Need an Ideas for 2 Wedding Gifts..

I gave a Pampered Chef pan from their Stoneware Collection and they loved it! I own 2 of them and they are the most fabulous, versatile pan I own. I use it from brownies & roasting vegies to roasting a chicken. I like the large bar pan. You can get them online now, instead of a home party. It's not something everyone has so it becomes special (and actually used!).

How about an illustration of the couple? It's a wonderfully personal and unique gift. I am a graphic artist specializing in caricature type of graphics. I am working on 2 gift portraits now that will be wedding gifts. One couple is using their graphics on their wedding stationery, and another couple is getting graphics of themselves made to put on 'new home' postcards. The finished art can be sent to you to frame or I can have them printed on fine art canvases that are gallery-wrapped. My website is www.youlovecool.com. I don't have pricing for this yet on my website (coming soon) but if you are interested, please send me an email or contact me through my website's contact form. The cost depends on what you want (size of the final art print/canvas and details), but prices start at $150 plus the cost of the finish (a print or a gallery-wrap).

C.

Gifts can be very difficult to specialize when you don't know what is needed or wanted. However, there are lots of experiences that can be gifted. Gift certificats or gift cards to the movies, restaurants, Disneyland, SeaWorld, a local zoo, water park, or even a specialty grocery store can be great gifts. One thing that we got that was fabulous for us was a gift basket that had all the non perishables for a pasta dinner. It really came in handy that first week in our new home.

I would have to say the gift cards would be the best thing, either a grocery gift card or to a place that would be good for decorating the newlyweds home. Even Walmart or Kmart would be good. Otherwise a gift certificate to a restaurant would be nice too.

The best gift I received was a movie night basket, but not in a basket like we think of them. I t was in a popcorn bucket (from blockbuster) filled with candy and a gift card to blockbuster to pick out our own movie. It had every kind of candy we could think of and the gift card right in the middle and it had a candle in it and a bottle of champagne. It was all wrapped in clear plastic so that the bottle and candle didn't fill up the entire bucket and had a beautiful card in it saying to "enjoy" our marriage and ourselves and to relax after the stress of a wedding and family, spend time with each other and enjoy each other's company. It was sooo cute and wonderful!!!!

You could spend different amounts for the ones you know and the ones you don't and personalize it for the ones you know with even a frame or the candle with their names on a ribbon wrapped around it with love from you

A super neat gift that I saw was at a bridal shower a couple of months ago. Someone had made a huge cake using a set of towels (like a diaper cake for baby showers....this one was done all in towels). It looked super cool!

Depending on where the couple lives, you can also give them a gift certificate to a local activity. For example, we had received a snorkling cruise for two (which we kept to use for our 1 year anniversary).

Just some suggestions :O)

Marie-anne

Hi S.,

As a wedding coordinator, I have to say if the couples have registries - use them. I know a lot of people feel like they want to get the couple something more "personal", but what could be more personal than something the couple has told you they want. They have spent a great deal of time going around the stores with their little registry guns and its very exciting for them to get something in the mail that they asked for - it's like Santa going off the list.

Now, if the couple hasn't registered, I would go with what other posters have suggested, and get a gift card. Home Depot is always good especially if they live in a new place. You may also want to consider Nordstroms (even though it sounds more geared to the woman), the couple can get cash for a Nordstrom card and buy something from wherever they want.

My third and final idea if they don't have a registry and you don't want to just get a gift card is to get them something that they can use for their honeymoon - whether it be a couples massage at the hotel they're staying, or tickets to a museum where they're going, or snorkeling adventure, etc. Find out their honeymoon plans and try to sneak in a little surprise - maybe even breakfast in bed one morning.

good luck and have fun at the wedding!

I have a great gift that I just gave to a very good friend of mine on Saturday for her wedding. Go to www.sandwritten.com. The woman writes your message in the sand and takes a picture of it at the edge of the water. I put my friend's and husband's name with their wedding date. It turned out great.

Hello S., I would suggest a gift card or find out if they are registered at any of the stores.

When my husband and I got married one gift that we received that we I thought was great was a grocery gift card. All the big stores have them and it is something they will definately use.

Are they registered? That is the way to go if you ask me!

When we got married, our favorite gifts were: a loaded picnic basket, a trip to Disneyland (including Disney Dollars), and great stuff from our registry.

Things we didn't like: millions of frames of all sorts of styles and sizes which didn't work with our decor or when people didn't notify the store that they were buying off our registry and we ended up with several toasters, waffle-makers, and ovens which then had to be returned. This also made thank you cards difficult because each of maybe FIVE people thought we were enjoying THEIR toaster!

What we could have used: certificates towards the photography/video or the honeymoon location.

What we treasure to this day: I made a little book with all the cards people gave us which were full of their own personal stories, wisdom, and best wishes for our marriage. It was free but we LOVE this! Point: Be sure to enclose a wonderful, heartfelt card!

Everyone really wants a cash. Or else get something off their registry. Why chance it and give them something they really don't want?

I would think about services rather than actual items as gifts. What do you know about the couple you 'barely know'? Use that as a guide. For the couple who has everything, something like a spa or massage gift cert might be nice, another idea could be a gift cert from a place where the couple could go together to prepare a week's worth of meals to pop into the freezer (try super suppers or my girlfriend's kitchen, websites with locations are available for both!). If they are fans of things such as hiking and camping, or into theme parks or thrills (think skydiving) I bet certificates could be found for those too.

If you are crafty, a scrapped page or personally designed or engraved photo frame makes a special memorable gift, as well as anything with a personal touch, OR you could even use that to 'frame' your gift certificates.

Good luck and have fun coming up with something! I have a wedding to shop for soon so I will have to take my own advice, but it's my little sister so I need to make it extra special!

J.

Hi S., Look through the online catalog at Southern Living At HOME www.southernlivingathome.com/danacarey they have some really unique gift ideas, and the quality of the products are great! Southern Living has a large selection of cookbooks. I think cookbooks makes a great gift, especialy if you put your favorite recipe with a little message in the front. You can also email me and I will send you a catalog.
Thanks, Dana

Hi S.! For the couple you barely know, gift cards are always great. I recently got married and we got a few American Express gift cards and they have come in handy in those first few difficult months!
For the couple you know has everything: put a gift basket together of romance products! I put these baskets together for my clients at bachelorette parties and they are always a huge hit. I'm local (I do Passion Parites for the GREAT money and the ability to help women, but I also fun 2 stores in Fountain Valley!) so I'd love to give you some insight on which products I carry.
###-###-####
www.BedroomContessa.com
____@____.com

How about a lovely picnic basket with all the necessities? sturdy plastic plates, a nice table cloth, bottle opener, cork screw, small cutting board with knife, and a book of love poems.

I have an idea for a gift that would cover BOTH people! There are websites where you can to go and officially name a star! It runs about $40-$100 depending on the paperwork/map that you want to accompany it, and it is really cool since they are starting out a new life together, and what's more romantic than stargazing? www.starregistry.com is one place you can do it.

For the couple who has everything ...I was in our local grocery store (earthy/organic type of a place) and noticed this neat waste basket. It's made out of wrappers ... all kinds ... so the basket is shiny, beautiful, sturdy but also very unique. You could fill it with recyclable-type goodies. Maybe a book about recycling, re-usable bags, etc. They may have everything, but this couple still needs to be resourceful with what they do have : )
For the couple you don't know ... I would assemble a date-night basket for them fit with movie tickets, candy, Starbucks giftcards, etc. Everyone needs a night out with their hubby! : ) Hope this helps.

A NICE set of White fluffy towels are always a nice gift. You can never have too many.

Great quality bed sheets in white, off white or a fun color.

A digital picture frame is nice too, you can never have too many.

Scrapbooking sets! Everyone likes scrapbooking. I would suggest finding someone who sells it and in their catalog, they usually have an entire set with everything you need for like $20. Or a scrapbooking store, party supply or craft store should have the same.

Cocktail glasses / shot glasses / anything to do with bar or drink prep. Alcohol is cool too if they drink. Bottle of Patron, a good 2001 wine, Japanese Saki, etc.

Do they have a fav sports team? I've bought nice throw blankets with their team logo on it.

You could get them some sort of membership, something simple like Netflix, amusement park passes, etc.

Something from my gift wish list is the Dean & Deluca test tube spice rack . . . AWESOME!!

If you are on a budget, make a themed basket. Target has great stuff Wedding themed from picture frames to breath mints. Massage oils, romantic comedies, candles, journals, etc.

If they are young and children are in their future, maybe something cute to symbolize baby, if they are both 49ers fans, buy a cute onesie with their team on it. or whatever.

If you know the couple well, you could create a video presentation of their lives together, pics of ow they met set to romantic music (probably more for wedding party)

For the couple that has EVERYTHING I always get them an event. Let me explaine. We live in Las Vegas and I am sure where you are their is a plethera of things such as shows to go do and see. We get the couple tickets to a show. This has been a great hit with those who have been on the receiving end. Another idea we have done was to get them a gift certificate to a great place for dinner. For the couple you don't know well, this might be a great idea too.
Good luck!

Some of the really big wedding websites have searches so you can see where the bride & groom are registered. I would really try to stick with the registry or giftcards to the obvious places people register for weddings: Target, Macy's, Pier 1, etc...
If you know they have registries & just want some original ideas, try putting together a date basket, picnic basket, or a honeymoon kit.

For the couple that has everything.. why not make or buy a Romantic gift basket filled with items from the mild to the wild..
I have included a promotion code that will give you a $10 gift certificate to go shopping on my website if you would like to purchase somethings to make a romance basket.
my website is www.apartygal.biz the code is PGBC
Or if you would like to just purchase a premade basket I can help you with that as well. feel free to e-mail me ____@____.com or call me at ###-###-####

For the couple you barely know a gift certificate to a store like Williams Sonoma would be nice.

Hi S.
I have a hard time getting gifts for couples also. I have found that I get the best reactions when I cross-stitch them an ornament or a picture with their name and anniversary date. I have the picture framed and I also include my name and the date I did the gift. The cross-stitch Christmas ornaments always make a good personal baby gift with the date and name of the newborn. You can also find a local quilters club and ask the members what they charge for a quilt and pick out a pattern that they will do. Anything with a personal touch can bring happiness for years to come.
Good luck
D.

Gift Cards are perfect for both. Target is great for everyone.
Good Luck
N.

Registries are great because you know exactly what they want, the brand, style, color, etc. Getting something off the registry is risky because they may have it, may not use it, need it, etc. As someone who recently got married, it was great to get gifts from the registry because it was things we really needed or wanted.

For the couple you barely know, I think a Beautiful Wedding Photo Album would be nice, or a beautiful table cloth with th date of their wedding monagramed on one corner, and for the couple who has everything, find an old picture of the couple's early days, have it blown up in like a 12x14 and put it in a beautiful frame, they will love it. J. L.

Give them two books: "The Proper Care and Feeding of Husbands," and "The Proper Care and Feeding of Marriage." Both by Laura Schlessinger.

My husband and I have been married 8 years. His family stills buys us household items for birthdays, anniversaries and holidays. While we appreciate the thought and the gesture, and they are beautiful items, they simply aren't items that we use in our everyday lives. The mandolin was donated, the personalized crock is put away - actually, EVERYTHING personalized is put away or gotten rid of - we are the ones that are not into having our names on things. Our friends feel the same way, so there must be more of us out there... Anyway, my point is that people register because they usually know or have some idea of the items that they will need. If the couple did not register for some reason or if they registered for items more than you are planning to spend, gift cards for stores are great and will be used. Gift cards for experiences are great as well. I know a couple that couple that had just purchased a home when they married - they received a Home Depot gift card and loved it.

Good Luck!
L. P

Go to personalizationmall.com

You can hire (via a gift certificate) to help them organize to households into one, or there new household items so they can start off their new marriage in a comfortable new, organized home.

D.
D. Michelle Professional Organizer
www.daramichelle.com

For the Couple you barely know, I would shop off their wedding registery, and get them some kitchen appliance they need/want. Gift Cards are also great gifts- they get to get what they want/need and you don't have the headache of picking something out for them, or picking something that will get returned because they got two or three of them.

For the other couple, I would go to Sharper Image or Brookestone and get them a gift certificate. That way they can get what they want.

I always give gift cards, especially if I don't know what to get the newly weds. I go to places they have registered, or unique places such as sharper image and brookstone.

hope this helps!

Good luck!

No wedding registry?

For the one who has everything why not make a gift donation in their name to an organization that they would support?

Hi S.,
One of our wedding guests enclosed 100 crisp $1 dollar bills in an envelope with instructions to open prior to leaving on our honeymoon. The dollar bills were ideal for tipping! You don't have to be that generous but enclose what seems practical to your budget.
L.

I just got a nice wedding photo album and picture frame at Aaron's Brothers. My brother is getting married (second marriage) and he has everything so I thought this would be a good gift. By the way, they're having a huge sale. I got really nice mahogany frames from Thailand for $3-$5 each (reduced 50% and then another 50%). Cheers!
C.

As I told my mother the other day, there are three things that are really great gifts (when you don't see someone frequently and therefore know their exact tastes plus what they already have!):

1 - Cash. I usually think this is a lame gift (although always appreciated!), but in the case of a wedding, it's great. When we got married, we were getting ready to buy a house, and we really did put every cent we had toward it!

2 - Off the registry. You can guarantee that they want what you get them :o)

3 - A personalized gift. A Christmas ornament with their names and wedding date, matching Mr. & mrs. robes, an engraved item... whatever it is, I haven't yet met someone who doesn't love personalized things to commemorate the event!

Good luck!

I have an online business called Quixtar and they offer these wide range of gift albums that you can purchase for any occasion. They have gift albums for weddings, for new arrivals (baby), for men, etc. They even have one for teens. Anyways, depending what price range you are looking at, you can purchase any one of these gift albums and the person you give it to has a choice of items in the gift album that they choose from. Yes, they pick their own gift. You don't have to worry if they will like what you got them or if they are like your other friends "who has everything" they themselves will get to choose something thats in the catalog that they might not have. These are really cool gift albums. I have gotten so many rave responses because the book gives them so many choices and actually they have a hard time choosing something cause they usually find more than one item that they like (they can only choose one). The wedding album might be a bit pricey especially if it's for someone you don't really know so in those cases I have bought a "Variety" gift album that is cheaper than the "Wedding" but still has many household items that they can choose from. Let me know if you would like more info.

I see others have mentioned the loaded picnic basket. I've done that for friends, and include dessert: edible underwear. :)

The other thing--I see from other comments that I may have made a faux-pas by buying a picture frame--but the "picture" I put in it was a gift card to Bed, Bath and Beyond. :) So maybe that was a saving grace.

S., I have 3 girls too, and I had to comment because mine are spaced ages 15, 11 and 4. Best to you--

G.

Hi S.,a couple of ideas 4 you,4 the couple who has everything maybe a donation to a worthy cause would please them a gift to an animal shelter or other organization in their name is a great idea.as 4 the couple you barely know,I say you cant go wrong with a gift card some people say that they are impersonal but it gives you the opportunity to give them somthing the others didnt. a choice.a chance to pick the color or pattern they want not every one has the same taste.hope Ive been some help A.

Hello S., I am a AT HOME consultant and I have website which has a section of wedding items....
www.athome.com/tonyabroussard...take a look and see if anything catches your eye.. You can contact me if you have any questions T. ###-###-####

Hi S.,
my idea for any wedding gift ------- a gift card!!!!
That way they can decide for themselves.
Susan s.

Hi S.,

For the couple you barely know, look at their gift registry or give them something simple like a personalized wedding frame (www.personalizationmall.com). We gave my brother-in-law and his wife a personalized apron (Recipe for a Happy Marriage); it was really a cute and unique gift idea they liked a lot! And for the couple with everything, try giving them a gift certificate for Dream Dinners (they can make and prepare the meals together as a newlywed couple) Look at www.DreamDinners.com

Go to their registry and pick out a gift that is the price that you want to spend and be done with it!

One of my favorite gifts given at our wedding was a photo frame. It was really cool. It was personalized with our wedding date and our names. It is really cool and everyone loves it when they come over. That would work for both of them. Just look online I am sure you will find something that works perfectly.

I ususally gift a picnic basket for two. I line the basket and make matching table cloth and cloth napkins, add pretty wine glasses, a bottle of something bubbly, crackers, cheese, maybe some chocolates. Whatever you think they might like.

The Red Envalope has great gifts for all
theredenvalope.com
T.