Giving the right wedding gift is an art that has to be mastered in order for you to feel satisfied with your present, and also to ensure that the couples are happy with what you give them. After all, it is a symbol of your good wishes on one of the most important days of their lives. But buying wedding presents for your family and friends when they get married may not be as easy as you think. There are a million things that you need to take into consideration, and believe me when I tell you that buying a good wedding gift can be an actual task that you have to sit and plan out. Wedding gifts are a sensitive issue, because you don’t know what is enough and what is too much or too little. On top of that, you have to perpetually keep your budget in mind.
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That being said, there are some pointers and tips that can help you choose the perfect wedding gift for the couple getting married. Here are some FAQs that will hopefully make the process much easier.
1. What are some things I can always give as wedding presents?
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There are some things that the couple will be able to use in some form or the other for their new lives together, such as kitchen equipment, entertainment, beauty and bath products, and upholstery. There are always new household items in the market, and new editions of bath and beauty products, such as home spas and lifestyle kits, are in abundance. All these make for wonderful wedding gifts. Meanwhile, it is best to exclude very personal things like jewelry, trinkets, and food items, because the couple may have their own specifications when it comes to such things.
2. Should I buy a gift from the registry?
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When most couples get married they are registered with a store, where they buy things for their new home and also from which they expect guests to gift them things. The place with which they are registered is usually mentioned on invites, and even if it isn’t, it is perfectly normal for you to ask. You can choose not to give them things from their registry and pick something more personalized and special, but if you do choose to go with the registry, you can be assured that the couple will like your present.
3. How much money should I spare for a wedding present?
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There really is no limit to how much you can spend on wedding gifts, especially if it is someone who is very close to you. The amount of money you can spare is completely up to you, and it will never be considered “too much” by the couple getting married or the wedding party. However, there is a minimum limit on your presents. No matter what wedding gift ideas you mull over, make sure that you don’t go below $50.
4. How can I make the registry items feel personal and special?
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Presents from the couple’s registry are all rather impersonal, so you might want to make yours stand out from the rest. A present becomes all the more special when the message or the card attached to it contains a message that appeals to them emotionally. So, no matter what you choose to give them, it is your accompanying words that matter.
5. What (affordable) gift items are appropriate for expensive registries?
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Some couples might end up with very expensive items on their registries that are out of your budget. However, compromising on the quality of your presents is also not an option. Most of the time, brides forget to register some of the more obvious things in order to get hold of more flashy, ornate items in a store. For example, they might have registered an elaborate dinner set, but not the ladles that will be required to serve the food during a dinner party. Such practical and affordable wedding gift ideas include smaller essentials such as ladles, spoons, salt and pepper shakers, etc.,
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6. Is it okay to give cash instead of an actual present?
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You might not want to give them anything from their registry, and cannot think of anything else to give them. It is also much less trouble to give the couple cash money so that they can get themselves anything of their choice. In fact, some couples ask for cash instead of presents, so that they can use it for their honeymoon or their future home. No one is going to refuse cash, so it is probably a safe bet if you have no idea what else would be an appropriate present for them.
7. How can I keep track of my expenses without compromising on the gift?
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Sometimes, attending a wedding can be an expensive affair. Remember, you have to buy the dress, do your hair, travel to the destination, and above everything you have to buy the wedding gift. All this has to be done without spending an exorbitant amount of money. No matter what the case is, you have the right to buy anything you want, whether it is from their registry or not. You are not under any compulsion to buy anything beyond your means, and at the end of the day, it is the thought that counts.
8. Can I give a joint gift along with other people?
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Yes, you can. In fact, this is one of the smartest ways of giving a wedding gift to the couple. You can pool money with some other friends or family members, and buy something better, nicer, and more expensive for them, without one individual having to bear the entire expense. This way, you can contribute without spending too much, and the couple too will be very happy with the scale and depth of the present.
9. What if two people buy the same gift?
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Irrespective of whether you are buying a present from their registry or not, you might end up giving the same gift to the couple as someone else. In such cases, it is best if you include the gift receipt along with the wedding gifts no matter what you are giving them, so that if the unfortunate situation arises, it is easier for them to go to the shop that they are registered with and exchange it for something else.
10. How long can I wait after their wedding to give them their presents?
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Ideally, it is said that you should send the couple their wedding presents a couple of weeks before the big day. However, it may not always be viable to do that. Although you traditionally have a year to give them a wedding gift, it is best if you don’t wait for so long – you might think it is too late to actually give them your present, and you might also keep procrastinating and putting it off. By that time, the couple will start questioning their relationship with you, so you might as well be prompt. The ideal time limit is two months.
11. Do I need to buy a present for the shower and the wedding?
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It is absolutely essential that you buy separate presents for both events. After all, you will be getting party favors and wedding favors at both, and if you are separately invited for both, then you have to make sure that you bring something with you each time. The shower present can be less extravagant and elaborate than what you give the bride for the wedding.
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12. What should I do when the couples says “no gifts” in their invites?
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Some couples explicitly state “No gifts, please,” on their invites. In such cases, it is best if you respect their wishes and don’t turn up with a large gift in tow. You might think that the gesture might be received well, but it might just have the opposite effect. Not only will you make them feel uncomfortable when you hand them your present, but everyone else in attendance will feel the same way as well, because then they will feel miserable for not having brought one themselves. It is best to avoid this whole mess and give them something in person later, if you really want to.
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