Advice from Prosperity Mansion & Farm, an outdoor, garden, Maryland wedding venue located in Frederick County Maryland and bordering Carroll County.
When you’re invited to attend a loved one’s wedding, picking the right gift for the happy couple can be perplexing. This is the biggest day of their life and should be honored accordingly. If you’re stuck on what to get as a wedding present, keep reading for our list of ideas!
The most important thing to consider is your budget. How much should you be spending on a gift? According to an article by Brides.com, the average wedding gift is $100.00, but this varies. Depending on how well you know the couple, how much you’re spending on accommodations and travel for the wedding, and other variables that you have to consider, your budget could be a different story.
The size or type of wedding can also be something you consider when looking at your gift budget. A backyard wedding with a small guest list is different than a large wedding at a wedding venue with catering, a DJ, and more. A smaller or less expensive gift would be better fit for a backyard wedding. It's more appropriate to have a higher gift budget for a bigger, more elaborate wedding.
Don’t be afraid to be honest with the happy couple about your budget. If you think that you aren’t in a position where you can afford to spend the money on a wedding gift, let them know that you’re in a tough spot and you don’t think you will be able to attend. Hopefully, they’ll be understanding of your situation, and tell you that they still would love to have you there even if you don't have the budget for an expensive gift!
When it comes to the budget for your gift, you should not spend more than you can afford. While it seems like a straightforward rule of thumb, people often get so stressed about choosing the perfect wedding gift that they seem to not worry about price. A well-thought out gift within your budget is the perfect gift for the couple and for your wallet.
There’s a difference between being cheap and being unable to afford a luxury gift. If you have the means to purchase an expensive gift for a couple, you shouldn’t give them something small just to save a couple of bucks. It’s bound to hurt the happy couple’s feelings if you do.
Another thing you should avoid is regifting. If there’s a gift you receive that you didn’t like, chances are other people aren’t going to like it if you give it to them. If there truly is something you received and don’t want to keep, the best thing to do is to donate it. Don't gift it to a couple on their wedding day.
People will always remember how you treat them, and a gesture like regifting or getting a cheap gift when you don’t have budget constraints is not one you want to be remembered for. If you go this route, don’t be surprised if you are left off guest list in the future.
While getting a “gag” gift for a friend or coworker can a funny scenario, a wedding is the most inappropriate occasion for one. Even if you include a genuine gift along with a joke gift, there's a significant chance you will highly offend the newlyweds. Gag or joke gifts should be avoided at all costs.
Something else you need to consider is the couple’s wishes. They may ask for cash in lieu of gifts so they can pay for their honeymoon or use it as a down payment for a bigger purchase together. They could also ask for you to have gifts shipped to their home instead of bringing them to the wedding. Respecting what the couple wants is crucial when it comes to gifts. We highly recommend having gifts sent to the couples home prior to the wedding. There is so much to take home after the wedding that adding gifts is truly cumbersome.
If the couple sets up a registry, this is a great place to begin your search for the perfect gift! Everything on the registry is something the couple will be happy to receive, so you don’t have to worry about making sure your gift is something they like. You may even see something on the registry that you hadn't thought of before.
If you do utilize the registry, make sure you’re using it to its full potential. Many registry platforms have a way to mark certain items as “purchased” for the couple. This prevents the couple from receiving the same gift from multiple guests. You have also taken the burden off of them needing to return gifts.
When in doubt, don't be afraid to ask around. Asking other guests will help you figure out what duplicates to avoid. You could even coordinate your gift with another friend or family member by getting matching or complementing sets.
Don’t forget to include the gift receipt! Unfortunately, there is always a chance of items being damaged in the shipping process or being faulty. You want to make sure that the couple is able to replace a gift for one that works properly in these circumstances.
It can be difficult to pick a gift to celebrate a new marriage, but we hope that these tips can help you get started in picking the perfect gift! Above all else, remember that the perfect gift comes from the heart, and any gift you choose with the couple in mind will be a gift they love.
Photo by Summer Penrose
Mission Statement:
Prosperity Mansion & Farm is committed to providing a beautiful wedding venue that is affordable to all couples. Our budget friendly venue allows you to celebrate your big day and then move on to the next phase of your relationship without financial burdens.
Prosperity Mansion & Farm proudly serves:
Frederick Maryland
Carroll County Maryland
Westminster Maryland
Baltimore Maryland
Montgomery County Maryland
Anne Arundel County Maryland
Gettysburg Pennsylvania
Hanover Pennsylvania
Littlestown Pennsylvania
Loudoun County Virginia and more
Contact us at: 443-350-8100
prosperity_mansion@yahoo.com
www.prosperitymansion.com