You’ve been invited to a wedding and you’re wondering what to give the couple to really make them happy? Are you looking for a group gift idea?
You’re in the right place.
As a wedding event professional, I understand how important this day is not only for the couple but also for their loved ones. You probably want to give the couple a unique gift that holds meaning and resonates with them.
That’s why I’m sharing with you today in this detailed guide some tips and a selection of gifts to give you ideas for this occasion.
For a wedding, I recommend giving a unique and personalized gift that truly reflects the couple’s tastes: it could be an experience they can share together, a symbolic item, or something practical for their future life together. If the gift is on the pricier side, consider going in on a group gift (with colleagues, friends, or family). Don’t hesitate to check their wedding registry for inspiring ideas. If the couple hasn’t created one, you can consider these suggestions: a trip, an activity to do together (such as a massage, sports activity, or dinner at a restaurant), a romantic gift (like matching robes or an everlasting rose), a plant, board games, or even a gift card to give them a little financial help.
Want more details? Read this article to learn about:
- How to choose a gift that the couple will love,
- Tips for organizing a group gift,
- Gift ideas for any budget,
- Suggestions for symbolic presents to celebrate this romantic occasion,
- And advice to help you decide which gift to give for a civil wedding or even a PACS.
4 Tips for Choosing the Perfect Wedding Gift
Finding the perfect gift to celebrate a wedding can be quite a challenge: here are some simple tips to help you choose a gift that will truly delight the newlyweds and be just right for this special occasion.
Give a Useful and Personalized Gift
We all have items in our closets or on our shelves that were given to us for a special occasion but that we don’t really like. To avoid these kinds of gifts, I recommend instead to opt for a gift that reflects the couple and that won’t just “clutter up the closets.” Replace the classic keychain with:
- a symbolic item: a beautiful decoration that represents what brings them together as a couple,
- a shared experience: a trip, an activity to do together,
- something practical for everyday use…
Check Out the Wedding Registry
Wedding registries are increasingly used by couples to provide gift ideas for their loved ones. Similar to a baby registry, it allows everyone to choose a gift that fits their budget and preferences, while ensuring they delight the newlyweds. Don’t hesitate to ask them if they’ve considered such a tool!
Consider Group Gifting
Rather than giving many small gifts, a group gift is an ideal option to offer something unique and exceptional without breaking the bank. To do this, consider coordinating in advance (by creating an email list or a WhatsApp group…) with others who share the same connection to the couple. This could include a gift from friends, colleagues, neighbors, or family members…
Don’t Forget the Group Gift: How Much Should You Contribute to a Wedding?
The wedding envelope remains quite traditional today and can be found at most weddings. It is typically a box placed in the reception area, where guests can drop off a monetary gift for the newlyweds. This will help them pay for the festivities, start their new life, or treat themselves to a nice gift to celebrate their union.
👉 Are you wondering how much to give for a wedding? You are free to contribute whatever amount you feel comfortable with. As a general guideline, the amount you give often depends on your relationship with the couple. If you are not part of their immediate family, you might consider giving between $50 and $100 per adult guest from your family who is invited (that is, $50 to $100 if you’re coming alone or $100 to $200 as a couple). If you are the parents or grandparents of the couple, you can give a bit more. Ultimately, just give what feels right for you and what fits within your budget!
What Gift to Choose When You’re Invited to a Wedding?
To help you find the perfect gift, I’ve put together a selection of gifts for all budgets, which you can choose from and personalize based on your preferences and the personalities of the engaged couple.
4 Gift Ideas for Close Friends or Family Members
These gifts are unforgettable, but they can be quite pricey: they can be given as a group gift or as the main present for your children or grandchildren.
Plane Tickets to a Dream Destination
Giving a trip is a wonderful gift for the soon-to-be newlyweds: this moment just for them will create beautiful memories that they will cherish for a lifetime. If they’ve mentioned a specific destination, that’s probably the one to choose. If not, you can surprise them or let them decide by giving them a cash gift to spend on a trip.
A voucher for a couple’s activity
The opportunity to take a break from both professional and personal life to share a romantic activity with your partner is a true gift. This could include activities such as:
- a meal at a Michelin-starred restaurant,
- a day at a spa, including a massage,
- a unique and unforgettable experience: bungee jumping, hot air ballooning, swimming with dolphins…
A Piece of Jewelry for the Bride
This gift is typically reserved for close family, often for the bride’s family. A wedding is the perfect occasion to give a family heirloom to the bride, symbolizing the continuity of the family’s history, as it would have belonged to an ancestor.
A gift card to buy furniture for their home
Are the engaged couples planning to renovate or redecorate their home? If so, you can also give them a financial boost by offering a gift card that will allow them to invest in sustainable decor that they will truly love. You can gift them a voucher (gift card, Kadeos, etc.), a sum of money, or directly a gift certificate to a store they enjoy (Ikea, Maisons du Monde, Conforama, etc.).
4 Gift Ideas Under $150 for Friends or Colleagues
A Meal at the Restaurant
A dinner at a nice restaurant near their home is a gift that will surely delight the newlyweds, especially if they enjoy sharing moments like this. Don’t hesitate to contact the restaurant directly to find out how to proceed: many have gift certificate systems for purchasing two meals.
A Vineyard Tier Sponsorship
This gift is perfect for couples who are wine enthusiasts, history lovers, and enjoy exploring France. Throughout the year, they will receive regular emails updating them on the status of their vineyard, which will be named in their honor. They will also have the opportunity to participate in key events such as grape harvests or pruning.
👉 Discover rank vine sponsorship offers by directly searching for these keywords in your search engine!
Matching Robes or Pajamas
Giving a pair of personalized pajamas or robes embroidered with the couple’s names is a lovely idea that they can use during their honeymoon, while also being practical for everyday use. It’s a fun gift that will remind them of their beautiful wedding day for a long time to come!
A Suitcase for Your Honeymoon
An original and useful gift idea is to give the engaged couple practical items that they can use on their honeymoon. This could be a suitcase, of course, but it could also be a DSLR camera or a travel kit, depending on what suits them best.
4 Gift Ideas Under $50 to Make an Impression or Complement Your Cash Gift for the Newlyweds
Are you looking for a fun yet affordable gift idea that would be suitable for friends, colleagues, or a distant family member? Here are some suggestions that might inspire you! 😉
A Board Game
In recent years, original board games have become very trendy! If you know that the engaged couple enjoys playing games, you can gift them a new board game for two players. There are many titles dedicated to two-player gameplay: Seven Wonders Duel, Tea for Two, Codenames Duo… This will give them a chance to share special moments together!
If the soon-to-be-married couple isn’t too fond of board games, you might also consider:
- Participating as a couple in an escape room,
- A video game,
- A model to build together…
A bouquet of flowers
Giving a bouquet of flowers for a wedding is a wonderful idea: it’s not only a beautiful gift, but it will also adorn the reception hall and the couple’s home for a while. You can choose flowers that symbolize love, such as:
- red roses, for passionate love,
- white roses, for purity of feelings,
- lilies, for loyalty and honesty,
- pink roses, for tenderness…
👉 Discover more information about the number of flowers to include in a bouquet by reading our dedicated guide on this topic!
A tree or a plant
More enduring than a bouquet, these gifts are perfect if the newlyweds have a garden or terrace. They can cherish this memory of their union for years, which, like their love, will grow over time.
A gift basket filled with local specialties
If you’re traveling from afar to attend the wedding, it might be a great idea to give a gourmet gift by sharing some delicious treats from your hometown with the newlyweds. Arrange everything in a lovely basket: it will be a delightful culinary surprise for the whole family!
4 Symbolic Gift Ideas to Celebrate the Love Between the Bride and Groom
A wedding is a romantic and unique event: it’s the perfect opportunity to give a meaningful gift to show the couple your happiness for them on this beautiful day.
A Community Cookbook
For this group gift, you’ll need to tap into your childhood memories! Each guest participating should share one or more of their best recipes (for cakes, dishes, cocktails, etc.) to create a personalized cookbook that will be presented to the newlyweds. There’s no better way to kick off their life together!
A Year of Invitations
Perfect for a group gift, this involves having each guest who contributed to the gift suggest to the newlyweds a moment of discovery to share together in the coming year. This could be a sports activity, a visit, or even a meal at home or at a restaurant, for example.
A movie or a slideshow about their relationship
Typically shared during the wedding, this gift is always heartfelt. To create it, feel free to reach out to the families of the soon-to-be-wed couple for photographs and childhood memories that will help tell the story of the couple’s lives leading up to their marriage. 😉
An Eternal Rose
This true rose frozen in time makes a stunning gift to symbolize the strength of love shared by the engaged couple. It is a symbol of eternal love and can be cherished for a long time as a reminder of that beautiful day!
🌹 Discover our everlasting roses and many other floral gifts directly on our online store! Many designs are waiting for you!
What Gift to Give for a Civil Wedding?
The answer to this question depends on how the festivities unfold:
- If the wedding is organized in two parts (a civil ceremony followed by a religious ceremony a few days or months later), it’s customary to give a nice gift for the day of the celebrations (which is often the religious wedding) but also to commemorate the occasion with a small gift for the civil ceremony.
- If there is only a civil wedding, you can give the same type of gift as for a religious wedding. If the couple has chosen a simple wedding and requests few gifts, you can all agree to give them a shared experience: a meal at a fine restaurant, a romantic weekend getaway…
👉 These tips also apply to civil partnerships! If the couple is having a big celebration, you can give them a gift just like you would for a wedding!
I hope this article has helped you to find the perfect gift for the upcoming wedding!
💇♀️ Still unsure about your hairstyle for the event? Check out our dedicated guide featuring plenty of floral hairstyle ideas! 🌺