Need budget wedding gift idea for blended family

[leagirl12]

My sister is getting married in two weeks and I have yet to figure out what to get her. We will have the expense of traveling from Alabama to Iowa and staying in a hotel so our budget for a gift is low. Plus I wanted to do something unique since they have been living together for over a year now and don't have a need for typical wedding gifts. He has 3 daughters (ages 9-5) and she has one son that is 8 yo.

I was thinking of some type of gift basket that had a movie and movie stuff for the kids....I also have a kids game I recently got on clearance that I could throw in there...and then something for the couple to have some romantic alone time while the kids are entertained.

I can't think of a cute way to put it together so I am not sure I will do this and was hoping maybe some of you guys had an idea on how to put the basket together or maybe had a good gift idea.

Any ideas will be greatly appreciated as I am starting to stress about this.

 

[laurafergie]

I had a similar situation with a cousin getting married. They are outdoorsy folks, so I ended up getting a really cute picnic basket (from TJ Max) and filled it with wine, cloth napkins, cloth tablecloth, pretty wine glasses, silverware and the like - sort of the makings of a romantic picnic. They seemed to really like it. It looked really impressive and it was a different, in budget gift.

 

[Mom_Rides]

I would make a visit to a second hand store (Goodwill/Salvation Army or the like) to look for a nice basket. In that basket I would put a throw blanket in the bottom to line it (should be some cheapies out this time of year). Then throw in a movie for the kids and a movie for the adults ($5 bin at Walmart). Take the kids game and maybe a family game (Uno?) and add that. Then do like a pizza kit, pizza cuter, soda or juice bottle for the kids, beer or wine for the adults, some cookie mix for dessert and some popcorn to go with the movies. Depending on your budget, you could get a small gift card to Walmart or a grocery store so they could get whatever else was needed for the pizza. There you go...pizza/game/movie family night in a basket!

 

[indimom]

My sister just got married in June, same situation. He has one child, she has three. I didn't know what to get since they are trying to fit two households of "stuff" into one home. I ended doing the boring "multi-picture" frames. It was gorgeous, BUT there were several of these things among the gifts. My younger sister did a romantic picnic basket. Wine, cheese, crackers, blanket, etc. (They camp a lot and were taking the camper for a romantic honeymoon weekend). This got a great reaction.
I vote for the basket for the kids and a romantic version for the adults!

 

[semo233]

How about a picture of the new family (at the wedding) blown up to poster size? Then you could pick up a large frame at Target or Walmart. All told, less than $50.

 

[beansmom]

i think you are very thoughtful.

We are having a wedding in Texas next April and honestly feel like the best gift our loved ones can give us is their presence.

Congrats to your sis on her new life.

 

[An_Island_Girl]

If they already have enough "stuff", then a membership to a zoo, aquarium, ticket to a sports team, etc would be my recommendation. Time spent with your loved ones is the best present of all!

 

[hffmnheidi]

The membership idea sounds good because it is something they can do as a family as well as a couple. Perhaps, if you are crafty, make a nice card to go along with the gift.

 

[Jill in Chicago]

When my SIL got married I went to the reception with envelopes in hand with my address. I went up to every person with a camera and gave them an envelope and asked them to send me copies of the photos they took, or e-mail them to me.... (I put all of this on a letter I tucked inside the envelope.

Then I put all those photos together and made an album. It was so adorable because everyone took photos of who/what they thought was important.

Another idea, and this has been done so many times, but it is still cute, is to give out a bunch of disposable cameras. This is really fun for the kids. They shoot away and give the cameras back to you. You develop the photos and make an album.

Albums do not have to be expensive. You do not have to go all crazy with scrapbooking papers and stickers.... instead concentrate on the photos. Keep it simple and fun.

 

[mrsklamc]

I would not suggest the disposable cameras. We spent lots of money on them and peopl just let their kids play with them. The pics were total garbage.

 

[hambirg]

If they already have enough "stuff", then a membership to a zoo, aquarium, ticket to a sports team, etc would be my recommendation. Time spent with your loved ones is the best present of all!

This.

I was going to suggest a zoo membership. But I think anything like the above would be great. I bought a zoo membership at our school auction one year and it was great. We could go as a family, the kids loved it, and sometimes the ex would take the kids as a way to get them out of the house and out of my hair for a day.

 

[leagirl12]

Thanks for all of the great ideas. I really like the zoo membership idea as they are very outdoorsy and I think would love this...I will have to look into it.

Keep the ideas coming!

 

[cuterlt]

If they are outdoorsy, you can get them a National parks pass, or a local parks pass for a pretty good price.

 

[annsteere]

I just did a gift where I had two matching gift bags, attached to each other at the middle.

The one marked "John" contained a nightie for his wife. (Frilly, sleeszy, moderate, it's your call.)

The one marked "Sue" had a gift certificate for dinner out.

They got lots of picture frames. This made them laugh and they actually used both items rather than getting more "stuff" for the house they were already trying to jam two household's worth of things into.