| You have been invited to a wedding of a close friend | | | | true. |
| or relative. What can you give them? What will they | | | | If you as a guest are unsure whether the couple will |
| appreciate? While cash is always welcome given the | | | | be setting up house separately right away, you can |
| numerous expenses of a newly married couple (not | | | | stick to items like towels, beddings, and small |
| to mention the fortune that they may have spent on | | | | appliances like microwave ovens and coffee makers |
| the wedding), giving cash necessitates giving quite a | | | | and or juicers. Whether the couple lives separately or |
| significant amount and after awhile, the money is | | | | with their parents first will not make a difference as |
| gone. True, the couple can use the cash to buy | | | | such items will always come in handy and having |
| something they really like but getting them a useful | | | | more than one of each will still be helpful. |
| and meaningful gift may lead them to remember | | | | 3. Items to build memories. |
| your gift more years from now. | | | | Photo albums, scrapbooks and scrapbook materials, |
| What are some of the things that you can consider | | | | picture frames -- all of these will help the couple look |
| giving them? | | | | forward to a life filled with happy memories and fun |
| 1. Something that grows and nourishes their faith. | | | | times. Putting a scrapbook together can actually be a |
| Assuming that the couple believes in God or looks to | | | | good bonding experience for the couple to be after |
| a being that takes care of them, it may be good to | | | | they return from their first trip as husband and wife. |
| give them a gift which is in line with their religious | | | | 4. Something personalized. |
| beliefs. As a guest, of course, you will need to be | | | | Gift cards and tags with the names of the |
| familiar with the couple to be able to do this. | | | | newly-married couple, photo stamps (with the |
| A Bible, for example, will be a welcome addition to a | | | | couple's picture and which they can use for postage |
| new Christian home. For Catholics, there are wedding | | | | when they send out their thank you notes and |
| rosaries, where the rosaries come in sets of two so | | | | cards), a collection of their favorite couple photos |
| the husband and wife can start praying the rosary | | | | properly framed or mounted -- these are sure to |
| together. Appropriate prayer books can also be given | | | | make memorable and highly appreciated gifts since as |
| as throughout the couple's married life, the | | | | a guest, you took the time and effort to have |
| importance or need for prayer cannot be | | | | something made especially for the couple. The gift |
| overemphasized enough. | | | | could not have been given to anyone else. |
| Inasmuch as a couple starts off their married life with | | | | 5. Gifts that help them look forward. |
| a lot of love, the couple is sure to encounter | | | | Go a step forward and give them a book about |
| difficulties and challenges as they go through the | | | | raising kids and having babies, for example. Think of |
| years. Prayers can then provide them with the | | | | other activities and events which the couple can look |
| necessary anchor to see themselves through the | | | | forward to and give them gifts in line with those |
| problems that life may bring. | | | | occasions. |
| 2. Things to use around the house. | | | | There are a whole lot of gift ideas for a wedding |
| Giving a couple a lot of houseware assumes that the | | | | that you and I can still come up with. Just remember |
| couple will live separately from their parents, and | | | | though that more than the monetary value of the |
| have enough space for such items. While in the | | | | actual gift, it is the love and good wishes that go |
| Western world, it is usual for married couples to live | | | | with our presents that make the difference between |
| separately from their families after the wedding, in | | | | a gift that is just expensive and store bought and |
| some Asian countries, this may still not be completely | | | | one that can be truly priceless. |