Wedding Tips - Wedding Gifts

Tip: Basic Wedding Registry Gifts

When you and your fiance enter a department store to complete your list of wedding registry gifts, it might seem overwhelming. While listing all of the things that you have ever wanted is a good idea, there are certain items you should definitely request. Start with the basics that every young couple will need. Flatware is important and comes in sterling silver, silver plate and stainless steel. While you will want the regular seven-piece flatware set (request at least eight sets), you should also consider adding serving spoons, a butter server, ice tea spoons, soup spoons, gravy ladle, pickle forks and a cake server. As for plates, find everyday dishes and china and request at least eight sets of each. You will need the normal dinner plates, dessert plates, cereal bowls, butter plates, a serving platter, several serving bowls and a sugar bowl and cream pitcher. When shopping for glass or crystal, remember goblets, wine glasses, cocktail glasses and tumblers.

After you have chosen kitchen items, move on to linens. Bed, bath, table and kitchen linens are must-haves. Request four sets of sheets, blankets and bath towels to eight place mats and napkins for the dinner table.

Tip: Bridal Registry Gift Giving

When you announce your engagement, you will likely being receiving gifts from friends and family. Many couples decide to register at particular department stores in order to make gift buying easier. You will also find bridal registries at jewelry stores and gift shops. Couples can choose everything they could need or want with this registry ranging from china patterns to crystal to linen to luggage. Typically, the department store will enter your wedding gift ideas into their computer system and shoppers can look your name up and see not only what is on your wish list, but what has already been purchased by others. The best part is you can choose just about anything you want to list on the registry, even those expensive items you would never buy for yourself. Often, families or friends will go in together and buy one gift, so you could end up getting lucky and receive that big ticket item you always wanted. This is the time for you and your fiancée to enjoy being engaged and remember wishes can come true on your wedding day!

Tip: Exchanging Wedding Gifts

It's possible that in all the wedding gifts you receive, you may not like a few because it doesn't match your home decor or color scheme. In this case, it is acceptable to exchange the gift. You may run into a problem if you don't know where the wedding gift was purchased, especially without a receipt. You can give the return a try, but remember that store clerks have no obligation to take anything back, especially from a person who says they received the gift from someone else. If you find that the gift is damaged, this might be the only “right” time to let the giver know that you will need to exchange the gift. With any luck, they still have the receipt.

Tip: Gifts at the Wedding Reception

You will receive many gifts at the reception and some may get lost or broken en route from the reception hall to your home. If possible, request that guests send gifts directly to your home. If a gift arrives at your home damaged, try to return it, but don't tell the gift giver. Even if you can't replace it, always send a thank you note.

You will still need a gift table at the wedding reception, but put it in an out-of-the-way area where it won't be knocked over. Don’t open your gifts until you get home because things could get lost at the reception. Another good idea is to have a trusted friend be in charge of the wedding gift table to ensure everything is safe and sound.

Tip: Handle the Bridal Registry Details Early

It can be hard for guests to decide what to get the engaged couple for their wedding. It’s easy to follow the bridal registry choices, but guests will often give gifts not listed. It's still a good idea for couples to set up their gift registry as soon as possible. While you will receive many gifts at your wedding, you will also receive quite a few gifts from the bridal registry at wedding showers and engagement parties. When you take the time to register early, you save the gift giver a lot of time searching for something you want! It is also a fun idea to have the groom register at a different “male” store, such as hardware stores, home improvement stores or even gardening shops.

Tip: Money in Lieu of Wedding Gifts

If a couple knows that they will be buying a new house, they can typically register at a mortgage company for cash in lieu of a wedding gift to be sent toward the down payment of their new home. Some statistics show that couples have received anywhere from $1,000 to $25,000 with this "registry." If the bride and groom are on an especially tight budget, money is always a welcome gift. It can be used for something they really want or even on their honeymoon. Be prepared to receive money soon after the engagement is announced and people will often give money at the wedding.

A big gift no-no: Never write tell guests you would prefer money or write it on the invitations. Parents are good messengers and can spread the word that money is desired over gifts, but even then it should just be a suggestion. Be sure to also send a thank you note for a monetary gift, but refer to it as a "kind gift" in your note.

Tip: Out-of-Town Guest Gift Giving Ideas

Oftentimes guests will travel from around the country to be a part of your wedding celebration. In this case, the bride and groom will often give out-of-town guests gifts in appreciation. The gifts are usually given as a welcome gift upon the guest’s arrival. Often the out-of-town guest gifts can be as simple as a basket of cheese and wine in their hotel room. Variations could be fruit, candy or even candles. Make sure to give your out-of-town guests a map so they will know how to get to all the festivities, from the rehearsal dinner to the wedding to the reception hall. If the guests will be staying in town past your wedding, furnish them with tourist brochures and offer them suggestions for things to do while in town. If you are on a tight budget and can’t afford to give your out-of-town guests elaborate welcome gifts, how about a box of chocolate?

Caveat: In the case of a destination wedding, you don't need to give everyone gifts as the entire guest list is likely to be out-of-towners, just like you.

Tip: The Importance of Thank You Letters

When someone is kind enough to give you a wedding gift, you must send a thank you letter in return. The rule is to send the thank you letter as soon as you receive the gift. Be personable in your letter and don’t make it sound like you are writing the same thing to everyone who has sent you a gift. Another good idea is to mention how you and your husband will be using the gift that the person has given you. If you send the thank you note before the actual wedding day then be sure and write your maiden name instead of your married one. When sending the note you should end with something like “Fondly” or “Best Regards.” Remember, be sincere and really find something to say that is uniquely special about the gift and the gift giver. Handwrite the note and never use a computer to write out your thank you's. If you don’t know who sent the gift, you will have to try to narrow it down. It is always important that you figure out who gave you the unidentified gift because there is no excuse for not sending a thank you note.

Tip: Wedding Gifts for the Parents

When you begin thinking about gifts for your wedding party, don't forget about your parents! In many cases, the parents of the bride are paying for most of the wedding so a parents wedding gift from the couple is in order. Remember, your parents are working tirelessly to help make your big day as wonderful as possible so don’t overlook them. Likewise, the groom’s family will also have their share of things to pay for so it's fitting to give them a gift, as well. While you don’t have to spend more than you can afford on gifts for your parents, a weekend getaway, a gift certificate to a nice restaurant, a department store or perhaps even theatre tickets are all great ideas. Or show your parents some appreciation and pay for their airline tickets into town if they will be flying in for the wedding. While this might not be in every bride and groom’s budget, it’s a wonderful gesture if you can afford it and will make your parent’s out-of-pocket expenses much more reasonable.

Tip: Wedding Gifts to the Guests

While the couple will want to find the perfect gift for the bride’s attendants and groomsmen, it is also necessary to give wedding favors to your guests on the big day. Giving wedding favors to your guests in attendance is a tradition and is the best way to say "thank you" to the people who shared your big day with you. While wedding favors are fun to give to your guests, they aren't mandatory if budget constraints exist. If you do decide to offer wedding favors to your guests, make sure these gifts are unique and speak to you and your fiancés personality. It's important to give favors that the guests can use. For the most part, wedding favors are either displayed in the home, used for a particular reason or eaten (like a bag of Jordan almonds).

Tip: Wedding Party Gifts

Once you've decided on who will be in your wedding party, you should think about wedding party gifts to give them to show your gratitude for their involvement. There are many bridesmaid gifts, including jewelry, stationery, perfume, jewelry or trinket boxes, silk scarves or even gift certificates that can be used for spa treatments, department stores or weekend trips. While you can certainly give each bridesmaid a different gift, the most common thing to do is give everyone something identical. Buy something that can be engraved or monogrammed to make it more personal or buy a gift in different colors for each one of your bridesmaids.

Groomsmen are also given gifts from the groom. Ideas for these gifts include money clips, date books, cologne, silk ties, gift certificates or perhaps a travel kit. Again, it is common to give each groomsman the same gift, but these gifts can be different in color or can be monogrammed. The children in your wedding should also receive gifts, but find something appropriate for the age and remember, gift certificates are a good idea at the children’s favorite toy store.

Tip: What to Spend on Your Wedding Party

Throughout your wedding planning experience -- whether it's weeks, months or years -- your family and friends have been there for you as you planned your big day. You will want to show them your appreciation by buying them a gift as a token of your appreciation. While the gifts are often matching, you don’t have to follow these rules anymore, so be as creative as you like because that's part of the fun. When you are individualizing gifts, think of each person you are buying for and how it can reflect their personality. This goes for both the bridesmaids and the groomsmen. For groomsmen, you can think about their favorite hobby and find something particularly unusual. It is important to spend roughly the same amount of money on each person as you don’t want to show any favoritism. There is one exception, however. You can certainly spend a little more on the maid or matron of honor and the best man as they have bigger shoes to fill on the big day.

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