RSSBy Nancy Redd - AOL
Wedding season is fast approaching, and along with the celebrating comes the tricky task of finding the right wedding gift. What to buy the happy couple and where to get it? To find out what gifts will and simply will not do when someone you know gets ready to say "I Do," check out the ten nuptial no-nos below.
Gift Gripe: The bride and groom live 2500 miles away, and Aunt Sheryl refuses to ship her gift of six expensive champagne flutes. A thoughtful gift, yet impractical to travel with cross country.
Great Gift: Shipping your present directly from the store to the newlyweds before the event is an ideal way to handle a long-distance couple. But if you can t bear the idea of showing up empty-handed, then make a splash minus the crystal crash. Choose a gift that is easy to transport, such as an Egyptian Cotton Towel Set.
Gift Gripe: Cousin Jim actually had the nerve to re-gift that ugly set of dishes he received a few months ago. Did he think no one would notice?
Great Gift: Don't let the pressure on your wallet lead you to re-gift (especially when you travel in the same circles). Instead, opt for a low-cost yet lovely present, such as a Stainless Steel Bar Set.
Gift Gripe: Faced with a high-priced registry, Paul decided to ignore it in favor of purchasing a monogrammed serving tray. A neat idea, but risky. It might not match the couple's taste or decor, rendering it useless since it's non-returnable.
Great Gift: If the happy couple's registry prices seem too high, give them a gift card to the store where they registered for a more appropriate amount. A few pluses to this approach: gift cards are tax free, come in tons of cool designs, and the couple can choose what they want from a store they obviously like. Many companies let you order them online with free shipping.
Gift Gripe: Mary really overstepped her bounds when she gifted the conservative couple with matching his and hers thong underwear. While perhaps cute as a shower present, penning a thank you note that reads "thank you for the lovely panties" is not the bride's idea of suitable.
Great Gift: His and hers gifts don't have to be risqu to get noticed. If you're determined to give a duo gift, think about these personalized terry robes.
Gift Gripe: Cousin Barb totally knew that as a second marriage, neither the bride nor groom needed any household products. She decided to give the couple pots and pans anyway.
Great Gift: The desire to give a useful, everyday gift is a hard one to ignore, but useful doesn't have to mean routine. Instead, gift something unique and practical, like a Conair Fabric Press. It makes clothes look dry-cleaned with a single press.
Gift Gripe: A boring, old-school toaster. 'Nuff said.
Great Gift: Toasters don't have to be a gift gripe. Believe it or not, there are some pretty fabulous toasters that would make any couple smile, such as a polka-dotted rainbow one. Every newlywed needs a way to toast her bread, so you might as well make it fun.
Gift Gripe: Grandma baked cookies for her new grandson-in-law to enjoy after the wedding, but she didn't factor in that the goodies wouldn't be opened until they got back from the honeymoon two weeks later.
Great Gift: The gift of food is an esteemed idea, so order them the Chocolate of the Month Program.
Gift Gripe: What to get the couple who seems to have everything and who registered nowhere? According to Uncle Jim, NOTHING, which is the worst way to celebrate a marriage.
Great Gift: No matter how much stuff someone has, your gift can still certainly make an impression. Pleasantly surprising presents include this Picnic at Ascot Backpack for Two. Bet they don't have one of those!
Gift Gripe: Kelly heard that the bride and groom were a little "untraditional" and into Eastern art, so she decided to have a 400-pound statue of a Hindu goddess delivered to their 1200 square foot apartment.
Great Gift: You can acknowledge their interest in other cultures in a more subtle way with a book on Eastern Philosophy.
Gift Gripe: The groom's mother thinks the bride is a brat, so she decides to slip the groom a wad of cash, saying, "HIDE IT!"
Great Gift: You might not like your new in-law, but she's family now. Forge a beautiful relationship by giving her this 14-Karat White Gold Ruby and Diamond Bracelet. She will be so bowled over, that bygones become bygones.
Buy the happy couple something they will cherish always - Shop Now
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Gift registries might be convenient, but they can also offend people with the cost. And like a gift card, gift registries are a shopping list. I find registries offensive. What happened to a meaningful gift? Something I want to give the couple....not a shopping list that they will never remember WHO gave it to them. PLEASE list color themes for your house,bathrooms, bedroom and Kitchen colors. Then you might get something you like and the giver can actually afford AND thought of themselves. Use the wedding money for the things for YOUR SHOPPING LIST.
So many times I have seen great sales on big thick bathtowels/ matching bathrobes/ panini presses or whatever...but have no idea if they have it already or what color to buy. I miss the days when couples used wedding showers to actually set up house and not be shopping lists for what they can't afford themselves but want others to buy. No wonder people get themselves into debt so fast. Crystal, fine china,
silver, flat screen t.v.'s....we all want what we can't afford. Why is a wedding registry open invitation to insult your guests with an expensive wish list.
Back to basics is better. Sorry.
Your guest will appreciate your cleverness.
Your suggestions irritate me.
Thank you
One good tip in this article is to give a gift card if everything on the registry is expensive. Also, cash is always appreciated for a couple beginning a new life, especially these days when money is tight.
Therefore,couples return a large portion of the beautifully wrapped, thoughtfully chosen, expensively mailed gifts to get a check in the amount of the return. Retailers have devised a method of credit only, no checks or cash to curb the large number of returns. Couples have found a way around that too; they open a store credit card. They ask the sales associate to crediit their account in the amount of the return. Since there is no balance the store is required to mail a check within 30 days. They get the tacky money they really wanted from the start. What a waste; a waste of time, a waste of money for the wrapping, the postage and the wasted effort for all involved. Lets get real; if you want to give a gift, give the couple something that they really need.