Expert Suggestions For A Winning Wedding Gift (even Without A Registry)
I have always appreciated the one-year rule of wedding gifting; etiquette dictates that you have 365 days from the wedding date to send the couple a present. Such temporal luxury means you can save and budget for the gift and/or use the time to find something really special for the couple. But waiting to send a gift has its drawbacks. If you don鈥檛 act quickly, for example, other guests can complete the couple鈥檚 registry, leaving the much more difficult task of finding (and taking a chance on) something the couple will like. If, as we enter one of the busiest wedding months of the year, you find yourself too late to the registry, here are some foolproof gift suggestions from experts in the wedding world. Jeffra Trumpower, creative director at WeddingWire, says to consider giving couples experiences. Another idea of Trumpower鈥檚: Set up an anniversary photo session. 鈥淚t鈥檚 easy for to-be-weds to be so caught up in planning for their wedding day that they don鈥檛 consider how they will celebrate their anniversaries,鈥?says Trumpower.
鈥淎n anniversary photo session is a great way for them to continue celebrating their love after their nuptials take place.鈥?Donating to a cause the couple is passionate about is another meaningful gift alternative, she says. Jennifer Spector, director of brand strategy at Zola, a wedding registry website, says that if there is a registry, you should stick to it. But, Spector advises, 鈥渋f you are going off-registry, stick to shopping at the same stores where the couple registered. Like Trumpower, Spector says gift cards for experiences make great wedding presents. Her suggestions: a StubHub gift card so the couple can buy tickets to a show or sporting event that works for their schedule, or a gift card to Framebridge for custom wedding photo framing. According to Spector, some of the most popular gifts on Zola are travel-related gift cards for companies such as Airbnb and Delta. Even though some people feel uncomfortable giving money, it is still a popular gift choice for many. But gone are the days of the cash-filled envelope handed to the newlyweds, says Lauren Kay, executive editor at the Knot.
Now, most couples create cash registries on wedding registry sites for big-ticket items they anticipate wanting in the future. 鈥淣owadays, the sky is the limit when it comes to what couples can register for,鈥?Kay says. 鈥淐ouples have registered for just about everything from help in paying for a down payment for a home to IVF treatments or a puppy adoption fund. By outlining what the couple will be spending the cash on, Kay says, it makes cash gifting more personal, making guests feel more connected to their contributions. I you prefer to give something more tangible, however, Kay suggests selecting a useful gift such as luggage. Her favorite: Away鈥檚 Bigger Carry-On. Technology is another popular gift category, she says, especially smart-home products such as Bluetooth-synced kitchen gadgets and security products. 150 is more appropriate,鈥?Trumpower says. Mayhew, a 鈥淭oday鈥?show style expert and former magazine editor, is the author of 鈥淔lip! How much should I spend on a wedding gift? Here are six guidelines. There are many ways to design a gallery wall. We鈥檒l get you started.
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