A bigger part of being an adult is watching your friends grow and move on with life. Everyone is achieving their milestones and as friends, we all hope to be the best comrade by their side.
As wedding season rolls around, so do the wedding invites. It’s one of those things that school never teaches you. It is that little inexplicable part of adulting you have to figure out by yourself – what to give your friend at their wedding?Well, you are not entirely alone on that journey. We are right here with you. In this article, we are answering some essential questions about wedding giftable along with our guide of 25 last-minute wedding gifts.
So what are you waiting for? Just keep on reading.
Table of Contents
How Much to Spend on a Wedding Gift
Ah, the age-old question! And we are pretty sure whoever you have asked this question to has answered you with “it depends”! And the truth is it does, but it doesn’t have to be so vague. As a rule of thumb, if you are close friends or family members of the couple, you will be expected to cover some of the big-ticket items on their list. So a budget of $100-$150 is ideal.
If you are a co-worker or neighbor, you shouldn’t have to go beyond $50-$75 in any manner. But there are relationships that we build that may not necessarily fit in these rigid brackets. In any case, unless you are the immediate family of the couple, $60-$65 is a safe bet.
Last-Minute Wedding Gift Ideas
Couples that make their wedding registry make it very easy for the guests and family members to make the gift purchase. But if you are planning to go off the registry to get them something, it gets a little hard.
This is often when you are rushing to buy a gift, and most of the gift items off of the registry happen to be taken. But, fret not. We are here. We have put together this article to help you figure out what to buy.
So what are you waiting for? Just keep on reading,
If you are a co-worker or neighbor, you shouldn’t have to go beyond $50-$75 in any manner. But there are relationships that we build that may not necessarily fit in these rigid brackets. In any case, unless you are the immediate family of the couple, $60-$65 is a safe bet.
Traditional Wedding Gifts
Ah, the age-old question! And we are pretty sure whoever you have asked this question to has answered you with “it depends”! And the truth is it does, but it doesn’t have to be so vague. As a rule of thumb, if you are close friends or family members of the couple, you will be expected to cover some of the big-ticket items on their list. So a budget of $100-$150 is ideal.
These are gifts that you cannot go wrong with. These are traditional things that people have been buying as wedding gifts for decades. Many of these things will be on the registry. But, if you can’t find something on the registry, These gifts will still be pretty useful to the newlyweds.
And, as a bonus, these are always pretty easily available. So these make perfect last-minute wedding gifts.
Champagne Flutes
Some good champagne flutes are a wedding staple. While choosing a champagne flute, keep in mind that it is slim glassware with a long stem.
It is designed to make champagne taste better by keeping the warmth of your hand away from the bowl of the glass. You can find sleek-looking champagne flute sets easily, both online and offline.
To spice it up, you can pick up a set with a design around the rim of the base of the glass.
Punch Bowl
Punch bowls are great gifts for newlyweds. Ideally, they’d be holding parties and get-togethers if they are moving to a new house. So, a punch bowl can be a gift that the couple appreciates.
They come pretty affordably, and it is a fantastic gift idea for summer weddings.
High Thread Count Bed Sheets
If anyone has a good use for luxurious soft bed sheets, it is a couple trying to recreate the comfort of their honeymoon hotel bed. You can go with a standard muted all-one shade, a monochrome set, or pick a design that goes with the season.
They are easy to get your hands on, and one can never have too many bedsheets.
Crystal Vase
This has to do less with the convenience of the couple and more with the aesthetic value of the gift. For example, if the couple enjoys home decor or is likely to be moving into a new home post-wedding, this can be a good gift.
But if we are honest, it is one of those items that has been seen and given as a standard wedding gift for ages. So, if you are in a crunch for time, go with a vase.
Cutting Board
Cutting boards are another one of those no-brainer gift items for weddings. And, again, they are very widely available, so they make for a great last-minute gift.
But, you may not want to give someone just any generic cutting board. To make your gift more unique, choose a fun texture. You can buy a premium quality bamboo cutting board for starters.
It will help the newlyweds in the kitchen while adding a pristine touch to their aesthetic. Wooden and bamboo chopping boards are the best ones to get. They are easy to clean, and they never dull the knives.
These are very low-maintenance gifts that a newly married couple will find a lot of use for.
Also Read: What Kind of Gift Do You Give at a Gender Reveal Party?
Modern Wedding Gifts
Let’s say all the traditional things you wanted to give to the couple are already on their gift registry, and someone has taken it up already. So, you choose to do something different.
You want to give them something efficient and modern. This list is for you.
Picture Frame Set
A wedding-themed picture frame set can be both thoughtful and elegant. Some stores offer to engrave on frames. You can even get their wedding date engraved on the frame to make it more memorable.
Airbnb Gift Cards
This is probably one of the smartest and useful gift items. A newlywed happy couple is likely to travel together. That is to be expected. Get them an Airbnb card worth enough for them to rent a place over a weekend.
Whether they want to cash it in on their honeymoon trip or save it for later, it is up to them. Whatever the case, it is a gift that they’ll appreciate.
A Wine Rack
A wine rack is an exquisite gift in any manner. Wine Racks add a very lived-in, mature touch to any home. It is something everyone hopes to have in their home someday. So if you were to give a newlywed couple a smart wine rack, it’d become a staple in their house.
Tip: Try to look for a metal wine rack with a good build so it can last through all the moves the couple makes in their coming years.
Candle Set
Assorted candles have become more popular with time. A set of luxury scented candles is a great way to relax and enjoy some downtime. For example, after a hectic wedding, a scented candle makes a precious addition to the couple’s weekends.
Tip: Try to look for a metal wine rack with a good build so it can last through all the moves the couple makes in their coming years.
Home Speaker
Tech gifts are tricky. Everyone has certain preferences when it comes to tech and smart home devices. However, a smart home speaker can be a lifesaver in terms of time management and micromanaging a home.
Gifts from Close Friends
Tech gifts are tricky. Everyone has certain preferences when it comes to tech and smart home devices. However, a smart home speaker can be a lifesaver in terms of time management and micromanaging a home.
Couples Perfumes
Couple’s perfumes are readily available. It could be a perfect gift as a wedding present. And, you, as a close friend to the couple, get an advantage in buying perfumes. You can easily ask them what kind of fragrances they like and choose likewise.
Couple Watches
Couples watches are a great gift for newlyweds. Most watch brands will have couples’ sets all year round. Plus, it makes for a great statement piece in their wardrobe as well.
Wedding Flowers
If the bride still hasn’t gotten a flower bouquet ordered, offer to do it for them. This way, you can consult them in choosing the design, colors, and arrangements.
A bouquet is always going to be special to the bride. You may even look into those flower pressing services. This way, the couple can have their wedding flowers framed and preserved for years to come.
It makes a heart-touching and precious gift, especially when it comes from a close one on the wedding day.
Jewelry
Jewelry doesn’t necessarily have to be wedding jewelry. The couple most likely has that sorted already. However, you can still buy a necklace or a pair of dainty earrings.
These are timeless gifts that are always appreciated.
Makeup Kit for The Bride
Ask the bride’s wish list for makeup and help her get vanity things for her newly-married look. A new makeup kit will most likely be in order when a girl is getting married. If a close friend offers to pitch in, it will become a memory for the good days.
Home Appliances
Now, these are just a total no-brainer. If there’s one thing that you can always give to a newlywed, that is home appliances.
Blender
Give them a premium quality blender if you can. Most blenders have a short life span. They need replacing after 2-3 years. So giving the couple a nice little blender that will last them a while is a very thoughtful gift.
Ice Cream Maker
An ice cream maker is a fun appliance to have. Most households do not have these, and most people do not put them on registries either. So if you are rushing to buy a last-minute gift, go with this one.
Rest assured, no one else will give them the same thing as you do.
Electric Mop
A new house, with lots of guests coming and greeting the couple, is going to need a lot of cleaning. So there is nothing better than a neat electric mop to save the couple from the boredom of chores.
You will find plenty of these on the market available all year round. It will be a super-efficient and pragmatic gift too.
Vacuum
In the same vein as the electric mop, you can get them a handheld vacuum. Again, they are small, operational, and affordable. It will be an essential item in their house, and you won’t break the bank while buying it either.
Coffee Machine
Everyone loves a good machine. If you pair up with someone else for the money, you can even get the couple a stunning high-end coffee machine that they will cherish for years.
Miscellaneous Gifts
And, for our last five suggestions, we are listing gifts that are very necessary around the house but are often left out of the registry. These will be easy to get your hands on, and they will be of use to the couple.
Matching Bowls
A set of bowls! Yes, something that basic. But, it is a very simple item that people only need when many guests are coming over. It is safe to assume that a newlywed couple will have people coming over frequently. It will be a gift that they will use a lot.
Assorted Set of Spices
A set of assorted spices. Salt and pepper shakers are common wedding gifts. But you can spice it up. Get them a set of exotic herbs and spices to make cooking fun and adventurous.
Wall Hangings
This is another decor item. But there’s a lot of playroom with this one. If you know what kind of music they like, you can give them a wall hanging relating to their favorite artist. Or a quote from their favorite movie.
It can be a portrait or abstract art. You can give them whatever you think suits their taste.
Books
If the couple has a knack for reading, you cannot go wrong with a set of books. Give them a set of classics or a poetry collection for their study or home library. It will be an elegant touch added to their space.
Decorative Initials
You probably won’t have time to get a custom nameplate made. But there’s a workaround for that. You don’t necessarily have to give them a custom nameplate.
You can get them a set of wooden decorative initials for their name as a last-minute wedding gift. It has the same appeal as a nameplate, only it’s more personal and decorates their home every day.
Final Words
If you have read this far, thank you so much. We appreciate your time. We never want to be the person who buys a gift at the last minute! But, things happen. Most couples don’t make a registry these days. So, getting a gift can be quite hard.
But, we hope with our article detailing 25 last-minute unique wedding gift ideas, you now know what to get.
If all else fails, you can always give them money. But, it is best to give something the couple can hold on to for a long time.
Read more – Why Gifts are important in a relationship
Zenna Willms
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Hi, My name is Zena Willms and you can call me Zena. The purpose of this blog is to share gift ideas with people from all over the world.
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