If you’ve recently received a wedding invitation in the mail, you likely also got a little note stating where the couple was registered. Because starting a new life together is a fun and exciting change, couples often will register for gifts that their wedding guest can give them in wishing them well on this new adventure. But for the guests gifting these presents, it can be hard to know what to give the newly married couple. So to help make this whole process easier for you, here are three things you should consider when shopping for wedding gifts.
Timing
While you may be under the impression that you need to have a gift for the happy couple on the day of their wedding, this actually isn’t always the case. According to Amy Beal, a contributor to Real Simple, guests traditionally have up to a year to give the newly married couple their wedding gift. However, if you wait too long, you may end up forgetting about it and never actually giving them a gift. Additionally, if you are going to be mailing the gift to the couple, it’s best to do this two weeks before the wedding. This will ensure that the couple is home to receive the gift.
Budget All Wedding Purchases
When you’re a very involved member of the wedding party, you will likely be going to more than one event for the bride or groom. This means that you’ll be getting multiple gifts for multiple celebrations. So to keep you from spending a lot of money on this one event, it’s important that you decide how much money you’re willing to spend on gifts for the wedding or other events before you begin making your purchases. Once you’ve decided the amount you’re comfortable with, Jaimie Mackey, a contributor to Brides.com, recommends saving the majority of your budget for the actual wedding gift. For example, if you’re going to the engagement party, bridal shower, and wedding, you could split your budget 20-20-60.
Consider A Group Gift
If money is tight for you but you don’t want to get a gift that might be less meaningful to the bridal couple, Dobrina Zhekova, a contributor to InStyle.com, suggests getting together with friends or relatives and pooling your money for a group gift. By doing this, everyone involved will be able to contribute money to buying the couple one great gift rather than a few mediocre gifts. This will allow you to give the couple something they either want or need and that will last throughout a longer duration of their marriage.
If you’re unsure how to go about getting a gift for a wedding, use the tips mentioned above to help you find the best solution for you.