I need inexpensive wedding present ideas

[punkin]

My really good friend is getting married (second wedding). There is no registry (they both have everything already). I am spending a fortune on travel and hotel and clothes (both girls and I will need 2 new outfits - it's a weekend thing). I usually write a check, but I really do not want to spend $300 on top of everything else. Anyone have any ideas?

Oh, and I am babysitting her kids the day after the wedding so she and new hubby can get some alone time. So I'm working and I still have to pay.

 

[clh2]

What about a nice picture frame?

 

[tinkercat]

One thing that I think would be low cost and I wish we would have received is a nicely framed copy of the wedding invitation. If its the kind that you open rather than a flat card, you could try to get your hands on more than one and do a fold open frame with the front in one side and the inside on the other. I don't have any of our invites saved and I think it would have been a nice keepsake.

 

[Justsyd2]

Gifts are not normally required for a second wedding, but if you feel that you want to get her something...how about a gift card to her favorite restaurant or store.

 

[Kellydelly]

I need some good ideas too, our friends were just married last Friday and we went to the wedding emptyhanded . I don't want to do a photo frame because I don't know the bride's taste. They know my husband is unemployed right now, so they probably don't expect anything much from us, but it's hard to come up with something decent. Second wedding for these too also.

 

[Kellydelly]

Gifts are not normally required for a second wedding, but if you feel that you want to get her something...how about a gift card to her favorite restaurant or store.

You know, the last wedding we went to where it was a second wedding for both, the couple actually put little notes inside the invitation that stated "no gifts please, your company is all we want." So I took them at their word and we only gave them a card. Then I felt like a big @ss for not giving them a gift . I think we were the only ones who didn't show up with a gift. I wish the couple who married last week had put out the word they didn't want gifts cause we really can't afford to get them anything!

 

[Tommys Mommy]

Here's a nice gift idea that I learned about through my aunt who lives in the DC area. I order an American flag to be flown over the US Capitol Building. This is great for weddings, special anniversaries or significant birthdays; I even had this done for both of my kids' teachers as their Christmas gift. Everyone I have ever done this for has loved it - it is so patriotic & most people are unaware that you can do it.

I go to my congressman's website, click on constituent services, then on the flag request link. You can specify the date it is to be flown & include a special message; my form says to allow 6-8 weeks. Then, the flag is boxed up, sent back to the requester (me) along with a certificate stating that the flag was flown over the Capitol Building. You can order cotton or nylon, in a variety of sizes; prices range from $9 - $67.00. There is a $4.05 per flag fee - not sure why - administrative costs?

When I have given this as a gift, I just write a message explaining the flying of the flag & let the recipient know that I will forward it after it has flown. I think it is a very thoughtful gift & extremely unique.

 

[cglaura]

Do you know both their families well enough to ask for pictures? You could get a nice but inexpensive album, and put together them at different ages him on one page her on the other...like babies, toddlers, pre-teen, teen, college...ending with pages of them together. Or scrapbook if you are good at that sort of thing..

 

[perfectangel]

I just got married and one of our wedding guest took all the pictures she took and made a photobucket book for us. There are often coupons for there books. I loved all the pictures and I thought it was a really great idea.

 

[jlima]

Find out what their favorite charity is; and donate the amount you would spend on a gift, in honor of the occasion of their wedding. The charity may be able to send them a note acknowledging the donation; if not, give the couple a greeting card and write a personal note that you've donated the $$ in their honor.

 

[CyndiLooWho]

If the wedding hasn't happened yet, you can decorate a pair of champagne flutes for their first toast. It's really easy - get two champagne flutes that fit your budget, and then add some white flower sprays and white ribbons from Michael's. The supplies should not cost more than about $10, and the flutes will be what your budget can bear. It's a simple, inexpensive (or expensive if you use the crystal they register for) gift.

 

[punkin]

I never knew that second weddings did not require a gift. This one is mixed anyway. The groom has not been married before so the wedding is quite a bit larger than the bride may have wanted. Her future MIL is planning the thing and it is becoming much more elaborate and formal than originally expected. I love the champagne flutes idea. I wonder if I could do it, not having an artsy bone in my body. I could also do the framed invitation. mmm, good ideas all. Thank you.

 

[java]

If the wedding hasn't happened yet, you can decorate a pair of champagne flutes for their first toast. It's really easy - get two champagne flutes that fit your budget, and then add some white flower sprays and white ribbons from Michael's. The supplies should not cost more than about $10, and the flutes will be what your budget can bear. It's a simple, inexpensive (or expensive if you use the crystal they register for) gift.

Another idea on this one- you could also easily bead the glass- find out her "colors" and get some beads- wire them and wrap around the stem of the flute.

I will add though that I love the framed invitation my aunt made for us. 20 years ago!

For my Mom's second marriage she actually got a lot of wine. And they enjoyed that. I told her it's because they all know she's a wino

 

[xmlguy]

Costco sells a great automatic electric non-stick rice cooker for around $30. I use it nearly every day. Who doesn't like rice? After cooking, it also keeps it warm. luv it and it's cheap.

 

[maggiew]

Buy a scrapbook at Michaels with a 40% off coupon. Then decorate the pages with wedding stickers, diecuts, etc. There are many kits out there for weddings and if you find a kit that makes a whole book you can use a 40% off coupon on that too.

If you want to make it really inexpensive, do a "one design for all pages" type of thing instead of different stickers. For example you could make each page have a pair of intertwined hearts that you cut out of scrapbook paper and then nicely write (or type) a love or wedding quote in it. OR you can just print out titles for each page like "Bridal Party", "Wedding Cake", "The Toast", etc. and then make fancy scroll designs with markers (photosafe) in their colors.

If you can afford it, take pictures at the wedding and then develop them and put them in the book. If not, just give the book. That way they can have a brag book all ready with little work.

Although, if you are babysitting the kids, I might consider that my gift. Or you could make up a coupon book with coupons for "one free night of babysitting" or something like that that they could use in the future when they need a night out.

Maggie

 

[perriwinkleblue]

If the wedding hasn't happened yet, you can decorate a pair of champagne flutes for their first toast. It's really easy - get two champagne flutes that fit your budget, and then add some white flower sprays and white ribbons from Michael's. The supplies should not cost more than about $10, and the flutes will be what your budget can bear. It's a simple, inexpensive (or expensive if you use the crystal they register for) gift.

To add to this: if you have a "Things Remembered" type engraving store nearby (or do it online), you can get flutes engraved with their initials, names, and/or wedding date. They also have silver cake serving sets, clocks, jewelry boxes, silver plated wedding frames and such. Some things are very nice, some a little cheesy but it might be worth checking out.

Getting and copying some old pictures from their parents is cute too. We have a double picture frame with a picture of myself and my husband when we were both about 6 years old. I love it and think it's romantic in that whole "soul-mates" kind of way. (It may not apply in this instance but I always see my children's faces when I look at it too.)

Also, if getting a babysitter is a big deal to them, what about a certificate for a nice restaurant and print up a "babysitting" certificate to go with it. I got something similar for my birthday and all I can say about it is: .

 

[Bren's Mom]

My uncle just got married for the first time...in his 50s. His bride was married once before. My sister and I had a hard time deciding what to get them, writing a check to them seemed odd. My sister's fave wedding gift that she received when she got married was a 2 gal stone crock for her front porch, personalized. So I found a NH co that would make a custom crock for us to give them. It came out AWESOME, the did the custom work for no charge and the company was a total pleasure to deal with. My sister lives in NH so it was nice to use a local co. We had it shipped to me, though, in CT where the wedding would be and it came with no problems at all. It said 'The X's' with a claddagh symbol and then Est. 2009.

Here's the link to the company:

http://www.allsignsco.com/

The customer personalized crock plus shipping came to less than $60. A huge bargain! I put a lovely hydrangea plant inside of it (still in its plastic pot) and it was on their front porch when they returned from their honeymoon. My hope is they will plant the hydrangea in their yard and then put annuals in the crock, or holly branches in the winter, etc.

 

[Pin Wizard]

Macy's china department during a sale!

 

[disbridemimi]

find out where they are honeymooning, and get them a honeymoon kit. If its a tropical place get them towels, flip flops sunscreen etc etc. Or call the hotel and see if they have anything you can get for them while there, like a night of room service, or a dinner on the beach etc.


Things Remebered also has a lot of nice things but they have a special frame for both a pic & the wedding invitation which is nice & affordable:

http://www.thingsremembered.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/TRproduct_10001_9951_999605337__3008_3344_4586___?occasionId=_1_Bride|~|Wedding^Wedding%20Shower|~|~|~


But check out their website they have a lot on sale


Or you could just get them 8 gravy boats, I hear thats cool these days

 

[ferrytale]

I agree with one of the PP that a framed invitation is usually nice. I've done them for several weddings all of which we got nice compliments and thanks on. Instead of just framing the invite, I get a nice frame - not expensive, but one that looks nice, and a matte that fits the invite. Then buy some 3D scrapbook stickers and decorate the matte with wedding themes or colors. It makes it unique and personal without spending a lot.