Weddings…. we all love them! Watching the happy couple begin their new life together, enjoying the party, food and dancing. But what about everything that comes before the wedding! Nevermind the couple that have to plan the wedding, we have the more important task…. what to get buy them as a gift! No one want’s their gift to be forgotten, everyone wants to give a gift on which the couple will be able to look fondly and say “Our friend John[insert name here] gave us that for our wedding”. How do we ensure that this happens? If you need something quick, then take a look at the short version: Wedding season will soon be here!

Wedding Cake! - Perhaps the BEST part of any wedding..mmm!

However if you have the time… then let me ask, are you sitting comfortably?

Wedding season is nearly upon us, most of us probably know someone who is getting married this year or even people who have got engaged and sometimes finding the right gift for the happy couple can be really hard. Especially if they haven’t registered at a local department store! To some choosing a wedding gift for a couple may, at first, seem like a pretty simple endeavor. Most of us think we can just run right out on our lunch hour and grab something, have it wrapped, and, voila! — problem solved. But if you’ve ever actually tried to do this, you’ve surely discovered that it’s never, ever that easy!

Rule Number 1: If Possible, Make It Personal

Getting something personal, makes the gift memorable on the off. It’s not often that the couple will be given a pair engraved champagne flutes or a bottle of personalised labelled champagne. How well do you know the couple who is about to get hitched? Is this wedding gift going to a close, personal friend or a relative who is getting married? If you know someone fairly closely, then whatever you select needs to reflect that – people that you don’t know are the ones who are hard to buy for. But what you do know about the couple who is getting married can make your gift to them special, memorable.

Do you happen to know that the soon-to-be bride and groom love to go scuba diving or hiking?  If so, then you can make your gift something that divers or hikers use — backpacks, underwater camera, flashlight, his and her bathing suits!… even books on scuba diving or hiking would be good, particularly something like a coffee table book with great photographs that could be displayed in the couple’s living room or den.

Buying a gift for your boss… (now this one is tricky!)

If it’s your boss that’s getting married then you should really be paying attention to the type of gift that you are buying. Firstly you don’t want to appear too cheap, just because they employ you doesn’t mean you should scrimp on the gift you choose. BUT you don’t want to spend more than you can afford, just to make an impression (your boss may think your being paid too much and you definitely don’t want your gift to instigate a pay review!!).  In this case, it’s important that you know what would please your superior without spending an arm and a leg.

If you’ve worked with your employer for a long while, then you probably know some of the things they enjoy outside of the working environment. And if you’re really on the ball, then you’ll know about what his or her betrothed enjoys, too (or at least you’ll make an effort to find out – remember you are still trying to make an impression here!) . But ALWAYS go with what you know. If you know the pair enjoys golf, for instance, you might consider getting them a gift that compliments that, a couple of examples are perhaps a gift certificate for 18 holes at their favorite golf course, or something for their home such as a wall hanging or other decorative object with a golfing theme. I found some cool golf clock that I think would be perfect for this type of golf theme gift: http://www.weddinggifts2u.co.uk/engraved-golf-gifts.htm…

Wedding Gifts for People You Don’t Know Very Well (this is the challenge or is it?)

It’s happened at some point or another, maybe not a wedding… but you’ve been invited to an event where you have felt that you don’t really know the person inviting you that well, BUT they feel they KNOW YOU well enough to invite you. How do you know what to get this couple? If you have no clue about their likes and dislikes, hobby’s or interests then the first thing you need to do is  find out if and where they have a gift registry. Registry is now very common, as most couples either live together when they get married or are about to move in and thus they know what they need. Then it’s a simple matter of adding to their chosen set of china, silverware, or other household items. If the couple hasn’t registered then perhaps you are a bit screwed, alright… I exaggerate but still it makes things more difficult. But fear not, there are plenty of generic gifts out there that will do the trick just fine.

The point is that, you have been invited so you are obligated to bring a gift, whether it is a small token or small extravagant! If you don’t you then you are mean and shouldn’t be going! Come on! It’s a wedding, get in the spirit of things. Here are a few examples of some simple yet thoughtful gifts: a gift basket filled with imported wine, cheeses, fruit, and other gourmet goodies (perfect for the couple to enjoy from a honeymoon hotel suite!); linens embroidered with the couple’s initials; crystal ware (a lead-crystal vase is always a welcome gift!); champagne flutes, a wedding photo frame – for example: A Mr & Mrs Personalised Photo Frame or a collection of beautifully rendered, scented candles.

A wedding gift should express your best wishes for the couple, you along with everyone else at the wedding want to wish them a long and happy life together. I hope you aren’t going to advertise how much money you do or don’t have. So pick your gift to fit not only the couple, but your budget, as well. And remember: It’s never the price of the gift that should matter, but the sentiment with which it is given.

If you liked this article, then you may be interested in: http://www.birthdaygifts-shop.co.uk/Get-Married-On-Your-Birthday-article.php

http://www.weddinggifts2u.co.uk/choosing-your-bridesmaid,-flower-girl-and-maid-of-honour-article.php