British wedding gift ideas to take to the USA as a plus one

[Dogdaycommeth]

I am in need of British ideas.
I am attending a wedding next month as a plus 1 in the USA near NYC. I wanted to bring a gift from the UK. I dont really know these people (as im the +1) but i know they like travel and are in medical school. They own their own home.
It needs to be something I can fit in a suitcase and not breakable.
Id like to get them something very British but apart from food im stuck for ideas.

Any ideas?

A pot of raspberry jam, it seems to be very expensive over there.

@Eggybreadwithnuts It's not true no one drinks tea or has kettles. Many people drink tea - I drank more in college there than I do here now. The kettles might sit on the stove though. (One thing they do not tend to drink is instant coffee.)

I think the Lord and Lady title thing is hysterical, I would go for that @Dogdaycommeth . This is meant to be a token but thoughtful gesture, the budget for wedding presents especially in that part of the world is likely to be far in excess of what it would be usual to spend here (it's not inconceivable that some couples could be anticipating $200 PP). Unless it's elaborately wrapped (in a way that would be likely exceptionally inconvenient to transport) I'd avoid the tea and biscuits. That said, my friend was staying with us last year and discovered that Fortnum's has an incredible shipping service which is pretty cheap. If you can get something sent before you go, that could work.

The wedding list could again be very pricey, relative to what you would expect here.

Tea towels, with something very British on them. Don't ffs buy them a fake title. It's embarassing and you'll look a loony.

Get tea towels with London landmarks, or ones with 'traditional English food' or something that they will (presumably) know like Jane Austen or Paddington Bear.

Small, thoughful, practical and easy to pack,

Ohhh this is a minefield!

Maybe it is tea and biscuits then. 🤔

They dont have a gift registry on their website. I dont know if its a thing I just cant see because im in the UK.

I took a two tier china cake stand.

OP, you can get these easily in the UK.

If you're going to bother, I wouldn't buy anything (tea towels, tea, biscuits) it looked like you conceivably bought in Duty Free on your way over.

It's also NOT a done thing in the US to bring wedding gifts to the ceremony/reception on the day. They won't appreciate this at all - if you can give it to them beforehand it's okay.

I'd appreciate the humour of a lord and lady title; your friend might know whether they would?

Otherwise, maybe check out Fortnums and get something shipped.

They will probably not notice that you didn't give something separately from your friend though.

You would be able to see it. When DD got married (American) her Irish/English relatives sent her gifts from her registry.

I also wouldn’t do the Lord/Lady thing. I’d stick to something very English such as the tea or a small piece of china or pottery that is unique to England.

Also because passport covers are a pita. Just more tat that goes into a drawer. Are US passports standard sized?

The gift is already being covered by the cash. If you need to, some Fortnums biscuits but check the expiry date. Anything tea related is pointless as they may not drink tea, and their kettles if they have don’t reach the boiling point necessary for a proper cup. I’m a tea addict, but have learned to drink coffee when in the US.

Don't bring tea. It must be declared to US Customs as an agricultural item. They will no doubt let it in, but who needs the hassle?

We've never declared it, but it appears you are correct. Ooops!

Great idea!

I know lol.

Literally sitting here in NYC with a cup of English Breakfast with milk.

What?!

I bring back boxes of F&M tea every time I visit family in the UK.

Have never declared it. Whoops. 😂😂

Odds are in your favour you won't be stopped and checked. But you do not want the crazy of getting stopped and not having declared it.

Take biscuits next time. No one cares about pre-packaged biccies.

But do you mean hot tea, appropriately made with boiling water? I spent 3 years (DC/Virginia) being given a small cup of lukewarm water, followed by the lavish opening of a massive box of tea bags, and milk turning up in the never never. I did however have a kettle at home. It was the 1st thing I needed when I got home, a decent cup of tea. The water is different, and the milk.

Yes, hot tea made with boiling water, a teabag (F&M that I bring back with me from visits to the UK!) and milk.

I have at least 2-3 cups a day.

Well I like the teapot idea! Nothing more British than that! You can always add a box of tea if you want.

Something lovely from fortnum and mason

So you are at home. For a minute there is actually thought you had found a tea establishment on the East Coast that did proper hot tea!

They can’t make a proper cuppa in the Midwest either! I leaned my lesson 40 years ago!

Thankfully I have an electric kettle and a large supply of good tea bags that I apparently smuggled in 🙈

I’ll get the whole family arrested as whenever I have visitors from home, I always tell them to bring tea bags!

I never knew this and I've been visiting for 46 years 😂😂😂 . They were a bit funny about haggis one time but let it through.

Heathrow has a Fortnums if you are flying from there.

We took a beautiful tartan picnic rug from House of Bruar to a friend in the states a few years ago as they loved county walks and picnics.

Something from Liberty or Fortnums. Not sure if they do them but something like a tray is useful and easy to pack.