Wedding gift ideas please?

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I am going to a family wedding in a few months. It's a cousin in his mid thirties who is very well off (and so is his wife to be).

There is no wedding list and the wedding is abroad ( where they both live). The usual custom is to give money but as I don't think we could afford what others are likely to be giving so I would prefer to give them a more thoughtful gift.

Any good ideas would be really appreciated!

Something easy to transport as the wedding is abroad. Is your one half of the couple from your town orginally ? Maybe a coffee table book full of lovely pictures of there home town. Or a small picnic hamper full of biscuits/ teas or something to remind then of home.

Thinking about it, if they are normal decent people, they shouldn't expect a gift if your spending a fortune getting to the wedding in the first place.

Thanks for the reply. I would like to bring something along as I would feel not right about going to a wedding empty-handed and it would really go against the custom of the families too.

They've always lived abroad (as do their families) so it's not really a foreign country for them. It's been a little while since I've travelled over to see family there.

I really would like something small (as you said - not much room in hand luggage) but that would be thoughtful enough to show we were thinking about them on their day (rather than coming along for a short holiday and free meal/drinks).

I always like the things I see on www.notonthehighstreet.com. You might find something suitable too.

When I've been in similar situations before I've turned to cooking and baking for inspiration...(as so often in life!)

For one I bought a very useful all-rounder cookery book (I think it was The Silver Spoon, actually) and gave it with two wooden spoons done up with a ribbon, in reference to the UK custom of lucky wooden spoons at weddings.

For another I made up a handmade recipe book, with illustrations, of my favourite recipes, several of which the bride had tried and enjoyed previously, and gave it with a heart-shaped casserole dish that I bought when I arrived in the country (but it was Paris so easy to source on arrival from gorgeous department store!).

You could do similar with heart-shaped cookie cutters, silicone baking stuff or those mini Le Creuset casserole dishes.

I would love a hand made book like that. What a thoughtful idea.

DeskPlanner I couldn't believe it when she wrote to me after the wedding saying she was very very sorry but she'd somehow lost it in a house move!! I could have killed her. Fortunately I didn't, as she found it a couple of months later (or so she told me...;))

OP I saw some lovely little wooden heart-shaped bowls in Sainsburys today, and a heart-shaped chopping board - although again, maybe not great for hand luggage!

Thank you again for the replies and ideas.

Laquilla I wish I was as talented as you to be able to put together homemade gifts and recipes. I do really like the idea of a book that encorporates their favourite interests and I will have a bit of an online search. I never knew that about lucky wooden spoons and I'll definitely remember it for the future!

Gwennan I have also had a look at notonthehighstreet.com and seen one or two things on there that could work really well too.

Oops, meant Laquila with one l

Have a look at the Royal Mint website, you could get a set of coins, fits with the money theme and no one will know how much they cost. A wedding silver sixpence would take up no weight.

www.royalmint.com/our-coins/occasion/wedding

How about an embroidered tablecloth? Very British and weighs next to nothing.

Oh yes, linens! Or something else for the home that will last a lifetime - I am currently obsessed with butter dishes but that might just be me . And teapots. And iron skillets (everyone should have one). Actually if they like to cook, the possibilities are endless.

A friend commented after her wedding it was nice to have something that was personalised - I think they got some crockery with their names and the date on - that wouldn't be up my street but I do think there are some lovely ideas in that direction. A silver photo frame with the date in it, ready for one of the pictures? Vera Wang for Wedgwood is lovely, though not sure of your budget. My brother got me and DH some Mr and Mrs dressing gowns that I still love, for the novelty. I know they'd be too big but you can get pillowcases and mugs?

One of our weding guests who didn't have much money to spare got us a handcarved love spoon, from where she's from in Wales. I loved that it reflected where she's from, and think that would be especially true if you're travelling a distance.

Sorry if none of these ideas are what you're looking for!

Take alook here l stumbled across this site.www.lovelygiftsforall.com

Take alook here l stumbled across this site.www.lovelygiftsforall.com

I’ve got one nice and original idea. I’ve done it once and the couple was surprised and even a bit amazed with the creativity of that gift. I gave them certificate of ownership of the real star : D. You can buy one online in Kingdom of Universe shop (kingdomofuniverse.com/shop/en_US/p/Beta-Columbae-HD-39425/606 ). It’s not that expensive and for sure not expected.