gift, all that matters is that you’re there to celebrate the most memorable day in the bride and groom’s life. The best gift of all is to laugh, cry and celebrate together.