Wedding present for son and future did - help!

[ToesInWater]

Hi. I'm a bit at a loss so would appreciate some inspiration, DS is getting married soon. Himself and his fiancée have been together ages, lived together for the last couple of years, they are young and renting and certainly haven't acquired everything.

DH and I don't want to just give them cash, we have spoke to DS about the fact that we would like to give them something that they could keep and remember and he loved the idea, but being a 24 year old guy couldn't really come up with anything. I could ask his fiancée but I know she would be embarrassed and would say "whatever".

DH still look at things we got for our wedding with fondness and remember the people who gave them to us every time we use them and we have been married 26 years. I have some Waterford crystal candlesticks from my mum (now dead), a dinner service from habitat from my sister and hubby, a painting from friends that has hung on our wall every place we have lived etc. BUT - am I being really old fashioned here? If you are younger, what would you like/have liked, older what did you love/wish you had got. Wedding is soon!!!!!!!!

Bugger, DIL of course (posted too soon) And I really like her btw so want to give her nice things

What a lovely idea! My in laws gave us a cake stand and a lovely duvet set, and some placemats and coasters from John Lewis. I really cherish those gifts.

We got married last year and we didn't get many presents as most people gave money which was fine and lovely. However my most cherished possessions are the Emma Bridgewater 'Mr & Mrs' cup set, I love them so much. I'm hoping to get the matching tea pot.

www.emmabridgewater.co.uk/invt/1blt020013

Forgot to add my Parents in Law got us them and I love the thought behind them as my mother in law collects Emma Bridgewater herself ❤️ they're on display in our living room and I just love them

Depending on your budget a life membership of the National Trust (or English Heritage) is great as they can then enjoy exploring places together and as a young couple have free days out. Apparently you cam get cheaper membership of Scottish National Trust that then gives you the same benefits.

What about a piece of art/framed photograph of/from a place that means something to them? My parents had a friend draw a local landmark for us that has special meaning. I know a friend who received a vintage map of the county they got married in for her wedding and loved that.

I got my friend coasters with maps of special places to them on it. Wasn't overly expensive but a keep sake. So I got their hometowns, where they met, where they were getting married and where they were honeymooning and special places to them.

Other things I have gotten friends was plaques with both coat of arms or glass/crystal clocks inscribed with wedding date.
https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41-yu2goiXL.SL5000ACSS3500.jpg

Depending on budget another option would be if they are having a wedding photographer you could get a large photo frame and get a thick boundary and get people to sign the boundary with messages. Then put a picture in of them on their wedding day. Or if they are not having a photographer, you could get one to capture all their memories. Something like this http://www.cadremont.co.uk/shop/images/P/signature-frame.jpg

I really wanted a dinner service and lots of people bought a couple of plates etc. I cherish it. We used money we got to buy a canteen of cutlery and every time I use it I think of my lovely wedding day. Maybe I'm old fashioned but I do love having pretty dishes for parties/Christmas/etc

If you have an idea of wha they'll like, a piece of art would be good too

My M&D gave us a cake knife for cutting our cake and they had that engraved. Did the same for DSis and DBil. Waterford crystal knives but I'm not sure whether or not they do them anymore.

It was a nicety rather than a home essential, but we had had our own home for years by that point and had been together for 9 years!

Do the have a registry? If so, I would pick an expensive item off that unlikely to be given by others. To be honest, not sure my MIL got us anything for our wedding (doesn't surprise me!) but aunt and uncle gave us a really nice and expensive casserole dish and I think of them every time we use it. If not, I would ask her. Personally, I wouldn't want just some random stuff passed down in the family unless you know she has admired any of those things in the past. Whenever things like that show up at our house it always feels more like our parents need to free up some space and we are easier than the charity shop rather than a gift that they actually put some thought into and genuinely wanted us to have because they knew we would love it. I don't think that's your intention but I would just ask. If she has nothing to suggest, I would look into something traditional as you have suggested but perhaps get some input from them (ask if they like it, etc) rather than guessing and gifting something they hate (we have a lot of these things that just sit in our spare room unused).

How about a very good quality photo frame which will last and they can put pictures from the wedding in? You could even have it engraved with the wedding date.
Have a look on not on the high street website as that has lots of ideas for unique wedding gifts of varying price

I think a good dinner service is a nice idea. It's not something you might realise you want at 24 but when having people round for dinner it's something you'll appreciate. Something plain and classic will date well.

Serving dish, nice wine glasses, piece of furniture, national trust membership. Something that can be used frequently but thats not going to date. We had a number of people buy us gifts and we also got married close to christmas, we got 12 photo frames!

I don't think you are being old fashioned- in fact after I read your post I turned to look at the Welsh love spoon on my wall. I have several wedding presents still in use - posh crystal as a fruit bowl anyone?! They all make me smile on a regular basis

I think my favourite though are two crystal glasses that came with a bottle of champagne- we have been married 16 years and they come out every anniversary, birthday, Christmas Day and New Years Eve; any guests are given plainer glasses.

If someone had asked me I probably would I have said I wouldn't want them, but they are precious possessions now

My MIL lives in South Africa and got us a massive patchwork quilt made of all these different gorgeous African fabrics. I love it so much! It was such a thoughtful and personal gift. It a something we will keep forever.

Thanks for all the great ideas, I'm not so old fashioned then! We're in Australia so not everything translates but I certainly have a good shortlist.

If the Emma Bridgewater takes your fancy you can get those personalised. We were given teapot and mugs with names & wedding date on. They are breakable though - the mugs are long gone. Still have other bits - Waterford crystal picture frame. Fancy fruit bowl, cheeseboard & knife.

I would get them a fabulous large mirror. It can go everywhere with them.