Affordable wedding gift ideas
One big question arises before every wedding:
“Should I give from the registry or off the registry?”
While it’s true that couples register for the items they really want, gifts from the registry can be expensive and impersonal. Some of us prefer to put thought into the gifts we give, especially when attending a wedding of close friends or family. Therefore, giving a gift that is not pre-selected can be a meaningful and affordable alternative to registry items.
First, consider your talents. Can you provide a valuable service that money can’t buy?
For example, I have a friend who is a phenomenal makeup artist. Often, she will offer to apply the bridal party’s makeup free of charge as a wedding gift to friends. Although she has saved her friends thousands of dollars over the years, the beauty she has created in countless wedding photos is priceless.
However, you don’t have to be a professional makeup artist to provide significant services to the couple on their wedding day.
Even amateur photographers can create a high-quality photo book online from candid photos that the professional photographer was too busy to capture. Or, offer to care for the couple’s pet while they honeymoon. I don’t know a single pet owner who wouldn’t be grateful knowing their pet is in loving hands for a week or two (and knowing they’re not coming home to a kennel bill totaling several hundred dollars!).
If you don’t have a tangible skill to offer the bride and groom, consider an affordable membership or subscription that they can use all year long.
Are they movie buffs? Netflix movie rental memberships start at $4.99 per month. For nature lovers, an eighty-dollar National Parks and Recreation Annual Pass admits the holders and guests to the most beautiful parks in the country for the entire year. If the couple shares a passion for a hobby such as travel, fitness or music, they may enjoy a magazine or online book subscription. Getting creative will show how well you know the happy couple while saving you money.
Of course, off-registry gifts aren’t always appropriate. Ultimately, your selection will depend on the tastes and preferences of the bride and groom. If you know the couple has their hearts set on their pre-selected items, consider purchasing a simple, affordable gift from their registry. Then add a personal touch, such as monogramming or engraving.
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