We have two weddings coming up and I'd love some advise on great gifts. The first wedding is for my husband sister. She and groom are in their late 30's, never been married, but she's raised a teen daughter on her own. She's owned a house for years, but household items were mostly thrown together on a tight budge over the years. I'd love to give her something special and am drawing a complete blank!
Second wedding is my husbands closed friend. They've both been married before...he has no kids and she has FIVE boys. I'd love to get either two gifts, one for the couple and one for the kids/family, or one bigger gift that the whold family can enjoy. If anyone's been on either gift giving-end of this type of wedding and has a suggestion, I'd love to hear it. Thanks, Ladies! price range I'm considering is $150-$400 on each wedding
For the family with the 5 boys---how about some pretty stain resistant table cloths (if you can find out the table size). I have 2 boys and I am constantly washing my tablecloth!!
Also I gave a friend a bamboo serving tray and related items as wedding gift and she said she uses it a lot.
For your husbands friend...how about a family membership to a theme park, a water park, something that the whole family could enjoy? Maybe they would like a gift package to a photography studio so they could have pictures of the new family. You could include a couple of nice picture frames with it.
For your SIL ....talk to you husband or your MIL...see what she has always enjoyed...if they like to cook..maybe something fancy for the kitchen...do they like sports? Maybe some tickets to football or basketball games...do they fish? Send them on a deep sea fishing adventure. Think of what they like to do as a couple and build the gift around that.
You can buy just about anything at Bed Bath and Beyond these days... from fine china to baby gear. A gift card to BB&B with the 20% off coupons can really mean a lot to someone wanting to upgrade household items or splurge on something. For the family with the kids how about a weekend at a beach house in Santa Cruz, Half Moon Bay or Pajaro Dunes?
I gave a pair of real nice towels that I had their names and wedding date sewn on a proffessional shop, or pillow cases with their names for your sister in law. personalized gifts are so treasurable.
for the family of five boys, how about a popcorn maker, bowls, popcorn, board games (twister, trivia games, memory games etc.) and family movies package. this will promote game nite family time. xoxox
Ask his sis if there's anything she wants but doesn't feel she can spend the money on. As for the friend with 5 new kids, how about a family pass to a theme park?
My husband and I got married about 3 years ago and we are both over 45 (with 2 children age 5 and 25!!). We asked for Home Depot gift cards and received enough to buy a refrigerator! Some of the other gifts we received that we appreciated were: Safeway gift cards, Crate and Barrell gift cards, and dinner for 2 at a very nice restaurant. We also got a gift that was essentially a $150 to spend as we wished at this website that had various gifts to choose from. Unfortunately I don't remember the name of the site but it was a great idea...Good luck!
Neither of them are registered anywhere?
If not, try asking them what they want or need, then you can choose from the list of things they mention.
In NY people give money, china dinnerware or crystal glassware.
Have fun at both occasions!
For your SIL, is she registered for fine china? If so, maybe you could get her a few place settings, or several serving dishes? I know that doesn't sound glamorous, but of all the gifts I received for my wedding, I do still remember who gave me each place setting, the gravy boat, the large platter, etc. It makes me smile ever time I set the table for a fancy dinner!
For your husband's friend... five boys! Wow. A good vacuum? (Just kidding, that probably wouldn't be a good idea...) If the family is local to the Bay Area, maybe a nice gift would be a family membership to the Monterey Bay Aquarium (ours was only $150ish for 2 adults and 3 kids), or some tickets to a 49ers game.
For the close friend, I would check into a year long family membership somewhere - a zoo, sports complex, pool area etc.
For the sister, maybe some really nice bath towels, new kitchen pans - depends how much she cooks.
Had a person tell me recently that a great gift is $$ towards the honeymoon.
Hello K.
I don't usually answer requests but I thought you might like to know about a great way of gift giving that will give them a choice. The gift is in the form of a glossy booklet with a collection of brand name items in it, guaranteed to delight, and everything in there will be the same price, $300 for example, if this is your budget (the booklets fit budgets from $30-$1000). They choose one item, redeem it on-line and it will be shipped directly to them free of charge! It is a stress free way of giving the perfect gift because your recipients choose it, and they won't know how much you spent! Let me know if you would like to take a look at the gift albums. I live in San Jose.
M.
Instead of fine china (which may be too fragile to pull out and USE with 5 kids around) How about a really nice sturdy set of dishes and 2 sets of sturdy silverware from Crate & Barrel. 2 sets mean they can have two meals before running out. And a complete set of matched everyday dishes could be a really nice way to mark the beginning of this new family. Maybe add a bread basket or bowl as a symbolic gift.
Not sure about your SIL--crystal vase or glasses or platter or nice chiming wall clock?
As for the friend w/the 5 boys--do they have a Wii? That and some games would be an awesome family gift if they don't already have O.....just a thought if you think they allow video games.
Although money is always a great gift!
A gift certificate would be great for either one of them to a high-quality professional photographer in the area. Yes, they will have wedding images, but a casual family portrait down by the river or capturing the upcoming fall colors would be something more timeless and sends an important message to the kids--that they are a valued piece of this new blended family.
