Stumped when it comes to shopping for a wedding gift for your favorite couple? Sure, there's always the registry — but if you want to stand out from the crowd and get them something they'll remember forever, you're gonna have to veer off the registry.
"When selecting a gift that's not on the registry, you can really show the thoughtfulness and care that went into selecting something you know the couple will love," said Kristen Maxwell Cooper, executive editor for The Knot, the largest online resource for all things wedding-related.
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According to The Knot's 2015 Bridal Registry Study, 6 percent of gifts aren't from a couple's registry.
Here are six simple ideas to help you become the best wedding give giver. And if you're still struggling, we have a cheat sheet at the end.
1. Think about the groom. Get a gift that they will both enjoy, such as a subscription to a wine club or a tour of a nearby winery — if they like wine, Cooper said. Or, go in with a few friends on expensive outdoor gear, such as a set of kayaks or paddleboards. "High-ticket gifts such as these are perfect for group gifting, and it gives the couple a fun activity to do together for years to come.
2. Get a gift that keeps on giving. If you know that they love going to the beach, put together the ultimate beach kit with new chairs, umbrellas and a carryall that hauls it all to the beach, said Sandy Malone, owner of Sandy Malone Weddings & Events in Washington. Or, if they have a hot tub, you could gift them with a fun setup to hold towels and cold beverages on their back deck by their Jacuzzi, Malone said. "I received a fantastic huge picnic basket, with a wine cooler and adorable dishes in it that we use frequently and both enjoy," Malone said.
3. Monogram it. "Everybody loves to see their new monogram — just make sure she's taking his name, first," Malone said. Lands' End has plenty of monogrammed home goods to consider, and you can usually get free shipping, Malone said. One idea that's a little more groom-friendly would be to give the couple a handcrafted sign for outside their home with their names or even their address, said Erica Dargene, owner of Hitched Inc., in Illinois and soon to be in Oregon.
4. Give an experience. This is far more creative than something that just sits on the mantle, said Aviva Samuels, Palm Beach-based wedding planner with Kiss the Planner. This could be anything from a couples massage to a day trip or even something as simple as a gift card to their favorite restaurant. "If you think both parties would be up for an adrenaline rush experience such as zip lining, racing cars around a track or a helicopter ride, why not push the envelope and make the experience something to really remember?" she asked. Check out Cloud9living.com or Excitations.com for fun experiences, Samuels said.
5. Handmade and with love. No, you don't have to make it yourself. But it's easy to find someone to make a great gift for you, said Samuels, who loves to shop for wedding gifts at Scoutmob.com or at Etsy.com, where you can find unique handmade items.
6. Gift cards for an experience. Can't figure out what exactly they'd want? "Tickets to attend a special event are great, but do you know if the bride is really into hockey? Does the groom enjoy Broadway musicals as much as his bride?" Malone asked. Sometimes, she said, a generic gift certificate for a ticket broker is the best route to go, so they can figure out what they both want to see or to do together to make a memory. "They will think of you when they attend," she said.
Still stuck? Copy these favorites. Cooper unexpectedly received a wine fridge as a wedding gift, which was her favorite present hands-down. "Living in New York City, space is always a concern, but the mini version we received fits just six bottles, so it takes up hardly any space," she said. "Plus, its black, square design is super sleek and fits in perfectly with our modern decor." Sharokina Pazand, event director at Citygirl Weddings & Events in Chicago, said her fave was a set of monogrammed towels. "It's priceless to open a gift and to see your new monogrammed initials on something for the first time," she said. Malone's favorite: a handcrafted kaleidoscope. It now sits on an antique dressing table in her master bathroom, and she looks at it fondly every day — and she remembers exactly who gave it to her.
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