How to Save on Wedding Gifts

Here's a list of tips on how to save on wedding gifts from Kiplinger's: 

• Set a budget.
• Get creative. (homemade and heartfelt gifts)
• Get a group gift.
• Stick to the registry.
• Offer your services.
• Consider re-gifting.

Here are my thoughts on each of these:

1. My wife an I usually discuss a budget before we decide what to get. The budget depends on how well we know the person getting married and/or his/her parents. The closer we are to them, the more they get.

2. I love, love, love homemade gifts -- just not for a wedding. My wife makes GREAT bag warmers (for a sore back, etc.) that we've given as Christmas gifts for years. But for a wedding, they seem tacky. And we can't make much else, so we skip this one too.

3. I'm ok with the group gift if it's someone we don't know that well. Then we get to help them get a meaningful gift while only contributing what's in our budget. For people we know better, we like to get them a gift by ourselves. We've tried the group thing and it's worked out poorly a couple times (you have to agree to get what the group wants), so we go it on our own.

4. Yes! Go to the registry. Even better -- buy your registry gifts early. You'll get better selection and will be able to buy something in your budget that you know they'll want.

5. I don't really have any service to offer -- unless they want me to write a marketing plan or develop a budget for them -- so we pass on this.

6. I'm ok with re-gifting though we've never done it with wedding gifts -- we never seem to get anything appropriate to re-gift as a wedding present.

All this said, my sister-in-law is getting married in July and we'll probably give her what she wants and needs most: cash. I know, some may think it's tacky, but believe me, she'll appreciate it.

Comments

[Patrick]

I gave an engraved door-knocker to a couple that was moving into their first house right after the wedding. They thought it was a very unique gift to mark an exciting time for them - their wedding and moving into a new house. The new bride especially liked looking at her new last name engraved into the bronze door-knocker. :)

[plonkee]

Sticking to the registry is probably the best thing whether you're trying to be frugal or not. I'm often amazed at how different other people's tastes are when I look at their registries.

I would regift for a wedding, but I've also never had anything suitable.

I hate giving cash, but I would do it if I knew that was most appropriate.

[A]

What's the etiquette if an identical item from the registry is 20% cheaper at Amazon? I ultimately just spent the extra money at their store because it was easier for the couple (Think what would happen if they got two of the same gift because of me.)

I'd be careful of engraved stuff. It's not returnable. I received an engraved computer mouse for my graduation that I have never used and was not able to return. This mouse was not optical and made of gaudy faux silver.

[Ciji]

I'd rather you NOT get me a gift than go for options 2, 3, 5, or 6. Well, I'd take a home-made gift if you were particularly talented or it was well crafted.

The bride and groom are spending a lot of money on this wedding. The average cost of a wedding is $50 per person. You get to eat and drink for free, hear good music, and pal around with old friends and meet new people. And, there's cake! The least a guest can do is not be cheap and buy a decent gift.

[Brenna]

When my husband and I got married last June, we had our registries online at some the common stores. What we listed on the registries were small practical and inexpensive items but most people didn't bother to look at them and ended up giving whatever they felt like. We got some cash - which we were glad about. We got some gift cards - but one didn't have the amount the person wrote down ($75 gc actually was $35). We also had a regifted gift -- that not only had the price tag on the bottom but also the Christmas card that was signed by the person who gave the gift originally a couple of years ago (which incidentally was given from Walgreens - 2 for $5). But most people actually didn't end up giving us anything at all and just went to have an expensive meal ($100 a head).

[A Tentative Personal Finance Blog]

I always make it a common practice to give $100 for weddings. Money's one of the best things you can give to newlyweds. When we got married we received over 35 thousand in cash and it was invaluable... we got a great jump start in life.

[Ciji]

A: the etiquette is to contact the store where they are registered and let them know you've purchased that item at another store and ask that remove that item from the available list. they way, no one else will buy it.

[Shawn]

Thanks a lot for your suggestion. Hopefully with these tips, we're going to have a more manageable wedding. May I give a suggestion too. I believe, though it's not compulsory, we give out some gifts to our entourage, such as Ring Bearer Gifts. It's a form of appreciation for their contribution.

[Gift Basket]

I agree with not giving homemade gifts, and cash is nice, but only if you know the couple will use it right, but I suppose its better than towels or a toaster.

[Mull]

I usually shop for gifts through CouponAlbum site. Its a coupons site and provide you coupons with discounts while shopping.

About homemade gifts - I agree that you shouldn't give the type of thing your kids make in preschool (think woven potholders), but homemade gifts can be much more meaningful than store bought: If you are a carpenter or a seamstress, make an heirloom table or quilt. Compine a cookbook with family recipes and get it bound. Pass down a treasured heirloom that cost you nothing but means a lot.

Ciji - 3 and 6 are not tacky in and of themselves. Group gifts can allow you to receive expensive items that one person can't afford. Regifting can give you a nice gift that the person already has or couldn't use. It's only tacky if it's something that no one would want.

Offering your services: This one is a little iffy, but if your services are something with real value, then it might be ok. I'm thinking performing music in the ceremony, use of your vacation home for their homeymoon, free tax/will preparation. Things that they would have to pay for otherwise and that aren't trivial enough for them to expect that from you just because you're a friend (like house-sitting, etc)

[Holly]

I would rather receive handmade gifts than anything else, with cash as a distant second. To each his own, right?