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Wedding gifts for the couple

Updated

The wedding list, called a gift registry in Australia and New Zealand, tells you what a couple needs. A gift beyond it can tell them what you know about them. Many guests give one of each: something from the list and something personal.

These ideas work for close friends and family, and for guests who want to give something that lasts beyond the first year.

At a glance

Gift ideas, who each one suits, and typical cost
GiftBest forTypical cost
A star map of the weddingClose friends and familyFrom US$49 per print
An item from the wedding listAny guestUS$75–US$150
A contribution to the honeymoon fundCouples who ask for itUS$75–US$150
An illustration of the venueA couple with a striking venueOver US$150
A first anniversary boxClose friends who like planningUS$25–US$75
A quality kitchen pieceA couple who cookUS$75–US$150
Their vows or first-dance lyrics, framedA couple who wrote vowsUS$25–US$75
A plant or tree for their homeA couple who like plantsUS$25–US$75
A date-night boxTired newlywedsUS$25–US$75
A framed wedding photo you chooseFriends who were thereUS$25–US$75
A voucher for their first homeA couple buying a homeUS$75–US$150

  1. A star map of the wedding

    A star map print from Star Crossed Skies shows the stars above the venue at the minute of the vows or the first dance, with the couple's names and a message from you. You can order it before the wedding using the time on the invitation, framed or as a print only.

    Excellent idea for remembering a special date. Great service and fast delivery, highly recommend it!
    Catalina P., Trustpilot review
    Make your star mapRead more: A wedding star map

  2. An item from the wedding list

    The wedding list exists because the couple chose what they need. Buying from it is never the wrong choice. Add a card with a personal note to make it yours.

  3. A contribution to the honeymoon fund

    Many couples ask for help with a trip or a home instead of objects. A contribution with a note about what you hope they do on the trip is personal and useful.

  4. An illustration of the venue

    An artist paints or draws the church, the barn or the hall where the couple married, from photos. Order it from a local artist or an online illustrator. Allow several weeks for drafts.

  5. A first anniversary box

    Fill a box with things for the couple's first anniversary: a bottle of wine, a card, a paper gift, and a note to open on the day. Seal it and write the date on the lid. It gives the gift a second moment a year later.

  6. A quality kitchen piece

    A cast iron pan, a good knife or a heavy casserole dish lasts for decades. It is a gift the couple uses every day and does not replace. Check the wedding list first so you do not duplicate.

  7. Their vows or first-dance lyrics, framed

    Print the couple's vows, or the lyrics of their first-dance song, and frame them. Ask a close friend or the celebrant for the vows. It suits a couple who wrote their own.

  8. A plant or tree for their home

    A potted tree or a large houseplant grows with the marriage. Choose one suited to their home and their care habits. A tag with the wedding date makes it a keepsake.

  9. A date-night box

    A box with everything for a night in after the wedding: a recipe and the ingredients that keep, a film, a game, a candle. Newlyweds are often tired after the wedding. A ready-made night in is welcome.

  10. A framed wedding photo you choose

    When the couple shares their photos, choose a candid one they may not print and frame it. Ask first which photos they like. It suits close friends who were part of the day.

  11. A voucher for their first home

    If the couple is moving or buying a home, a voucher for a homeware or DIY shop helps with the things nobody puts on a wedding list. Add a note with a personal wish for the new home.

Wedding list first, personal second

If the couple has a wedding list, start there. A personal gift alongside it, or from a group of friends, adds meaning without leaving them with things they did not ask for.

If there is no wedding list, a personal gift such as a star map of the vows or an illustration of the venue suits almost any couple, because it is about their day.

Before or after the wedding

Many guests send a gift before the wedding or bring it to the reception. A personal gift often works better after the day, when you know the exact time of the vows or have photos of the venue.

A star map ordered before the wedding uses the time on the invitation. One ordered after can use the exact minute of the first dance.

Either way, include a card with your own words. Couples read every card, often more than once.

Give as a group

A group of friends can club together for a larger personal gift, such as a framed star map of the vows or a commissioned venue illustration. One person collects the details and orders, and everyone signs the card.

Agree on the gift and the budget early, so nobody buys the same thing on their own.

Questions

A star map for this occasion

More gift ideas

Start with the night you want to keep.

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