Weddings are a wonderful celebration of love and unity and an opportunity to shower the happy couple with presents that will make their life more comfortable and beautiful. But, what is the acceptable gift for such an occasion?
Do follow the registry
Registries exist for a reason. Most couples need the basics for their new life together, so buying from the registry will ensure they really get what they want. Sure, buying towels might not be super exciting and original, but that’s something that will get used a lot and really make their lives easier. Sticking to the registry is your safest bet.
Do personalized gifts
In recent years, personalized and customized gifts have become increasingly popular for weddings. A wine gift basket filled with various types of wine and gourmet snacks is a practical and sentimental gift that the couple can enjoy on special occasions or save for a future milestone, such as their first anniversary. Other ideas for customized gifts can include monogrammed towels or linens, custom-made jewelry, or a piece of artwork featuring the couple's initials or a special quote. These gifts show the couple that you have put thought and effort into selecting a gift that is meaningful and unique to them. Keep in mind that customized gifts may take longer to produce, so order them well before the wedding to ensure that they arrive on time. As with any gift, it's the thought counts, and the couple is sure to appreciate the personalized touch that a customized gift brings.
Do cash out
In many cases, couples prefer cash, so there’s no shame in stuffing an envelope and gifting it to the newlyweds. However, some cultural exceptions might exist, so if you’re unsure, check with the couple or their family members and friends. Cash is especially attractive to younger couples who are just starting their lives together and need the money for student loans or getting a place to live. Couples like that will survive without a new toaster, but money might be something they really need. If cold cash is a bit too impersonal for you, you can opt for personalized gift cards that allow your couple to shop in millions of stores around the world and online. Just choose your design or upload an image and the newlyweds will get the personalized card in the mail.
Do ship it
Bringing gifts to the wedding can be tricky, both for you and the wedding party. You will need to carry the gift with you and the bridesmaids, or couple’s family, will have to make sure all the gifts reach the newlyweds in one piece after they get back from the honeymoon. So, instead, choose to ship the gift to the bride and groom’s home. This will spare you all the hustle and skip the middleman. It's better to ship it off directly, especially when it's something valuable like a diamond ring, designer piece necklace, or pearl earrings like Mikimoto pearl earrings to avoid damaging or worse, losing the gift on the way.
Don’t wait too long
Even though there’s an old tradition that states that wedding guests have a year to give the couple a gift. However, it’s better to leave that old belief in the past and give your present on time. Even sending your gift a bit before the wedding is completely acceptable. A couple of months delay is something you can get away with, but anything longer than that is considered rude.
Don’t underspend
Underspending is just a trait of bad taste. The amount of money people usually spend on the gift depends on the closeness to the couple and location of the wedding. Most people agree that spending between $50 and $75 is a good number for an acquaintance, $75 to $125 is a good amount for a friend while close relatives usually go $125 and above. If it’s a destination wedding, you can spend less, but if you’re bringing a plus one, spend a bit more.
Don’t hesitate to go with a group gift
If you’re planning on getting your couple something big, it’s more than okay to group up. However, make sure to check whether newlyweds need that item. If they already have a washing machine, getting another one will be a complete waste of money. But, if that’s something you know they need, it’s an amazing group gift idea the couple will know how to cherish.
Sticking to this guide will ensure your couple is satisfied with their gift and that you don’t embarrass yourself. Now that you know your gift won’t flunk, you can relax and get wild on the dance floor!
Author Bio: Amelia Atkins is an author at Smooth Decorator and a fresh architecture student. The love for architecture and design runs in her family and she knew what she wanted to do from a very young age. You can often find her with a notepad in hand, just looking at the clouds, dreaming about the next skyscraper. Twitter / Facebook.
