HELP!!! Need to get a wedding gift quick - ideas???

Betarulz! · #1 10-04-2002, 01:04 PM

So I'm going to my first wedding as a collegian - no doubt the first of many. It's for a girl who was my boss this past summer at space camp (she graduated from UNL in May and is getting married to Sigma Nu's former president). Anyways, the wedding is tommorow, and I would just like to be on the safe side in case a lot of my co-workers show up with gifts, plus since she'll be my boss next summer if I go back to that job it doesn't hurt to suck up a little.

Anyways I'm totally clueless as to what I should/could get them. I don't know where they are registered nor do I have unlimited funds. So anybody have any cheap ideas? I was thinking something space related since she works at the Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center as a space science education, but it's hard to find such things in Nebraska, besides she could get pretty much anything down at the Cos. So I'm SOL as of right now. PLEASE HELP ME ASAP!!!

SigK_Bama · #2 10-04-2002, 01:10 PM

Well, they won't need any picture frames, so don't get those. We registerd for two and we ended up with 15. Blah. Even if you don't know where they're registerd, take a look at Target and Bed Bath and Beyond and a few department stores websites' that have registry info on them, and just start typing her name in. You might come up with something. Also, you have up to a year after the wedding to send a gift. We're still getting them after two months and there are more on the way. Plus, it's kind of a hassle to deal with gifts at a wedding since someone will have to pack them up and take them from the reception and things could get lost. I would say wait and send one when they get back from the honeymoon.

AOIIBrandi · #3 10-04-2002, 01:13 PM

Picture frames are always great. They have really nice silver ones at any department store, or even Target. Also you could check on-line to see if they are registered at any of the major department stores. All you need is the name of either the bride or groom and maybe the wedding date.

Other than that, I usually suggest that you put together some kind of "gift basket". Use a creative container and add things that go along with it. Maybe a wooden wine crate (probably get one for free from a wine store) put in a bottle of red and a bottle of white (doesn't have to be expensive), a corkscrew, some inexpensive glasses, maybe some wine crackers or something...

sororitygirl2 · #4 10-04-2002, 01:14 PM

The old rumor that you have up to year to get them a gift is NOT TRUE! Consult pretty much any modern day etiquette guide and they will dispute that one... After all, does anyone really need that long to get themselves over to a store?

I do agree that you should not take a gift to a wedding though. Typical protocol is to send it so that they don't have to deal with transporting it, etc... (as SigK-Bama stated). Also, how lovely if you send it afterward, you can include a note thanking them for the invite, telling them what a great festivity it was and how beautiful the bride was.

Edited to add: If you are short on funds, ask around at the wedding (discreetly!) and see if any of your friends from camp want to go in on a gift with you.

phimugirlie01 · #5 10-04-2002, 01:14 PM

Hmm..a cheap, generic idea would be a nice silver picture frame. Or a vase. I would go to Target if I were you. They have some nice things, I know a lot of people register there, and best of all it's inexpensive!!! Good luck and have fun at the wedding!!!

justamom · #6 10-04-2002, 01:15 PM

COASTERS- Most people never think to give them and there are some really BEAUTIFUL ones at reasonable prices.

AOIIBrandi · #7 10-04-2002, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by justamom
COASTERS- Most people never think to give them and there are some really BEAUTIFUL ones at reasonable prices.

Especially those thirsty stone ones. They are like $20.00 for 4, but they really work.

texas*princess · #8 10-04-2002, 01:28 PM

Try a place called Things Remembered and get something cute with their wedding date engraved on it? They have a ton of stuff available for customization!

I don't know if you might have one in your area?

pinkey08 · #9 10-04-2002, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by texas*princess
Try a place called Things Remembered and get something cute with their wedding date engraved on it? They have a ton of stuff available for customization!

I don't know if you might have one in your area?

I am going to a wedding next week . I went to TJMaxx and got a nice silver frame for $10 and went to Things Remembered and got it engraved with their names and wedding date for $20. So if you have about $35 to spend you could do that. If there is not a Things Remembered in your area you can go on their website and purchase a personalized frame and they can mail it to them for you.
________
GRAPE APE MARIJUANA STRAIN

wvapogirl · #10 10-04-2002, 01:56 PM

Please, please, please, please, PLEASE... if you have any shred of humanity in you... DO NOT buy them bath towels!!!! When my husband and I got married in April, we got at least a dozen sets...

Have you tried looking on the Wedding Channel.com to see if they have put any of their wedding and/or registry info on their?

Also, you might think of giving them a $20-30 gift certificate to somewhere... a favorite/fancy restaurant, Target/Wal-mart, JC Penney's/Hecht's... I know that a gift certificate is a bit impersonal, but you can put it in a card and write a message that says "Instead of getting you yet another fondue pot, I decided to let you two pick out the gift... Congrats!" (or something along that line).

Hope this helps.

Nicole

Cluey · #11 10-04-2002, 02:25 PM

I always try and buy things that people will want and love to use, so this is out of character for me.

This is going to be cheez-o-licious, but oh well...

If she loves space, have you thought about naming a star after them?

International Star Registry

Just a thought...

greeklawgirl · #12 10-04-2002, 02:28 PM

I think a gift certificate is a lovely idea, and I don't necessarily think its impersonal.

We LOVED getting gift certificates, because there is only so much that you can do with: 15 crystal picture frames, 3 crystal clocks, 4 picnic baskets and 6 crystal vases and bowls. BTW, I'm not joking--that is an actual list of some of the gifts we got. My husband and I picked out one favorite in each category and returned the rest.

Of course, this is also coming from someone who purposely registered for the bare minimum--china, crystal, linens, and small kitchen appliances--so that the registry would be completed and people would give small envelopes instead. I know that such a practice is looked on as crass and frowned upon in lots of places in the US, but its a Greek tradition. I dragged my husband kicking and screaming into doing that. However, he is no longer kicking and screaming--our sizable house-down-payment is collecting interest as I type.

wvapogirl · #13 10-04-2002, 03:36 PM

Hmmm... maybe 'impersonal' wasn't the word that I was going for there... it's just that some people get offended if they get a gift certificate instead of a 'gift'... I personally LOVE gift certificates, then you can go out and get what you like, want, need, didn't get off of your registry, etc.

P.S.: The naming a star after them is cool, but doesn't that cost a bit?? I didn't check out the web site, tis why I'm asking.

Nicole

ilovemyglo · #14 10-04-2002, 03:44 PM

From Bull Durham-
Candlesticks always make a nice gift!

sororitygirl2 · #15 10-04-2002, 03:45 PM

I think naming a star would BE so perfect since she worked at space camp and it lasts forever! They could go look for it at night together... so cute!