Buy a calendar when an upcoming family wedding is announced and note birthdays and special family dates on it. It's a very welcoming gesture to the new family member, including them in on the "good stuff". Be sure to write down addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses should the new family want to send greetings.
By Tahloolabelle from Ventura, CA
Do away with the wrapping paper for a more eco-friendly present.
Go through the calendar and write in each member of the extended family's birthday, and age if you think people would not mind it.
Create a picture book for the groom with pics of his bride-to-be as a baby.
Buy big red or green bin and fill with Christmas decorations. Stencil the couple name on the bin. Buy half price decorations after Christmas to fill it.
For the new bride, along with a card or gift, also give a recipe card with an easy dish. The new bride (and of course the groom) will appreciate an easy dinner idea.
I have an older friend who is getting married to a lady at my church on December 31. I would like ideas for a gift to give them. They both have houses with everything they need. The lady has 4 sisters that will probably get anything she might need. The guy has been self sufficient for years. Did I mention they are both in their late 60s or early 70s? I thought of a gag gift, but I was strongly encouraged that they may not find humor in such a gift on this occasion. They are fairly serious individuals.
Thank you for your time and input.
By Suntydt from Tazewell, TN
You could give them a gift card to their favorite restaurant and if you really wanted to do it up nice, throw in a limo right to complete the night.
Definitely what Redhatterb said!
My new husband and I are in our mid-fifties, and our friends gave us dinners out and prepaid tours on the occasion of our wedding in Jan 2011. Very much appreciated and we had several lovely outings thanks to our wonderful friends.
This tip is for an unusual wedding gift. I have heard many new brides complain that after the wedding when they are just starting out, they do not have the money to get their dress cleaned and stored.
My husband's boss is getting married next month. My husband is the office manager and has worked for him for 4 years. We were invited to the shower (a couple's shower) and so have already bought a gift (over $100). The boss and his bride-to-be both come from wealthy families, and the wedding is in New York (we live in Michigan). We both have to take a day off from work to drive to New York because we can't afford to fly, and we are spending a lot of money to stay at a hotel for 2 nights - since we are also invited to the rehearsal dinner the night before.
I am at a complete loss as what to give as a wedding gift. Money would not be appropriate, we already bought from the registry, and we are spending quite a lot just to attend the wedding. Any suggestions?This one is hard because you are not related and I don't know if you know your dh's boss well enough to get away with many of the suggestions offered.
If you know what their religion is, try going to a bookstore or thrift store and picking out a bargain book in very good condition that relates to marriage.
If you or any sisterfriend of yours makes nice, embroidered lavender-stuffed small cushions, that would be lovely.
Print out Gift Certificates that are "Out There" from your computer - like offering to show the bride-to-be the best places to shop around your dh's work, easy midnight snack recipes, Married Girls' Night Out times, or you can even offer a few certificates in something at which you know you excel. One of our adopted adult sons, for example, loves my cooking, is divorced and, even though he's pulling in a far bigger salary (with no alimony!)than I could ever imagine, he's always broke. So for his birthday, dd and I gave him a Gift Certificate of 53 lunches, one for each week, plus one spare, to take to work with him, and they're only leftovers - but he loves it!
DON'T downgrade or downplay your God-given talents. What may seem obvious to you is impossible for the woman who has everything.
Ask people who are close to you what is, in their opinion, your strongest capability, and see if you can give the new couple a gift related to that.
I'll bung up some prayers for you, Dear Heart.
To the original poster, I wouldn't get them anything else. You have already spent more money than you might have for a relative, and your involvement in their wedding should be enough. All of the wedding gift ideas were superb, by the way! Very ingenious and frugal. Just relax and have a good time.
I don't think you should be expected to give another gift since you've already gotten an expensive gift. however, if you think you should a first year together Christmas ornament is nice! You can pick those up pretty inexpensively and if you are crafty, even better! Gift cards to restaurants are great gifts!
A basket of goodies like candies, nuts, chips and dip, with a candle and pair of matching glasses that you could pick up at a thrift store. After spending what you have, I don't think you should go overboard since they aren't family. I think you should keep it simple.
How about a nice basket that you fill with things yourself. Either Wine and Cheeses and foods or bath items for a romantic bath. Add some candles in and a couple of inexpensive but nice looking wine glasses. They make all sorts of cute playful looking ones now that are fun and not spendy.
Or just a set of nice summertime wine glasses, they come with all designs and are made to be fun for summer. You can get a pitcher to match if you wanted to get drink glasses instead. Nice gift and not a lot of money.
My daughter is getting married for the third time. Any suggestions for a wedding present? Thanks.
By ralphed from Middletown, NY
What wedding gift can I get for a young relative that I barely know who is a millionaire and so is her fiance'? Nothing has been said about her being registered anywhere. Asking about that is not an option in this family, a very sore subject. I can't go into details about that.
This young woman isn't fond of any of us on this side of the family, but the wedding is being held in our area even though the couple live many states away, and it is an opportunity for us to see the rest of the family.
It also isn't an option for us not to attend. It's a crazy family. This relative is on the extreme when it comes to her party lifestyle which makes it very difficult to give something that would have any meaning or value to her.
I thought of a restaurant gift certificate, but since I've never seen her eat anything other than fast food and as I said they live far from us so I have no idea of what kind of a restaurant they would enjoy. So, if anyone has a cool idea, I sure could use it. Actually there are three families of us in the same boat concerning this wedding.
By Dorothy Myers from NY