What Do You Get the Happy Couple

Please don't buy them an expensive bottle of champagne. It's like throwing away money just to make a point... which they won't "get". You can spend $150 on a bottle of champagne or throw $150 in an envelop.

I always do something off of the registry for a shower. If there is nothing on the registry that I can afford, then I do a gift card to that store with a moderate bottle of wine for the shower.

For weddings we always give cash. Depending on "who" they are... the amount ranges from $150 (friend's wedding that we couldn't attend) to $300 (immediate family and we attended the wedding).

If there is NOTHING on their registry like a casserole dish or whatever, then I just buy a nice pewter, white or wooden serving platter or dish of some sort that will go with anything and be used for entertaining. Wooden salad sets are good too as are cool-looking vases. You can score a lot of these things at Tuesday Morning, HomeGoods -those types of places!

a gift certificate to a divorce lawyer. lol

I wonder - are we going to the same wedding is it in June? I suggest you gift something YOU could not have lived with out. If you know them personally then I would gift them something they would really enjoy. I am still trying to figure out what I plan to gift for my crass couple - it's such a shame esp because I know they will not be married for long. So, I would gift them something they can appreciate together - do they enjoy movies? What about a movie card to AMC or another local theater they enjoy - try a route like that.

Give them a gift card to the movies and a restaurant for dinner. And in the card say soemthing about not forgetting the importance of "date night".

if its for the actual wedding i always go with $$ if its for the bridal shower id say get them something off of their registry.. its doesnt have to be anything crazy or huge

See your friend's idea is why people register for crazy stuff. Why would anyone want a bottle of champagne? I get some do but just as many don't. So you just spent all that money on something they will probably give away or choke down.

Can you tell I hate champagne?

It falls back to how it was when registries were still normal, if you don't like anything they are registered for you give them cash. Seems so simple.

The cash and champagne would probably contribute to the honeymoon so I guess that's out?

You could get them something decorative for their home. Or a gift card to a nice restaurant.

Get her a nice looking little crystal bowl/candy dish.
It's standard wedding gift fare.
You don't have to spend a lot on it.
This would do:
http://www.amazon.com/Godinger-Shannon-Square-Bowl/dp/B00...

I like to give gifts for the kitchen or bedroom, IMO the two most important rooms for newlyweds.

What about a gift certificate for a couples spa day or couples massage? Or tickets to an event they'd enjoy?

You could put together a honeymoon gift basket.. with champagnes, nice chocolates.. two champagne goblets and whatever else looks nice..
I did this for a friend who wasn't registered.. they got engaged in France, so I made the basket theme French.. I found a cd with French music, French chocolate, a little Eiffel Tower that glittered.. whatever I could find that was French... it was a hit... they liked that I was so thoughtful...
OR a bed and breakfast gift ctf... (depends on how much you want to spend)

Think about the things you need for everyday living. Sheets, towels, glassware, ect always make a nice gift.

Normally my husband and I give cash. Cash is king! But if you really don't want to give them cash try the registry.

If you are set against giving cash and refuse to get anything on their registry (hard to buy $200 sheets for someone else, isn't it? LOL)
I'd say something monogrammed....photo frame for a wedding picture, towels, guest towels, soaps, a blanket, a vase, or crystal piece.

I also like the idea below about a movie gift card and gift card for a restaurant having to do with the "date night importance" idea!

Well, I usually give $50-100 in a congratulatory card. If there was a honeymoon or house registry then I'd contribute the money there.

However, in your case I say, just don't give them anything. You should go to the wedding, shed a few tears... Go to the reception, eat a lot, drink even more, be very merry and be SURE tell them how happy you are for them, then go home with a couple of doggy bags.
That way you won't run the risk of buying them any of the "crass" little desires of their heart and maybe without you making a contribution to their honeymoon they won't have enough money to go and/or have a good time. That way you win, because it is all about YOU, right?

The last wedding gift I bought was 4 giant bath sheets. They were on sale and since I was buying myself some anyway! :)

I have heard from them since and they say it turned out to be one of thier favorite and most useful gifts

I like to give cash or a nice piece of art (pretty painting or something original).

For a bridal shower, I buy something from the registry. With an obnoxious registry, I'd probably still buy something off the registry for the shower because I don't have the time or energy to think of something else, but a good bottle of champagne is a nice idea. For the wedding itself, I give cash anyway (which is totally accepted and expected around her but I know in other parts of the country that's considered tacky) but a nice bottle of something is a good idea.