The Gift Closet Part Three: Frugal Wedding Gifts
This is the third installment in the gift closet series. In the
first section I talked about the presentation of your gifts, in the
second part I discussed inexpensive graduate gifts, and today I would like to talk about frugal wedding gifts.
I love to stock up for weddings because it is something that you can do throughout the year with very little expense. Many of the wedding gifts that I am going to list will make great housewarming gifts too or can be a great way to welcome a new neighbor. Try to keep some of these ideas in the back of your mind when doing thrift sale shopping or hitting the end-of-season clearance sales.
Here are a few of my ideas for wedding gifts:
1. Get the couple's board game collection started and get them some new games. You can ask the couple what type of board games they like and get them one or two of these.
2. Christmas decorations make great gifts for a newly married couple. You can purchase these at the after Christmas sales and get tons of stuff for very little money. It is nice to get an ornament with the year of their wedding on it to include within the gift, to remember their wedding date by.
3. Pool your money with several other couples and get them a folding table & chairs set. Some of our family did this for us and we actually used it as our kitchen dining set for several months before we were able to save up enough to purchase a kitchen table. Broke newlyweds will really appreciate this gift.
4. Fill a wine rack for the couple. I often see small wine racks, made to
accommodate two or three bottles, at thrift sales. I try and buy these and fill them with a couple of bottles of wine. One of our favorite inexpensive brands is the Barefoot wines, which can be purchased for $5-6 a bottle. This wine has received great reviews and awards, and it is easy on the wallet.
5. Give the couple a picnic set. I try to stock up on these during the summer clearance sales. Pair a picnic set with an outdoor blanket and you have a beautiful gift for the couple. These will often be marked down fifty or seventy-five percent off at the end of the summer. Stock up!
6. I love to buy couples a welcome mat or a wreath for their front door. You could also get an inexpensive sign that has their names on it. I try to
make the wreaths myself and utilize those great Michael's forty percent off coupons. Thrift stores will often have donated wreaths that you can use and just pull all of the previous owner's greenery off of it to make a new one.
7. A stationary set can be a beautiful gift for a new bride. Fill a basket with stationary and plenty of thank you notes and a book of stamps. This is a thoughtful gift that she can really use to thank everyone who has given them gifts.
What are some gifts that you like to give as wedding gifts? Better yet, what was the best gift that you received?
Labels: Frugal, Gifts
10Comments:
mama k
"I like making the Bride & Groom return address labels on my computer using fun clipart. That would be a great addition to your stationary basket.
It's not really "thrifty" but friends of ours got a gift bag full of various gift cards to Walmart, Home Depot, grocery store, etc. They LOVED it and appreciated having them on hand."
Mom2fur
"My mother often gives a box of nice Christmas ornaments, bought on clearance, as a shower gift. It's always a hit."
carrie
"One of our favorite gifts was a laundry basket filled with detergent, fabric softener, sponges and cleaning products. So practical!"
"These are great ideas. Unfortunately, the expected wedding gift in my neck of the woods is cash.
One of my favorite wedding gifts was an old fashioned espresso maker. What made it special is that is was a gift from my husband's cousin. They had been estranged for many years because the parents were involved in one of those silly feuds where no one can remember why it started. Shortly before we became engaged, the cousins all decided there was no use continuing a senseless feud, so they got together. When I met this particular cousin, he told me all about how he and my future husband and the other kids used to visit the grandparents and watch all the grownups drink espresso. That espresso maker was a very thoughtful wedding gift."
Gini (Hallquist) Young
"I like to do the wreath thing myself. My sister did it for my brother and his wife when they got married. she included different garlands for each of the seasons! I loved this idea! So I did for a friend who recently got married. It makes that first home together seem that much more Homey with that wreath hanging on the door...even if there are still sheets covering the windows."
Meredith
"I love it when older family members pass along a treasured heirloom in lieu of a registered wedding gift.
I like to give crystal pitchers or large serving platters by makers like Arthur Court. If I see a great clearance, I stock up--these items can mix in with most people's choice of china."
Jthemilker
"I appreciated the practical gifts - a nice set of pots and pans - something I would not have splurged on for myself.
I think an engraved door knocker is a cool idea.
I do have some clevar ideas for gifting money --
*Photo album with dollar bills in the photo slots
*tape dollar bills together, roll them up, and tape frilly ribbon at the end. Wrap a square kleenex box with fancy paper. Fill it with tissue paper and put the money roll in it with the ribbon sticking out."
Heather
"Another "cheap" wine that we enjoy is Yellow Tail. The shiraz is our favorite and I look forward to a glass in August.
For those that don't imbibe (very common in my neck of the woods), a basket with the recipe & non-perishable ingredients for a fancy meal is fun. If your recipe calls for meat or a lot of produce include a gift card to the grocery store. The meal only lasts for an evening, but a winning recipe is forever. ;)
Worst gift we received? A crystal tic tac toe set. For a while it became the ultimate white elephant gift. No one wanted it and we always ended up getting it back. I finally sold it at yard sale."
Ellen
"What cute ideas! I like the last idea, with stationery.
We're getting married next month, and gifts are coming in--so far my favorite has been a photo album that my mother made, of the wedding days of as many of my relatives as she could get pictures for. The best was my great-grandmother's. I cried at the shower when I opened it and saw what it was.
One thing on the christmas decorations/wine ideas--make sure you know the bride & groom really well before giving potentially sticky gifts! Of course. :)"
BeachHouseBingo
"I'm a purist when it comes to wedding gifts - my favorite is a toaster because it's a classic! I also like to give really good linens like the ones on
ElegantLinensPC.com, they have a great selection and their discontinued page has excellent buys. I used the sheets my grandmother gave me for my wedding for years and years, and I never failed to think of her everytime I put them, freshly washed, on the bed. I like being able to connect a person with a thoughtful gift."
This is the third installment in the gift closet series. In the first section I talked about the presentation of your gifts, in the second part I discussed inexpensive graduate gifts, and today I would like to talk about frugal wedding gifts.
It's not really "thrifty" but friends of ours got a gift bag full of various gift cards to Walmart, Home Depot, grocery store, etc. They LOVED it and appreciated having them on hand."