As soon as the save-the-date arrives, many people start frantically searching for the perfect wedding gift for the happy couple. When it comes to the modern day wedding gift, guests are really starting to think outside the box. While registries still exist, they’re not as much the norm. Brides and grooms have also gotten quite creative. Fewer couples are spending time picking out china patterns or kitchen appliances that may gather dust in the “Land of Misfit Gifts”. Many people are getting married later or for a second time, so they often already have the household items they need. With this in mind, and the summer wedding season upon us, we decided to share 10 original wedding gift ideas. You’ll be relieved to hear that most of these can be purchased online with a simple click of your mouse!

1. Honeyfund

One thing that hasn’t gone by the wayside is honeymoons. If anything, they’ve gotten even more lavish. Whether the happy couple is glamping in Santa Barbara for a week or trekking in Nepal for a month, they’re going to need money to fund their trip. Paying for a honeymoon after just cutting the last check for the wedding can be scary, and many couples end up postponing their honeymoon until they can save a little more. That’s why Honeyfund is the perfect solution. Guests can choose to put their money towards different categories like sightseeing, romantic dinners, and, of course, the almighty airfare. Plus, memories from the trip will last a lifetime, while that silver serving dish may eventually tarnish.

2. Home Delivery Meal Service

Grocery shopping and making meals each night is something a newly married couple may not want to do after a long day at work. Help the newlyweds keep the magic alive by getting them started with a meal delivery service like Plated or Blue Apron. Most of these services provide healthy food options (think hormone-free meat, sustainable seafood, and fresh veggies) for two people, three nights a week. Depending on the service, the ingredients may come chopped or they may have to do a bit of the work themselves. Sous prep can be surprisingly romantic!

3. Cashola 

Okay, okay, so cash isn’t exactly the most original gift idea but it will certainly make the newlyweds happy. Although the couple may have been living together prior to their nuptials, they may be wanting to save up to purchase a new home together so they can begin building memories of their own – in their own home! A cash gift can be easily added to prior savings to be used towards a down payment. And, just because this may not be the most “original” gift, that doesn’t mean you have to gift cash in a plain, boring white envelope. We found these adorable ways to present the money (as a bride and groom or a diamond ring!) on Pinterest. Clever and practical don’t have to be mutually exclusive.  

4. “Of the Month” Club Membership 

After all that planning, wedding days are over—poof—just like that. It can be a bit of a letdown, so it’s fun to get the happy couple a gift that keeps on giving. Amazingclubs.com has “gifts of the month” for wine lovers, beer lovers, and even hot sauce lovers! Real Simple also found a Craft Coffee of the month gift for those who get their jolts from java. Want to give the couple individualized gifts? Try BIRCHBOX or Trunk Club – the newlyweds can open their deliveries at the same time, but both receive items picked specifically for them. 

5. A Gift Card to Their Favorite Restaurant 
 

Right after the wedding, the couple is probably going to be feeling the pinch from throwing the engagement party, rehearsal dinner, wedding, post-wedding brunch, and honeymoon – not to mention feeling a bit worn out from all the planning. Giving them a gift card to their favorite restaurant is not only super thoughtful, but it also gives them a special night out sans the stress of paying for – or planning - it. If you don’t know their favorite eateries in their immediate area, Restaurant.com or Open Table are great options. 

 

6. Custom Wall Art 

Don’t have a gift in time for the wedding? Don’t fret! First of all, most etiquette experts will tell you that you have a year from the wedding day to give a gift. Secondly, getting a gift after the wedding allows for you to create an amazingly unique custom wall art canvas. There are likely many places you can find this service online, but Etsy shops usually allow for additional customization as they are typically smaller, individually-owned businesses.  

 

 

7. Lessons 

We all have something we’d love to learn more about – whether it’s discovering or honing a talent. However, focusing our finances on something that’s “just” for us is usually the first thing we cut when we start to budget. That’s why giving a lesson in something the couple loves (dancing, art, cooking, etc.) can be a way for them to mix up their routine and give them some intimate couple-time they might not have afforded themselves otherwise. Tickets to a sporting event or play would also be quite unique! 

 

8. Airline Gift Cards 

Unless one half of the happy couple is like George Clooney in Up in the Air, he or she probably doesn’t have a bunch of spare air miles just lying around. And when it comes down to it, everyone loves to travel (or at least visit friends and family!). You can do this for the happy couple by either buying a gift card to an airline or use the Points Guy’s advice in transferring or gifting your own miles. 

 

9. A Customized Gift Basket 

You don’t even have to go through a company these days to create a meaningful gift basket, as this is an easy DIY task. In fact, one creative Pinterest user gave her sister a wine basket filled with wines that symbolized “firsts” in the engaged couple’s relationship, complete with tags attached to each bottle by way of explanation. You could even do a gift basket filled with goodies for the honeymoon, like sun lotion, magazines, snacks, and more. The possibilities are endless! 

 

 

 
 

10. Make a Donation in Their Name 

As we stated, more settled couples will often even tell guests not to give gifts, as they feel they already have so much. In the case of a couple that already has everything, it’s nice to make a donation to a cause that’s near and dear to their hearts. In some cases, you can print something about the donation you made, or simply give them a card letting them know. These days, all you have to do is poke around people’s Facebook pages to find organizations they support, and the gift of philanthropy will surely touch the couple’s hearts. 

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