Wedding gifts

Hammer89

I need to pick up a wedding present, for a wedding that I didn't attend and for a wedding that took place about six months ago, but I like the happy couple and I would like to make them even happier in the form of a belated wedding gift. I said I would pop a present up to the house, but I put it off and now I don't feel like I can call into them, or even text them, without a present under my arm. So, what would you get? I ask because, well, I don't have the first clue.

I'd be willing to spend around €100 to €150, and I was thinking maybe a voucher to a very decent restaurant, or a voucher to some hotel down the country. I don't know. What I do know is Google has so far thrown up the worst suggestions ever. I've known both of them for 15 years, so a Wok or a couple of personalised towels isn't going to cut it.

Cheers.

fizzypish

Probably just give them the money. Weddings are expensive.

LoveBrowsing

I think a voucher is a lovely idea. Blue Book vouchers are popular as wedding gifts - it means they have a choice of approximately 30 nationwide country house/boutique hotels. They can choose which one suits them best

Ken.

Mod-Moved to the Weddings, Marriage & Civil Partnership forum. Please read the local charter before posting.

janja

Were you invited to the wedding? I agree with the blue book voucher.

SarahMollie

One thing about a hotel/bluebook voucher is that if the value is €100-150, they will likely have to put some of their own money towards it to make it useable - bluebook hotels tend to be on the pricier side, but lovely nonetheless. For some people, this will be absolutely no issue, but for others it might, but yuo know your friends best so judge it accordingly.

If they live in Dublin or some other city there should be plenty of great resturants that would fit the bill - if its Dublin I'm happy to suggest a few if you wish as I'm quite a fan of dining out

Another idea that I've heard before is a case of wine - this is great as it obviously doesnt require them to put any money towards it. A lot of independent wine shops could put together something really nice and unique for you if you've any idea what you're friends like in a wine.

Addle

Agree with the above, vouchers are great, but only if they cover full costs.

mcgiggles

Case of wine would be a lovely idea, you could make little tags for the bottles like to celebrate first anniversary, first Christmas as a married couple etc..

Hammer89

janja wrote: »

Were you invited to the wedding? I agree with the blue book voucher.

Of course. The gift would be a bit of sh*t through the letterbox if I wasn't.

SarahMollie wrote: »

If they live in Dublin or some other city there should be plenty of great resturants that would fit the bill - if its Dublin I'm happy to suggest a few if you wish as I'm quite a fan of dining out

Please do, Sarah.

SarahMollie

Hammer89 wrote: »

Please do, Sarah.

So places that I've given vouchers for in the past year or so include

-Amuse (Expensive)
-The Green House (Expensive)
-Forrest Avenue
-Locks
-Rolys
-Mulberry Garden

The top two are very expensive so would only recommend if they're real foodies and don't mind potentially topping the bill up a bit.

I also rate the likes of;

Chapter One (Expensive)
The Rustic Stone (very good if someone has a special diet)
One Pico
Dax

Hopefully something from this list will work for you!

Edit: If they'd be up for something a bit different (aka, an Indian) then Pickle on Camden Street is superb. I also really like Delahunt

Hammer89

SarahMollie wrote: »

So places that I've given vouchers for in the past year or so include

-Amuse (Expensive)
-The Green House (Expensive)
-Forrest Avenue
-Locks
-Rolys
-Mulberry Garden

The top two are very expensive so would only recommend if they're real foodies and don't mind potentially topping the bill up a bit.

I also rate the likes of;

Chapter One (Expensive)
The Rustic Stone (very good if someone has a special diet)
One Pico
Dax

Hopefully something from this list will work for you!

Edit: If they'd be up for something a bit different (aka, an Indian) then Pickle on Camden Street is superb. I also really like Delahunt

I'll be getting a voucher from one of these spots. Thanks Sarah

Loveinapril

Addle wrote: »

Agree with the above, vouchers are great, but only if they cover full costs.

I agree with this. I was delighted to get a voucher for a swanky hotel as a wedding present in the spring, but we are so broke that we haven't been able to go as we can't make up the difference just yet.

Billy Reid

Have a wedding of a pal in July
How much do we put in card average pls

Sean Fantastic

fizzypish wrote: »

Probably just give them the money. Weddings are expensive.

That's a terrible idea. People generally have the wedding they can afford and so won't want money. Try and get something personal that they can cherish and it will be something so remember you by.

Sean Fantastic

Billy Reid wrote: »

Have a wedding of a pal in July
How much do we put in card average pls

Ah no! Try and get something for the happy couple. Not just a few miserable 50s in an envelope.

SarahMollie

Sean Fantastic wrote: »

That's a terrible idea. People generally the wedding they can afford and so won't want money. Try and get something personal that they can cherish and will be something so remember you by.

Really? I'd say at least 99% of people want cash these days.. Most people already live together and have furnished homes and the last thing they need is a tonne of stuff thats other peoples tastes when the house is already full. IME The odd person still gives a physical gift but if everyone did this, it would actually be quite problematic.

freshpopcorn

Billy Reid wrote: »

Have a wedding of a pal in July
How much do we put in card average pls

It depends on how close you are to the couple.
People tend to give between 100 and 200. It depends on close you are to the couple to be honest. I find couples like cash the best.

freshpopcorn

SarahMollie wrote: »

Really? I'd say at least 99% of people want cash these days.. Most people already live together and have furnished homes and the last thing they need is a tonne of stuff thats other peoples tastes when the house is already full. IME The odd person still gives a physical gift but if everyone did this, it would actually be quite problematic.

You'd have enough set of glasses to open a shop I'd say!

missmatty

I agree actually. I would have always put money in a card in the past also, but we got married last month and got about 7 or 8 presents and I really appreciated them and remembered who gave them. Also they don't have to cost a fortune, you could get something really nice for way less than 150e.

SarahMollie

We've always given €200 from us as a couple - that said we've only gone to weddings of people we really know and have declined invited from far flung cousins etc.

freshpopcorn

missmatty wrote: »

I agree actually. I would have always put money in a card in the past also, but we got married last month and got about 7 or 8 presents and I really appreciated them and remembered who gave them. Also they don't have to cost a fortune, you could get something really nice for way less than 150e.

I know a couple and the gifts were great for their Christmas presents that year!

Sean Fantastic

missmatty wrote: »

I agree actually. I would have always put money in a card in the past also, but we got married last month and got about 7 or 8 presents and I really appreciated them and remembered who gave them. Also they don't have to cost a fortune, you could get something really nice for way less than 150e.

Couldn't agree more. If all you got was envelopes with money in it's all very soulless and deflating. Presents are way nicer and people make an effort to get nice things.

When I got married we got loads of presents and money as well and I honestly can't remember who gave me money but I know who gave me the presents.

Generally, if you don't don't really care that much about the couple (e.g. not a close friend or relative) that much then a couple of 20s in a card will do but otherwise go and buy a thoughtful gift. I know it's what I would appreciate.

I hope that helps.

Sean Fantastic

SarahMollie wrote: »

We've always given €200 from us as a couple - that said we've only gone to weddings of people we really know and have declined invited from far flung cousins etc.

Wow! At any rate, I would say that 200€ is probably far too much. I wish I had people like you at my wedding.....:D

freshpopcorn

Sean Fantastic wrote: »

Wow! At any rate, I would say that 200€ is probably far too much. I wish I had people like you at my wedding.....:D

€200 is what average in my area.
I do think gifts can be good but you've to be good at picking them. Most of the gifts I've seen were just bought in a sale with no effort put into them. They were just sets of glasses and vases.
The nicest gift I saw was a hand painted picture of the church.

Billy Reid

I've decided I'm doing to give them cash 150 euro

It's affordable to us.

Wouldn't see 1k for a wedding

missmatty

150e is totally fine. Going by our wedding last month, 100-150 was the average gift from a couple. Some friends gave 200e and to be honest I thought that was a bit much even though we did appreciate it.

freshpopcorn

Billy Reid wrote: »

I've decided I'm doing to give them cash 150 euro

It's affordable to us.

Wouldn't see 1k for a wedding

That's a great gift!

Dow99

Sean Fantastic wrote: »

When I got married we got loads of presents and money as well and I honestly can't remember who gave me money but I know who gave me the presents.

I couldn't agree more. I'm married 6 years now and I really cherish the gift's we received and I remember each and everyone how gave them to us. Money is thoughtless.

freshpopcorn

Dow99 wrote: »

I couldn't agree more. I'm married 6 years now and I really cherish the gift's we received and I remember each and everyone how gave them to us. Money is thoughtless.

Did you get any crappy gifts tough?
I know people and they just give a crappy gift such as a vase or set of glasses just to give something and no thought goes into it!

SozBbz

freshpopcorn wrote: »

Did you get any crappy gifts tough?
I know people and they just give a crappy gift such as a vase or set of glasses just to give something and no thought goes into it!

Yeah no one wants a pile of crystal thats just not to their taste. I wouldnt dream of givnig a physical gift unless its someone whose taste I know inside out.

I've given restaurant/hotel vouchers previously and they were always well received. Although again, I'd only do thatif I was very sure that the couple were foodies or really liked taking breaks away and already had their house set up.

Dow99

freshpopcorn wrote: »

Did you get any crappy gifts tough?
I know people and they just give a crappy gift such as a vase or set of glasses just to give something and no thought goes into it!

Ah yeah we did. The best/worst being a life size stuffed chicken door stopper.
The funny thing is, we actually use it!!

missmatty

We mostly got great gifts and one or two were handmade which was wonderful. We did get a crystal vase (we needed a new vase) and wine glasses but we'll definitely use them. In general I'd agree unless you know someone's taste very well it can be easier to give a cash gift.