Selecting the perfect wedding gift can feel like a challenge at times. You want it to be special, affordable, and something that the couple will be really happy to receive. Make gift shopping easier by learning the dos and don’ts of wedding gifts…
Do: Look at the bridal registry. Even if you prefer to give the couple something unique or handmade by a local artist, you should always peek at their bridal registry before you start shopping. Why? Because it is the perfect place to get a sense of their style, what they need, and what their interests are. Registries can tell you a lot, whether the couple is into gourmet cooking, entertaining, likes traditional style, prefers ultra modern design, or has a relaxed lifestyle. Armed with that knowledge, you will be better prepared to pick out unique wedding gifts which they will truly enjoy.
Don’t: Feel obligated to buy off a bridal registry. The items on the registry are a wish list or suggestions. That does not mean that you cannot go “off-list” and pick out something else. It would be the height of rudeness for a bride and groom to turn up their nose at a gift just because it was not from their pre-approved list. Give a gift from your heart, whether it is a set of china from the wish list or a handmade glass bowl you found at your local home decor boutique.
Do: Give a couple-oriented gift for the main wedding present. The more personal gifts which are geared for the bride only like wedding jewelry or a silk nightgown set for her trousseau are more appropriate as bridal shower presents. Even for a shower, in fact, you should only give such personal and taste-specific items if you are a very close friend or relative and know the bride’s taste well. For the couple, opt for something they both can use, such as an sterling silver jewelry for woman guest with their wedding date.
Don’t: Give a gag gift or anything risque. Even if you think the bride and groom would find it funny, a wedding is too special an occasion for a gag gift. Never give anything “naughty” or risque for a wedding present, either. It is too personal and just not in good taste. Think of it this way: wedding gifts should always be something that the couple could show their grandmothers with pride. While it is no longer customary to display all the wedding presents together on a table, your gift should be selected as though it was going to be seen by the entire family.
Do: Select the nicest gift you can afford. A wedding is a far more momentous occasion than a birthday, and accordingly, it calls for very special gifts. However, no one should go into debt just to buy an impressive present, so do not feel pressured to spend beyond your means. A lot of times a groups of bridesmaids, relatives, or co-workers will chip in on a group gift so that they can afford to treat the bride and groom to a big ticket item without spending too much individually.
Don’t: Get sucked into competing to come up with the most impressive wedding present. This is especially prone to happening between the parents of the bride and groom. Each person should give a gift from the heart which is within their means, and no more.
Oftentimes, the bride’s family pays for more of the wedding expenses, so it is particularly common that they might have less cash left to spend on a fancy present than the groom’s parents do. Remember that a wedding present is a symbol of your good wishes for the bride and groom’s new life together, not a status symbol or proof of who loves them the most. If you can keep that in mind, you will be able to find the perfect wedding gift.
