What was your favorite wedding gift (not money)?

[Deleted]

I have 2 weddings coming up and only boring stuff is left on the registry. I'm standing in both so I feel like my standard gift of cash/check is too impersonal, but I'm coming up blank.

I'm also limited in budget, I'm already spending around 2k between the two weddings so I'm looking for something personal but around $50 or so. I can be a little flexible on that but not a lot. This is an appropriate amount based on what their wedding gifts were to me, btw.

Ideas? What was your favorite thing you got?

[mbcdefg]

Non-cash wedding gifts aren't common in my area. The only non-cash gift we received was from a friend (in addition to a check) ... it's a framed Irish wedding prayer/saying. I thought that was really sweet.

When she got married a couple years later, I got her an Irish Belleek china "make up bell."

[Deleted]

Money. Nah actually I love this cannister with all of our kitchen utensils. We didn't even register for it. We registered for the utensils and someone got them all within this cannister and it's nice and very thoughtful that we don't have to buy a single utensil. I'm easy to please I guess. Also we got concert tickets with VIP access so that was probably the best.

[bronxgirl]

My favorite non-money item was my Kitchen Aid mixer so I guess that doesn't help much. Could you get them a gift certyificate to nice restaurant near where they live?

[Deleted]

We got this fabulous king sized blanket from Pottery Barn for our bed. It is the perfect combo of light and warm. I love, love love it.

I am pretty sure it was a re-gift.

[Deleted]

Aug 28, 2012 22:27:15 GMT -5 bronxgirl said:

My favorite non-money item was my Kitchen Aid mixer so I guess that doesn't help much. Could you get them a gift certyificate to nice restaurant near where they live?

We got her a Kitchen Aid as a shower gift (bridal party) ;D

Good idea about the restaurant. That makes me wonder if there is something on their honeymoon we could buy them?

I also thought about getting them nice passport covers, but I'm not sure where to get nice ones that aren't $100 each.

[mmmomof2]

We got a gift certificate to a great restaurant near our honeymoon night hotel. They knew we were staying local for a few nights before we flew to Hawaii. It was a wonderful dinner!

[childofhiphop]

Not much help for your situation but my favorite non-cash gift and most used was my deep freezer.

I'm lame and probably too practical.

[midnightmare81]

Mason Jars (for drinking) and our coffee maker

I know I'm very lame...

[UnderProtest]

What about a nice picture frame with their married name on it? Something big enough to put a wedding picture in. Pottery barn usually has silver ones you can have engraved. None of the things we got really stood out. We registered for china and stemware and we got that and cash. Not very sentimental.

[Deleted]

Is this cool?

www.potterybarn.com/products/wedding-keepsake-box/?pkey=cframes-albums

Or lame?

I like the picture frame idea and had toyed with that one as well. Gah, I need to pull the trigger on something, I'm the worst gift shopper.

[vanillacourage]

Aug 28, 2012 22:50:05 GMT -5 @buckybells said:

Is this cool?

www.potterybarn.com/products/wedding-keepsake-box/?pkey=cframes-albums

Or lame?

I like the picture frame idea and had toyed with that one as well. Gah, I need to pull the trigger on something, I'm the worst gift shopper.

Dust catcher. And no picture frames!

[shell24]

A beautiful crystal platter with our invitation etched in from Tiffany's.

I don't think you could go wrong with any sort of serving piece/entertaining accessory from Pottery Barn or the like. Just make sure you include a gift receipt.

[bronxgirl]

Aug 28, 2012 22:50:05 GMT -5 @buckybells said:

Is this cool?

www.potterybarn.com/products/wedding-keepsake-box/?pkey=cframes-albums

Or lame?

I like the picture frame idea and had toyed with that one as well. Gah, I need to pull the trigger on something, I'm the worst gift shopper.

I have that!! It was on my registry so they knew I wanted it, but it is one of my favorite gifts. I put my invititation in it, a dried bouquet and DH's boutenieere and some wedding charms. I've had it displayed in my living room since a mointh after the wedding and i like looking at it.

[winecat]

An attachment for the Kitchen Aid mixer?

[mollybrown]

My favorite was a photo book that someone put together with our wedding pictures that they took, and had it waiting for us when we got home from our honeymoon. It was really thoughtful.

I would have loved for someone to buy a bunch of the lame and boring stuff that was left on my registry

[Deleted]

No non-cash gift sticks out in my mind.

[vanillacourage]

Coming in to offer reasonable advice - get something off their registry, then a small inexpensive plaque that says "the Jones family, est. 2012". I got one as a wedding gift and thought it was very sweet. Still have it when many picture frames have come and gone.

[joenali]

Two overnight hiking backpacks.

[Deleted]

And, if there's a registry, buy off the registry.

[Deleted]

Aug 28, 2012 22:55:36 GMT -5 bronxgirl said:

Aug 28, 2012 22:50:05 GMT -5 @buckybells said:

Is this cool?

www.potterybarn.com/products/wedding-keepsake-box/?pkey=cframes-albums

Or lame?

I like the picture frame idea and had toyed with that one as well. Gah, I need to pull the trigger on something, I'm the worst gift shopper.

I have that!! It was on my registry so they knew I wanted it, but it is one of my favorite gifts. I put my invititation in it, a dried bouquet and DH's boutenieere and some wedding charms. I've had it displayed in my living room since a mointh after the wedding and i like looking at it.

This is promising. I think both my sister and friend are the sentimental/memory keeper types.

The only problem - you can apparently only monogram 20 characters on each line and my sister and her husband have 21 characters in their first/last name :@ Not sure if I want to go with "The Smiths" or just their first names or what. I hate limits, lol.

[Deleted]

Aug 28, 2012 23:01:57 GMT -5 @misoangry said:

And, if there's a registry, buy off the registry.

Even if it is all things like towels, toasters, and kitchen utensils?

I was hoping there was something fun or pretty left - nope. At least on my sister's registry. Haven't checked my friends' since the shower so there's hope there I guess.

[Deleted]

I would assume that you know your sister well enough to buy something that she will like.

If the same is true for your friend, then go for it, too.

You know them. We don't.

Frankly, nothing mentioned in this thread appeals to me.

[Deleted]

I am the most indecisive gift giver ever :-(

Honestly neither my sister or friend are picky and will just be thrilled to get anything at all because they are happy to be in love and getting married.

I have trouble shopping for anyone for any occasion. I want to find THE PERFECT THING and never can figure out what it is.

[Deleted]

For this reason alone, you should be thrilled that there are registries.

[wannabe]

I would seriously not know what to do with some of the things posted in here. Frames and stuff not on our registry ended up donated or put away forever.

The stuff left on the registry might sound boring to YOU, but they obviously liked it enough to include. Just go with that.

[trixie459]

Kitchen Aid mixer!

ETA: just saw your price requirements, so that doesn't work. Just go off the registry- there' s a reason people take the time to create them in the first place.

[flatlan]

I had a friend from hs that couldn't come to our wedding. He sent a gift that always stuck out to me. He sent a gc and labeled it "for practical" and a poker set (we did register for it) "for fun" I thought that was really cool.

[dawnyp]

2 bottles of Princess Bride wine. One of my favorite movies of all time and some company produced 2 bottles 1 white, 1 red.

[orchideous]

DH's grandmother got us a handcrafted set of wooden salt and pepper shaker and 3 serving bowls. They were super funky and would have either been hit or a miss.
We love them though!