Evening guest for couple I don't know that well

[RockingMyFiftiesNot]

We've been invited to a colleague's evening wedding party. Get on with my colleague well in work but don't know much about him outside of work and have never met his wife to be. So struggling with a gift. Fall back would be a good bottle of fizz (boring I know). Considered a naice scented candle but learned from various Christmas threads that some people hate them. They don't have a list and colleague said 'oh don't worry' when I asked. I wouldn't ever turn up to a party with nothing.
I thought about a vase or plant pot (with flowers/vase) but seems a bit dull. They don't have a big garden and I do know they don't like gardening (so maybe a pre-planted plant pot but not sure if it's the right time of year for that? )
Budget £15 - £20 - does that seem ok for an evening gift?

I'm in the same position, I'm taking a bottle of champagne

Definitely go with a bottle of champagne and a card if you must take a gift. Don't feel the need though. We have stipulated no gifts for our wedding and we mean it.

Champagne or a very good bottle of wine.

I would give a gift voucher.

Who would ever mind getting a bottle of champagne, unless teetotal?

Thanks all - yes I agree with Champagne, just wondered if it would seem like a lazy option.

Who would ever mind getting a bottle of champagne, unless teetotal? Many, many, many people.

Champagne is an acquired taste at best.

Guess how many bottles of champagne they're going to end up with? And how many opportunities they'll have to drink it (given that it doesn't keep, so both halves of the couple will need to like it, want it at the same time, and be prepared too drink half a bottle of it).

Good wine makes more sense. Or is that just me? (who still has half a dozen bottles of champagne lurking in the house from a champagne heavy gifts occasion two years ago!
(I'm single though, which admittedly makes getting through them more difficult!)

@saraclara - i love all kinds if fizz and can easily drink a bottle alone! Send your spares my way 😂

A decent champagne would be lovely. Or failing that, do you know anyone going for the whole day who you could ask if they have a gift list to buy an item from it? Or if you know their names and dates, try the John Lewis and see if they have a list there.

Just get them a voucher can't go wrong!

Or maybe a John Lewis voucher ...

Another vote for wine rather than champagne. But really dont bring anything to the actual do - they probably have someone taking any gifts for them but better to give him something once back from the honeymoon.

A nice picture frame in a simple, classic style?

I'd rather have a nice, £20 bottle of wine, than a cheap £20 bottle of fizz

Something like a nice Molton brown (or other brand) hand soap?

I'd rather have the £20 to spend on honeymoon- I don't like champagne!

We recently clubbed together so that overall our workplace contribution was a lot and it wasn't like one person giving £20. I gave more, some gave less.

Garden centre vouchers is my fall back for things like this. If you go for one with a nice cafe they can have a meal if they don't want plants

Absolutely what @thinkfast says. You can't get decent champagne for £20 but a nice bottle of red would be something to enjoy over Sunday dinner.
But not Molton Brown soap - aside from the fact that it smells cheap and nasty, what man is going to want that?

Just put twenty quid in the card and say it’s for cocktails on their honeymoon

No to champagne unless you know they actually like it, we've ended up donating unwanted bottles to tombolas in the past, neither of us likes it. A gift card for John Lewis or similar, but I agree about colleagues clubbing together, that's what happens where I work.

*Who would ever mind getting a bottle of champagne, unless teetotal? Many, many, many people.

Champagne is an acquired taste at best.*

OK, but as a gesture from someone who doesn't actually know what you want? At least it's a present that says 'congrats' and it's v easily regiftable until it finds somebody who will like drinking it.

People are weird about presents. It doesn't have to be perfect, does it? Whatever it is isn't going to change their life. It has to be a nice non offensive gesture (though I confess I didn't read the budget, nice bottle of wine might be better after all).

I agree with money in card towards honeymoon.

I agree that you will get a nicer bottle of 'normal' wine for your money than champagne but regardless, champagne won't be seen as anything other than a kind and celebratory gesture so don't give it too much more thought. As you say, you're not close and a gift to keep is less likely to be bang on their taste (even if they appreciate the thought). Voucher also fine.

If they are going abroad for their honeymoon, how about euros/local currency in the card, and a message saying have a cocktail on you?🍸