Thoughtful (but inexpensive) Wedding Gifts

 

Dear YOU + ME*,

I'm a bridesmaid in my friend's late summer wedding, but have been struggling to come up with a gift idea. After buying presents for multiple bridal showers, chipping in for her bachelorette party, and purchasing my bridesmaid dress + accessories, I find myself with a very limited budget. Although my friend told all of us that gifts aren't necessary, I would really like to mark this momentous occasion with a gift that says, "Yay, you're getting married! I'm so happy you found each other." Any ideas?

Thanks,
L.

Dear L.,

We appreciate you wanting to get your friend a gift to show her and her new husband how happy you are about their marriage. Though sometimes it's tempting to turn to the registry when shopping for a wedding gift, somehow a colander doesn't really have that sentimental spark that you were going for. Fear not! With just a little imagination, you can give your friend a meaningful and thoughtful gift that doesn't have to break your budget.

Here are a few ideas:
If your friend and her new husband have a restaurant that is special to them, you can consider buying them a cookbook from that restaurant.

clockwise from top left: The French Laundry Cookbook, Chez Panisse Cafe Cookbook, and The New Brooklyn Cookbook: Recipes and Stories From 31 Restauraunts That Put Brooklyn On The Culinary Map, All at amazon.com (but if you can support your local bookseller, that would be awesome, too!)

Vintage linens are pretty, and can be really inexpensive. Check out these tea towels that I found in New Hampshire last summer--they were $8 for 12. Make sure when you are looking that you find sets that are in excellent shape. You want them to read "vintage" and not "thrift store." You can also try searching for monogrammed pieces. A set of 12 mis-matched napkins with the same monogram would be super fun.

clockwise from top: Cocktail Napkins at thevintagethread; Linen Vintage Napkins at LinenWallflowers; a flea market find

Going with the vintage vibe, if your friend and her betrothed are cake lovers (and if they aren't you should seriously reconsider your friendship with them), consider a super cool vintage cake plate or a simple and modern cupcake stand with a playful set of cake forks.

clockwise from top left: Bird Ceramic Cupcake Stand by whitneysmith; Vintage Silverware Mr. and Mrs. forks by BeachHouseLiving; Vintage Milk Glass Platter by highstreetmarket

Last but not least, if you have a talent that you can offer, that can be a great present. Elisabeth had an architect friend sketch the barn where she got married, and the sketch ended up on their wedding stationary and website, and on a platter that another friend ordered for them for their wedding. I recently designed a friend's wedding stationary as a gift. It cost me nothing but time, and he and his fiance were able to have custom stationary without the custom price tag.

Have an amazing time at your friend's wedding, and rock on with your bridesmaid's dress!
Love,
You + ME*