Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with gift and wedding

Print-on-demand presents?

cuddles.mcsnuggy — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 12:27:43 -0800

Is there such a thing as an online vendor from whom I can purchase print-on-demand gift certificates as a wedding gift that I can put in today's mail? So I have some friends who were married several weeks ago and I couldn't go to the wedding. Mainly out of forgetfulness (with a touch of lazy), I have not yet procured a gift. They've said they don't really want gifts but I still wanted to send a token of some sort. The couple is in their late 40s who already have an established home and children and don't need appliances or other things to get their household started. They live in another town so I'd like to mail them a modest gift card or certificate -- something fun or sweet and appropriate for a newly married couple, that they can use online or at some kind of specialty retailer.

I've had the wedding card here waiting to be sent for some time, so if there's a way I can print off a gift cert. today that would be ideal -- instead of ordering something and waiting for it to come to me before I can send it. I'm not interested in generic retailers like Amazon, Target, William Sonoma, etc. Also not interested in "(Edible thing) of the Month" arrangements. I'm thinking more along the lines of a certificate for something like wines, desserts, interesting/odd household items, or other newlyweddish stuff. Anyone have ideas?

I got you this cosplay custome so you can wear it at the wedding.

jstarlee — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 10:17:00 -0800

[WeddingGiftFilter] Looking for a wedding gift for a friend of mine. Male and works in a hospital. A friend of mine is getting married in October. I've known him through a mutual good friend but consider him a decent friend as well. Since we live in different states we've only met each other a couple times - however we used to play the same online game everyday and would constantly talk to each other. I know he likes the sportscar Integra, Japanese anime (full metal alchemist) (but definitely not an otaku), plays guitar sometimes...and that's pretty much it! Oh and he's Asian!

I've thought about getting him something anime-related but figured that's too immaturish. I want to get him something that he can still look at in a few years and appreciate as much. Price range $50~$85 would be great.

Thank you for your help Hive Mind!

What's the difference between a 'wedding' and 'bridal' shower, and what gift do i bring?

lblair — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 11:58:14 -0800

Difference between "wedding shower" and "bridal shower" and what gift goes with what? (wedding gifts vs bridal shower gifts.) First of all, I apologize- I really thought this seemingly simple question would be something I could google, but the more I read the more confused I get. So please help me.

So I am going to a wedding soon as the date of a friend of the groom's. i know and like the bride but we've only met a few times, so we aren't best friends or anything. to my surprise, I got an invitation to the "Wedding Shower for [Bride and Groom]" addressed to just me (care of my date.) Upon googling, it seems that the only possible difference between wedding and bridal shower is whether or not the guys come- but it was only addressed to me. so is this a bridal shower? Also, inside the shower invite, it says where they are registered. Does this mean I should be bringing the wedding gift to the shower? (as opposed to 'bridal shower' gifts?) I just don't want to look like an ass by showing up with the wrong gift, or without one if i should have one, or with one if i shouldn't be bringing one (I thought wedding gifts were usually mailed, but if i am supposed to bring it to the shower, i certainly can.) should i be bringing a bridal shower gift and mailing a wedding gift later??

Thanks. Again, I'm surprised the internet wasn't able to help me much. Weddings are so damn complicated- I think if I ever decide to get married I better stick to eloping so I won't mess anything up. Also this is the first shower I've ever attended so any other helpful tidbits about etiquette or what to expect are welcome.

How much to spend on a wedding gift, general rule?

sequin — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 08:21:09 -0800

Non American needs help with determining a "fair" $ gift amount for upcoming and any wedding. Although I have lived in the U.S. quite sometime I always get stumped when it comes to determining a fair amount to be spent on a wedding gift or cash gift. I would totally hate to be considered stingy or cheap. I have asked my friends many times regarding the $ etiquette but I never seem to get a clear answer. I live in NYC and so is the upcoming wedding. The affair will not be a fancy high-end wedding, more casual and fun. (in case that helps) However, I would appreciate a general guide so that I can apply it to any wedding scenario.
Also, I presume if I bring a guest with me that the amount would increase to cover the cost of the meal?

Grill pan gift suggestions for newlyweds

grouse — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 09:20:02 -0800

I'm going to get my friends a grill pan for their wedding. What should I get and what should go with it? My friends like barbecue and meat, so I thought about getting a little patio grill. I called their apartment's management office and they said no way. So instead my idea is to get a grill pan.

They have a lot of other Calaphon Contemporary nonstick stuff on their registry, so I was going to go with that unless you have better suggestions. What are your suggestions for size and model? I see Cook's Illustrated did a roundup, but not being a subscriber I can't see the results. I figured a small one would be fine—assuming they aren't going to have big parties, they aren't going to wish for one of those unwieldy double-size ones, right?

Then the question is what to go with it. One route would be to get some accessories like some nice tongs and a cookbook (suggestions welcome). Maybe an oversized container of kosher salt (I know they would get a kick out of this since she is converting to Judaism). Even with all that it's probably not as big a gift as I wanted to send them so I would probably want to add another small-medium item. Suggestions welcome.

Another idea would be to buy some steaks. Are mail-order providers like Omaha Steaks worth it? If so, recommendations are welcome! Or maybe I should try to arrange something with a local butcher or store instead (they live in Houston). While I usually hate gift cards, I think life is a bit crazy there right now so I was thinking I would get them a gift card so they can use it whenever they want. On the other hand, the mail-order steaks are frozen anyway, so maybe I should just send them now.

I'm looking to spend about $100 overall, which is why it will probably be either steaks or accessories. I'd prefer to ship (and unless I buy before the wedding tomorrow that is my only option). Amazon Prime options are also preferred cause I can ship them fast for free.

Your general advice welcome.

Just a tree, please.

wrinkle — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 18:22:57 -0800

I'm looking for a gift that is somehow tree related. This hasn't been an easy search. Help! I'd like to get something for my parents and in-laws to thank them for all of the help and support they gave us in the days leading up to our wedding. We like the idea of a tree and all of its wedding appropriate symbolism with the roots and branches and so on. We'd like to keep it under $300 per gift.

Ideally it would be some sort of sculpture but we're open to other ideas including paintings, photographs, or rugs.

We don't like the semi-precious gemstone wire trees or bonsai trees. Also, we're not interested in planting or adopting a tree.

I like the botanical pieces from Michael Aram but he doesn't have anything that is just right. My husband likes this photo of the Angel Tree but $650 and not even framed is a bit out of our reach.

I've googled myself stupid with this for over three months, and it feels great to surrender.
Thanks for the help!

Wedding etiquette

ryanbryan — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 02:21:34 -0800

What is proper etiquette surrounding cash as a wedding gift.....? I'm going to a wedding early next year, where the couple (who are older and already have house things etc.) have requested cash as a wedding gift. While I don't have a problem with this, I'm wondering what the proper etiquette is here, with regard to whether or not you give the money anonymously, or put it in a card where you indicate who it's from. I went to another wedding last year, with the same cash gift request, and I gave it anonymously. When we discussed it amongst those that were at the table, about half gave anonymously, and half gave with a card. Anyone out there know what is the proper way?

If it's worth anything, I'm in Australia, and the couple getting married are white Anglo-Saxon. While race and culture may not necessarily play a part, anecdotal evidence would tell me that some cultures are particularly observant of wedding customs (in relation to gift giving), so perhaps it's worth mentioning.

Mystery wedding gift

desjardins — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 15:10:21 -0800

I don't know who gave us this wedding gift. What's a tactful way to find out? We didn't open our gifts until we came back from the honeymoon, at which point they had been transported from the ballroom to the hotel room to my car to the house. A card or tag fell off of one of the gifts (or it was unmarked to begin with), and we don't know who it's from. We didn't find any loose cards or tags.

It's a relatively inexpensive gift from our registry. By process of elimination, it could be from any one of 6 people, but none of those people were "expected" to give us gifts anyway, either because they had given us a generous bridal shower gift (and because of finances, couldn't afford more) or because they were performing some service at the wedding (and they were asked that their service was to be their gift to us). Perhaps one of them thought they "should" bring something anyway, and if that's the case I especially want to thank them. How do I go about figuring out who it is? I don't want to make anyone feel badly that they didn't get us something.

Gift for a goth wedding?

velvet winter — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 20:35:59 -0800

Help me choose an unconventional wedding gift for a goth couple. Friends of mine are getting married this Halloween. The bride and groom are in their late thirties, and they've both been in the goth scene for many years; the groom plays in a goth band. The ceremony is a masquerade affair, so all the guests will be attending in costume, and the bride, groom and attendants will be dressed in black. Though I can't attend the wedding, I'd like to send them a small gift that fits with their theme. But what should I get?

They've lived together for years, and they don't really need any start-a-household items. They already have large music, movie, clothing, and board game collections. They haven't registered anywhere, so I'm on my own in choosing a gift, which would be great if only I could think of something!

I want to get something creative and unconventional that won't strain my grad-student budget too much. I'd like to avoid sending cash or gift certificates, and I don't think I will have sufficient time to do anything crafty or handmade, unless it's something really simple.

I'm drawing a blank. What kind of wedding gift might be suitable for a couple like this? Any ideas would be welcome. I'm in Portland, OR, if it matters.

What to get my best friend and her husband to be for their wedding?

miasma — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 05:17:44 -0800

WeddingGiftFilter: My best friend is getting married in 2 weeks and I'm kind of at a loss about what to get them. I'm quite close with the groom as well, knowing him for the last several years. In fact, I became an ordained minister and will be officiating their marriage on the wedding day. Help me pick out a gift! Details follow. Previously, previously , and previously.

The couple: Silly, random, and lovely people who enjoy the closeness of their friends. They also just moved to a new apartment this month after living in their last one for the past 6 years.

Her: Dominican immigrant moved to NY, An avid mac user, online message board runner for soap operas and other snarky commentary. Trash novel reader but also appreciates good lit (e.g., Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Jorge Luis Borges) and magical realism. Recently got a large fish tank and in love with fish, but her interests will ebb and flow.

Him: White boy who moved from California to NY, Hacker (modded PS2, PSP, PC Case / Subscription to Make), Linux user, guitar player, movie watcher (recently grabbed all of MST3K), weird t-shirt (ala T-Shirt Hell) wearer, beer drinker, cappuccino appreciator

Looking to spent somewhere between $100-$200, but less is okay. They do have a registry from Williams-Sonoma, but I think that's more for non-close friends and family. Again, I'll be officiating their wedding, so something that ties into that could be fun.

Doesn't hafta be big, could just be random and silly.

Thoughts?

Best men's watch for $1,500?

20something — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 17:32:46 -0800

I have approx. $1500-2000 to get my fiance a nice watch for a wedding gift. Help me choose the best men's watch for this price range! I have approx. $1500-2000 to get my fiance a meaningful wedding gift. I am thinking of getting him a nice watch, something dressy that he can wear on special occasions as he is not a 'daily' watch wearer.

What brand/model would give me the best bang for my buck? I know nothing about men's watches...

I am open to other gift ideas as well. he is a 26 yr old, Canadian male.

Ideas for awesome gifts for our bridesmaids and groomsmen?

Tren — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 14:55:50 -0800

My fiancee and I are getting married in a month. We have kind of an embarrassingly large bridal party but we love them and want to give them cool presents! We're on a budget (we could probably spend up to $40 per attendant). We are open to creative ideas. Wedding is in San Francisco, and many attendants will be flying in from distant places.

Wedding/anniversary gift ideas for hard-to-shop for couple!

pseudostrabismus — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 14:47:03 -0800

Gift ideas for close friends' wedding / first anniversary, please! I didn't get my friend a wedding gift (she demanded that her bridesmaids not get gifts) but it's almost a year later & it still bugs me. Their first (paper) anniversary is fast approaching, and I'd like to get them something special.

Budget = under $200.
I'd be happy to get them some kind of experience rather than an object. Maybe a meal somewhere? I have thought about this daily for over a year, and I have NO idea what to get.

About them:

Her: 30, actor, very urban; likes cooking, dancing, shopping, film, Alvin Ailey dance company. Dislikes camping, wilderness, hunting, plant life, computers. Taste in home decor runs towards "South Asian hippie bordello" - dark, carved wood, bright fresh flowers, coloured glass jars, candles, rich, intensely-coloured indian silks draped over Xmas lights. Fave colours: baby blue, grass green.

Him: 40, animation painter, very nature-oriented. Loves camping, wilderness, hunting, canoeing, guns & crossbows, painting. Dislikes urban life. Taste in home decor runs to "Hunting Lodge"- canoe strapped to the ceiling, dark distressed wood, paintings of pine trees, antlers on the wall. Fave colours: chocolate brown, moss green.

They are both gregarious, playful, messy, funny, laughing, lovely party animals, generally adventurous & up for anything. They both like good food (avoiding refined sugar), dancing, and Christmas. They tend to be a little strapped for cash. They both tend to dislike "cookie cutter presents" like alcohol or gift certificates. They have a black lab which serves as a fur-child for her and a hunting dog for him.

Ideas I have considered:
Portable dishwasher - this would have been ideal but they got one from someone else, dang!
Maid service (I think they'd appreciate it, but it seems weird)
Small video camera or lomo camera (they don't really take photos, though)
Vintage steamer trunk (this would be pretty good but I dunno where to find one)

What the heck should I get them? This is in Toronto, by the way.
Thanks!

Australian Gift Card

mai — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 15:33:15 -0800

How do I acquire a gift card to an Austrailian home-goods retailer for a friend who is moving there? My friend is getting married and will soon be moving to Australia. Because it is so expensive to ship things there, she doesn't want anything material, but I would really like to give her a gift.

I thought it would be nice to give a gift card to a store in Australia that sells home things (dishes, etc.) that I know they will need, so that they can choose something when they get there.

However, I know nothing about the Australian retail landscape. Please recommend a nice store that would sell a gift card to me, paying from here in the U.S. My budget is between $50 and $100.

Wedding Gifts

tastybrains — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 19:17:53 -0800

Please help me find something decent to get my sister & brother-in-law as a belated wedding gift. Just as a disclaimer - I have looked over lots of other wedding gift idea threads here. There are some good ideas, but none that really seemed right.

It's really hard to explain why I am having such a hard time finding them the right gift. It would be harder to do if I didn't explain that they have very East Coast expectations of weddings and wedding gifts. So, my budget of ~$150-200 is kind of pathetic compared to what they expect. In fact, normally I would love to give more, except that I catered to all of their previous expectations in terms of a lavish shower and bachelorette party, and spent a lot of money I don't have ALREADY. So, my budget might be a little small based on East Coast fancy wedding standards, but it's a lot to me right now.

I think if this was just any couple, or even just friends, I could find something and just buy it and not worry too much. But because this is my sister, I feel like it needs to be at least sorta good. But these days, I feel very alienated from my sister.

Here are ideas I've ruled out:

So, I can't give money, because (1) I don't like to give money unless I can cover the cost of my plate at the wedding [it's a NY / east coast thing, I think], and $150-200 doesn't cover that, and (2) I don't want to be too obvious about not spending a lot.

I can't give something off their registry, because everything has been purchased off of their registries. Literally, EVERYTHING. Except gift cards, but that presents the same problem as giving cash.

The other wedding gift idea I liked was one that was given to us -- a gift basket of wines to celebrate different milestones in our wedding. However, I already told my sister about this idea, and she's actually used it for wedding gifts for other people, so it wouldn't really seem very fun or creative at this point. Next time I'll keep my big mouth shut.

-----

In terms of what they do like -- I don't know what to tell you. My sister loves different kinds of food and wine, but my brother in law refuses to eat anything but hamburgers and chicken parm, and I don't even think he drinks anything but crappy beer. Their tastes clash so dramatically that I am afraid to give them anything artistic or decorative. They have a dog. That's all I've got.

What I do want is:

- Something I can purchase online.
- Something that can be delivered to NY/NJ
- Nothing to "weird" as that doesn't go over well with the groom

Thanks!

personalised book for gift

AnnaRat — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 21:18:04 -0800

My friend is getting married sometime this year, and I was thinking of doing a photo book, made up of my favourite recipes and my photos of the food (we are both into cooking). What else could I include in such a book? I don't want cutesy, nor religious. But are there other things I could include in the book? Words of wisdom for marriage and keeping house (can be a little tongue in cheek)? Handy references?

Root beer floats + bicycles = best wedding gift ever?

bedhead — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 00:09:10 -0800

Help me pick out the best wedding gift ever for my almost-husband. We're getting married in a few weeks, and I want to get him a really awesome gift. He is a photographer, an avid cyclist, a watch/timepiece geek, and loves root beer and chocolate. He doesn't drink, so fancy booze is out. Past gifts that have gone over quite well have been a gift basket of gourmet root beer and snacks, items made from recycled bicycle chains, photography-related items, watches, and Edward Gorey art and books (he's a fan).

So, what I'm looking for, you sexy, smart, and talented Mefites, is an awesome wedding gift, from the bride to the groom, for a really wonderful guy who has pretty much everything he needs and wants as far as his preferences go. I mean, I can just feed him a root beer and some ice cream and he's happy; I need some help finding a creative gift that appeals to one or more of the categories of things that he loves.

We are located in NYC, and local items are a bonus, but online ordering is also fine. Suggestions for making things are also welcome as long as they are small projects that can be easily hidden and don't take much time to complete - we live together, and as you can imagine with an NYC apartment, space and privacy are at a premium, so I can't build him a 6 foot tall sculpture to represent our love. He is, however, at work during the day and I work from home, so something that takes a few hours to make is feasible.

What's a good wedding present for someone who doesn't believe in the sanctity of marriage?

croutonsupafreak — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 14:58:40 -0800

What's a good wedding present for someone who doesn't believe in the sanctity of marriage? My brother and his significant other of seven years are having a quickie wedding tomorrow for practical reasons, including child custody and health insurance, but are kind of against the institution of marriage in general.

I'd like to get them something as a memento of the day, but I'm at a loss. They don't drink, don't need appliances or much in the way of household goods, and a food gift might be unwelcome given all the Christmas leftovers they currently have. They're someowhat hippieish, really into yoga, art and alternative culture festivals such as Burningman.

Is there a good book or other symbolic gift that anyone here can recommend?

Congratulations! Here's your whatchamacallit.

mds35 — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 07:08:52 -0800

What is the name for the gift that a groomsman delivers to the bride on behalf of the groom on the wedding day? What is the name for the gift that a father gives to the moher of his child on the day of birth? I feel like the first one is called a portage, but I can't remember. I have heard these temrs but they elude me at present.

What to put into a "Groom's Survival Kit"?

Pinwiz — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 04:48:52 -0800

What should I put into a "survive the wedding planning" basket for the groom? My brother is getting married in May, and I'm looking for a good Christmas gift for him. My concept is a "Groom's Survival Kit" for the wedding planning process. I've found a book on Amazon, but I can't imagine that he hasn't received it already. Yes, there's going to be a flask.

Any suggestions to put into the basket? I'm trying to stay away from putting a bottle of alcohol or something else traditional and am trying to think of something that no one would have thought of. Please help me, MeFi!

ZOMG WEDDING.

sirliberal — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 19:18:19 -0800

Oh poo! Good college bud's wedding this weekend! What to give? Soooooooo I totally put off that my good friend from college is getting married this weekend, and im a groosman. Its fairly low key (suit and pants, at a local college's chapal). Its saturday, so I have until then to get a gift. I am in the wedding (groomsman), and am pretty absentminded about things until my blackberry reminds me.

So! What do I get a geeky 27yr old guy and his foreign wife for a wedding gift? Hes a crusty old ham whos not quite crusty yet, works on a ship 8 months out of the year being a netadmin/programmer, enjoys surfboarding (not true surfing) on the beach in California. We've lost touch over the last few years and I am not sure what he is really into. He seemed like a frugal ham back in college, and even then, I woulda bought him beer and maybe a new antenna for a gift.

Theres a local artsyfartsy store down the street, but I don't think thats his style at all.

Yet again, using AskMe as a Personal Shopper.

anastasiav — Sun, 02 Sep 2007 19:32:17 -0800

Yet another use of AskMe as personal shopper - please help me select a wedding gift: The groom is a friend of mine with whom I have stayed close through correspondence but whom I've not seen in person in a couple of years. Bride and Groom are both [reform, fairly liberal] Jewish. Both love to cook, but groom has significant food "issues" that make gifts of food inappropriate. Groom has a pre-teen daughter from his first marriage. Both Bride and Groom have recently sold their houses and are combining households currently in a rented space, until they can find a new home to purchase together. I don't know the Bride at all, really, so I don't have a sense of what the "style" of their new home might be.

What I'm looking for: something small, but that could emphasize the blending of two families into one. $100 range.

Pick Me a Wine!

wuzandfuzz — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 18:04:59 -0800

Wines: Help me pick one that will be nicely aged in five years. I'm buying my brother a wedding present, and my girlfriend and I would like to buy him a bottle of wine or port that will hit its taste peak in 5 years. We are not sure about what kind of wine they like to drink, but we are looking to spend around a $100-$150. (It sounds like various red wines are the ones that age anyway) Suggestions?

What to get the young and transient (Spain-specific)?

sa3z — Sun, 12 Aug 2007 17:17:16 -0800

Wedding gift for a transient young couple living in Barcelona? I'm going to a wedding this weekend in Virginia for a couple that currently lives in Barcelona, Spain. I'd love to get them a useful and fun gift that won't be something they have to lug back with them. Ideally, I'd give a gift certificate that is handy in their parts, for an experience or event of some sort. They're pretty transient these days (moving around Spain, and possibly other parts of Europe), so they probably aren't in the mood to collect junk.

I checked the archives, and couldn't find anything specific to Spain or Barcelona. There doesn't seem to be an Amazon specific to Spain (like there is for the UK or France, etc.), but I'll send an Amazon gift certificate as a last resort. Any and all ideas welcome.

Scotchy scotch scotch. Get in my belly.

sutel — Sun, 24 Jun 2007 17:55:43 -0800

I'm getting married in September and I want to get my guy a nice bottle of scotch as a wedding gift. My boyfriend loves scotch and I'd like to get him a bottle of something nice, but since I don't drink it myself I have no idea. I just checked our liquor cabinet and it looks like we have Johnny Walker Black Label and something called Dalwhinnie scotch whiskey.

I'm looking for something under $500 and I live around Boston. I'd take either package store recommendations (where they'd know their stuff) or specific bottle recommendations and where you can get them online (I think I can order booze online and get it shipped to Mass., but I am not sure. Let me know anyway).

thank you!