Wedding Gift Ideas That Won’t Break the Budget

 

Purchasing a wedding gift shouldn’t break the budget nor should visiting the bridal couple’s wedding registries website cause heart palpitations.  If items chosen on that dreaded list are out of your comfort zone, here are a few less expensive ideas. 

Purchase Within the Budget

Consider the couple’s registry as a guideline and buy what you can afford with their taste in mind.  Just remember that all gifts should be thoughtful.   Each should reflect our feelings for them.  

For example, instead of purchasing the requested set of gourmet pots and pans, purchase a set of gourmet seasonings.  

Still, if you shop early, you may find more affordable items on the registry, even for the honeymoon registry. Purchase gear rentals instead of one of their chosen activities.

Note

The rule that the gift’s value must equal what your hosts spend on your meal is illogical.  Bridal couples shouldn’t expect guests to provide their own wedding reception dinners.  Crazy.  There’s no magic dollar amount that should be expected for wedding gifts.

Use What You Know About the Couple

Do they love art? Travel? Wine? Cooking? Collectables?  Surprises? Consider what they do in their spare time and how they decorate.  Consider what they value.

Say the bridal couple loves cooking and trying new recipes with their friends.  They also love surprises.  An appropriate wedding gift could be a personal chef for the night or a cooking class.  Alternately, a gift basket you fill with yummy gourmet delights just might be perfect. 

Note

Etsy has many choices of personalized gifts.

Use Your Creative Talents

I’m not that crafty but I can follow instructions.  Check out Ehow, YouTube, and Pinterest for ideas and instructions.  I simply entered “how to make a wedding gift” into YouTube’s search bar and found many lovely ideas. 

Creative Alternatives

• Handwritten Poem
• Wedding Quilt
• Framed Photo of When the Couple Met

Note

How about personalized Champagne flutes?  You can make them with instructions and a video on YouTube.

Group Hug!  ...um... Gift

One of my favorite wedding gifts I used most every week was a pasta maker.  It was a group gift from family.  Loved it!  And your—soon to be married—friends may too!  So, for those larger, more expensive items, gather friends or family and pool your resources.  It’s logical and won’t hurt the budget.

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Please read my contributions to a similar article in the StarNews