Fall is here! Make way for the pumpkins, lattes, and pumpkin lattes. It’s also a common wedding season… which is mostly exciting. But what about those couples getting married that already have everything? Wedding gift ideas shouldn’t be stressful. We’ve found the gifts we actually need but didn’t know we needed! Having a registry as a guide is cool and all but it can be a total drag! By the time you get to the store they chose, print the registry and find something at your price point, you either can’t find the exact location of that one item in the huge store OR it’s out of stock. Unless, of course, they’re registered with Amazon where you don’t have to step foot in a store! If you are attending a wedding, housewarming party, or simply in the gift-giving mood, here are a few ideas to make the event a special occasion, regardless of how well-stocked the couple already seems to be. Cayla Sentimental Wedding Gift Ideas I’m a sucker for sentimental gifts. I love gifts that require a little extra thought and creativity- maybe even a little DIY project. Some of my favorite gifts that I have given or received have been those that have been sentimental, and made me shed a couple happy tears. Ideas in this area are: A chic frame with the couples’ wedding date. This can be a great addition for an extra wall in their home and will make for a lovely reminder of that special day. It’s good to be aware of the couples’ style and house colors so the gift coordinates well. Hobby Lobby and Michael’s have great frames in all sizes and colors (and you can always find a good coupon to use). Find a frame that holds 3 4×6 or 5×7 pictures, and go to this site to find unique numbers to print for the frames. When editing the numbers, you can modify the picture to black and white or sepia to give a more vintage-style look. A sweet keepsake. If you know the couples’ first dance song ahead of time, great! If not, this gift can be a little late- and who doesn’t love receiving a gift after the wedding? This is a great Etsy shop to use that’s affordable and delivers top-quality products. If the couple wrote their own vows or a letter to their spouse, and you can get your paws on them after the wedding, you can matte them on nice paper and get them framed for the happy newlyweds. I gave these to Josh for our first anniversary, and absolutely love seeing them by our bed! If you’re feeling extra crafty or have all the craftsman skills- you can make just about anything for the home (or with the person’s new last name or initial). What better way to validate the excitement of having a new last name by seeing it around your home. Wooden trays (thanks, Jess), a badass wooden wine rack (thanks, Morgan), letter accessories for the wall or shelves, last name decor, etc. will make for great, memorable, gifts. Jenny “Experience” Wedding Gift Ideas I vividly remember going out to dinner with Drew a few weeks after our wedding and having a lady stop at our table and say, “I am going to bet that you two are newlyweds.” We replied that we we were just married a few weeks ago. She replied, “I could tell by the way you two were looking at each other!” It was so sweet! Even though we had already been together for 6 years, things change. You experience a “honeymoon” phase after the wedding where you are on cloud 9 and just excited to be husband and wife! On the opposite end, the most common things couples argue about are “What do you want to eat?” and “What should we do today?” Am I right!? By giving the gift of an experience, you can take care of this for them! A gift card to a spa, a winery, a nice restaurant helps them enjoy an experience together as a couple and publicly celebrate this new phase of life! Don’t feel obligated to cover the entire expense of the outing, your gift simply enhances the experience. Your gift allows them to now just get a massage, but a couples massage AND a bottle of bubbles! Kaitlin “All About The Money” Wedding Gift Ideas Ok, some people may think cash is a cop-out… or even tacky. But let me tell you what; after spending God knows what on my own wedding, I would have cried tears of joy for a Benjamin. Or a Lincoln. Whatevs. Let me tell you more about why this is a great idea: Engaged people lack registry practicality. Don’t get defensive, Donna. Recall when the store’s official registry representative was luring YOU around? Like “sure, Carol, we do absolutely require 5 crystal vases for our 800 square foot apartment.” I agree there is something about pulling the trigger on the barcode scanner that’s suspiciously addicting. But the unfortunate result? YOU… innocent gift-buyer… end up purchasing a gift they VERY LIKELY WILL NEVER USE. You know what everybody uses? Dolla. Dolla. Bills. Remember that expensive honeymoon they’re about to go on? I bet those lovebirds would kill for some extra funds for an excursion, or a nice dinner, or a massage. If you know they’re going abroad, (where the currency is different,) consider converting American dollars into the currency of their honeymoon country! It would be a thoughtful gesture while serving a practical purpose. David and I were thrilled to receive some extra cash to support our adventures on our Mediterranean cruise! At the end of the day, weddings are expensive. You don’t know what someone had to save, or sacrifice, to create the day of their dreams. So even if they aren’t going to use a cash gift to help fund a honeymoon, or fulfill some items on their registry, they might really appreciate it to replenish their bank account. And with money as the number one reason why marriages fail… (not to put a total damper on things,) you might be giving them a really great gift by allowing them to start their lives together on the right foot. Karey Wedding Gift Ideas That Keep On Giving Brad and I recently went to Sonoma, CA (also known as heaven on earth), and we signed up for a Wine Club. It was a rather bubbly-induced decision, but turned out to be the BEST. Now, four times a year, we receive two bottles of really nice wine at our doorstep! Not only is it exciting, but it’s a nice memory of our special trip every time we get it in the mail. This unique wedding gift idea would be the same kind of message you could send to that couple, long after the wedding bells have quit ringing. And it’s delicious! I actually drink the nice wine and don’t feel guilty for “wasting a good bottle on myself,” because I know I have another shipment on the way. My favorite is Domaine Carneros, because it was the most glorious champagne-sipping experience I’ve ever had. Plus, it was a perfect time to whip out those fancy crystal champagne glasses from our wedding! They also send some delicious Pinot Noir that I love pouring in my huge wine glasses; I appreciate the variety! The only caveat about this gift is that someone the age of 21 needs to be able to legally sign for the package. Sometimes, the shipment can be sent back for a fee. It’s annoying. **Just recommend they register for UPS My Choice for e-mail updates, tracking numbers, and preferences. It solves lots of problems.** Shelley- Practical Wedding Gift Ideas Fresh & Clean: The one thing I’ve said over and over again- I don’t need gifts, I need practical things like a person to help clean the house! Ok, YES we clean our house regularly on our own, but there’s a different level of clean and sanitation when you hire someone to come in and clean every inch professionally. It’s not a need but definitely a WANT. There’s nothing like coming home to steam cleaned floors, perfectly clean toilets, and crystal clear mirrors and shower tile. This especially is a great gift for when the couple returns home from the honeymoon. The reality of marriage will hit them in the face if they return from a magical trip to the hustle and bustle and mess they left behind before the wedding. Hiring a cleaning crew for your favorite family member, new couple, new parents is a PERFECT gift! What better way to show someone you love them by freeing up that cleaning time to go on a date or spend quality time together?! Groupon in their area is a great place to start! Financial Wellness: A great gift for a new couple (or college graduate) would be Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University. It’s a 9 week course that is offered at a local church OR through a home study kit to help young couples manage their finances. Money and finances are the #1 reason people fight in America and the divorce rate is astronomical. I think a newly married couple will start on a stronger foundation if they’ve learned how to talk about their finances, make a plan and budget, and meet their financial goals together as one. Trisha Honeymoon Enhancement Wedding Gift Ideas Find out where the couple is going and surprise them with something extra special! This gift does call for a little more planning but can totally be done! It also makes for a bit of extra sweetness during this fun time together. The idea actually comes from someone that did the same for my parents. They always talk about a friend who bought them their first breakfast as a married couple. How sweet is that?! The gift was different and made an impact. Cover the cost of the room. Most couples stay local the night of the wedding before leaving for their honeymoon. Find out where and cover the cost of the room maybe even upgrade it! If that is not an option for you, call the hotel and see what options they have for making that first night a little more special. Chocolate covered strawberries on arrival? Maybe even rose petals and candles? Give an experience! Let the couple enjoy an excursion on the honeymoon…on you! How fun would it be for the new couple to share in a new experience together on their honeymoon that maybe that wouldn’t be able to do otherwise. Attending a wedding is such special event in a friend or family members life. Giving a gift is something you can offer them to help them remember their “why”. We love weddings and finding extra special gifts that will help our friends create fun memories with their new spouse. What was your FAVORITE gift you received from your wedding?