Super frugal wedding gift?

[sarah_bella1050]

I have two wedding to go to in June, but don't have much cash to spare at all. I was thinking about maybe doing a gift basket, but I'm not really sure what to give. I don't really have anything that I can regift either. Some suggestions would really be helpful .

[1growingsprout]

wedding basket

how about some candles, body lotion, etc.... make for a nice quiet romantic night?

[ozzyemm]

How much can you spare? First off, look at the couple's registry/s. Sometimes there are several small things (esp. kitchen or bath items) that a couple wants: measuring cups, mixing bowls, etc. You can make a very nice gift by tying everything together: toothbrush holder, soapdish, washcloths all wrapped up in a towel or put in a matching trashcan. Often, you can spend $10-20 with a "themed" gift like that.

Are you crafty? Find a pattern online and make a hanging kitchen towel set w/ matching grocery bag holder. Using their gift registry (or your knowledge of the couple's kitchen decor) buy 1 kitchen towel and 1-2 yards of coordinating fabric. Measure the towel. Cut the fabric to this length. For the grocery bag holder, you will make a tube lengthwise of the fabric (you can also use a kitchen towel instead of fabric). At the top and bottom, sew elastic into the seam. Attach a ribbon or bias at the back.

For the kitchen towel, find a "hanging kitchen towel" pattern. Cut the kitchen towel in half. Using the pattern, make 4 "tops". Sew the tops with right sides together. Flip right side out and fold bottom "unfinished" part up. Tuck the unfinished side of the kitchen towel up into the towel top. You may have to pleat the towel to fit into the top. Sew.

[BookGoddess]

Going along with the towels mentioned above you could get a set of plain white towels and embroider their initials on them. That's a very personalized gift that I know I would have appreciated receiving as a wedding gift.

You could also get a pretty wooden basket, tie a big bow around it then fill it with inexpensive kitchen towels and utensils.

[our3boys]

Collect favorite recipes from their parents, family and other wedding guests and put them in a 3-ring binder with dividers for categories. Ask people to write down one or two of their favorite recipes and include them exactly as you get them. Tell them you want all types, not just main dishes. They often will also include great little stories about the people getting married. This binder serves as a place for them to add their favorite recipes through the years.

[EviesMom]

Just wanted to mention that you don't need to take a gift with you, so if you'd like to do something that will take longer, don't sweat it. Honestly, I didn't even open mine for several weeks, and proper etiquette says that you have a year after the event to send a gift.

[Poddi]

I think it depends on the wedding and the couple. Is it a fancy event or at a cheap and practical place? We had a modest wedding and never had a registry. Nobody gave us anything fancy (useless) and we liked all of them. Things like towels, comforters, kitchen knives, bath scale, photo album...etc. We still use them frequently. If someone gave us a basket filled with dollar store candles that wouldn't be used at all. I'd say give them two towels, either stitch on their initials yourself or just forget about it. Fold them neatly and tie a ribbon on them. Nobody can use too many towels. You can get quite decent ones for under $10.

[Poddi]

Oops, double post.

[VWChick]

If they are close friends or family, you might think of cooking up freezable portions of some of your favorite homemade dinners or goodies. Or, a restaurant gift certficate is appreciated by anyone (even to an inexpansive chain restaurant). I usually give these sorts of things with a note that reads something like "since we know newlyweds have BETTER things to do that cook. we thought you might enjoy a dinner on us". I usually wrap the homemade things in something reusable (a pretty dish towel gathered up around the reusable dish, tied with a ribbon and some wooden spoons added for decoration). Of course, if the people getting married aren't close friends/family or it's a big wedding with formal gifts expected, this might not work.

Just an idea!

[swimswamswum]

If you know the couple well, get something sentimental related to their relationship or how they met. My cousin got DH and I a $20 gift certificate to AMC (movie theatre) and some oatmeal cookies because we met while working at AMC and the first time we interacted it involved him buying me an oatmeal cookie then eating it in front of me. I really think this was one of the best gifts we were given.

[PrettyBird]

I would do a gift card of whatever you could afford, or even wait a couple months if you don't have any cash right now. Like a PP said, they may have some inexpensive things on their registry. If you are a crafts(wo)man, you could make them something too. DH's grandma crocheted us some blankets for wedding and baby gifts. I love them because I know they will be in our family forever. My dad is a talented woodworker and has made people things like chess sets, toys, bird houses, etc.

[mightymoo]

If you are crafty, check out the www.craftster.org forums for ideas. WARNING - CRAFSTER IS EXTREMELY ADDICTIVE. I did not heed the warning given when I clicked on the link from a mothering post two days ago and I've been surfing through the ideas there ever since.

[Mama Dragon]

$10 candle set from walmart or other similar store. I've given this a few times at weddings and get told it's a favorite gift

[Shirley Ujest]

My standard wedding present is to take candid pictures at the wedding of everyone, but mostly the bride and groom and their close friends.

Someone did this at our wedding and the pictures were awesome.

Now, with digital, you can email the pictures to them or do everything up in a nice book via shutterfly.

[Twocoolboys]

If they are wine drinkers, how about a bottle of wine?

[rebeccalizzie]

LOL...I have to say, I swear I got 100 candles at our wedding and my showers, and I gave 90% of them away. I can't stand cheap candles--they usually stink and they melt funny. And they are the number 1 generic female gift, so I have way too many, as does every single woman I've ever met. And of course I raved about them...what else are you supposed to do when someone gives you a gift?

One nice gift we got was a date. A close friend gave us a homemade gift certificate, he came over a month or so after the wedding and brought us a nice (not gourmet) meal that he had cooked himself. He also brought an (inexpensive) bottle of wine to drink with the meal and a $5 Blockbuster gift card. Probably spent all of $15, and we really liked it!

[aprons_and_acorns]

I like getting candles as a gift. I rarely splurge on something like that for myself. I guess it just depends on the person--you never know. And candles are a great re-giftable if it comes to that.

[lauriebeth]

it depends on wether or not you want them to think you spent a lot of money

thrift stores can carry cool stuff like a fancy vase, that looks expensive.

[miss_sonja]

We usually give a fire extinguisher. Most people don't have one for the home, and they can be bought fairly cheaply (less than $20). Very practical.

[Kleine Hexe]

Originally Posted by miss_sonja

We usually give a fire extinguisher. Most people don't have one for the home, and they can be bought fairly cheaply (less than $20). Very practical.

huh, never thought of that.