We have been invited to a wedding next month. We don't know the couple very well at all (they belong to a club we belong to.) I would like to send them a gift of some kind, but I don't even know if she is registered anywhere (and I typically don't buy at department stores, anyway) and/or what they want/need.

I guess I'm looking for suggestions as to the "Universal Wedding Gift!" Most everyone we hang with is our age (old geezers and well past even their second weddings) and their kids are all now married. We have been out of the wedding guest scene for some time.

Can you help this reader? LOL. Thanks!

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

Answers

The first thing that comes to mind is the club connection, maybe something related to the clubs activities?

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

Mitch, yeah! I tried to mine that one for a while! We belong to a beer making club. Everyone there is WAYYYYYY more experienced than we are and I did a little investigating beforehand...they have all that they could ever need in the way of beer making/drinking/experimenting, etc., being given to them already. The other thing might be related to food perhaps, but again, that's such an individual thing. I was thinking along the lines of something homemade, too. Just not sure what. I have heard about picture frames and maybe some other kind of personal touch item. But I'm not very clever these days, and I need help! Maybe a lampshade to put over their heads at parties after they've had a few????

Thanks for your reply!

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

Lederhosen and tyrolean hats? Tickets to some Oktoberfest somewhere (not Germany, of course!)? If they were into making wine, I'd suggest some gourmet cheeses from one of those companies that delivers every month or something, but since it's beer, what would you give? Pretzels? Beer nuts? Bratwurst and sauerkraut?

Want me to go out and get a couple of cheese hats for them? Wisconsin, after all, is known for beer, brats, and cheese! Click HERE to see Cheddar Wear!

I don't think I'm helping much. How about a toaster or a crockpot?

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

How about German beer steins? Too expensive?

Fancy pilsner glasses?

Sorry, I don't think I'm much help, either.

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

The cheapskates perfect wedding gift, appreciated by almost every marrying couple is to take the wedding invitation, put it in a frame with a nice border, and add the names and date (maybe place too) as a caption (e.g. David and Kim, April 25, 1987, Florida City

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

At the mall a couple of days ago I saw novelty beer stiens; one side was for drinking beer from; the other side was for collecting used beer!!!

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

Paddock Wood Brewing Supplies

Northern Brewer Glassware

Steincollectors.com

Deutsches Haus

Germanmart.com

I *really* liked this glass stein. And look, it's only 45.00! What a bargain! I know someone who has a birthday coming up soon... ;-)

(just kidding)

$45.00

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

I GOT IT! A case of Beer Nuts!

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

Hey, my post was serious! Stop the frivolity. How about some hop seeds. Saw them in one of the gardening catalogs this year. I'm STILL being serious.

-- Anonymous, July 12, 2001

Well quit it, already David!! You know darn good and well that it is against the forum rules to be serious! Mutter, mutter, grumble....

I hearby sentence you to community service - you are in charge of thread drift (starting it, that is) for one whole week. Go to your computer right now, young man!

-- Anonymous, July 12, 2001

How about a handcrafted happy marriage decoration? It's basically 6 stalks of fresh lavendar (if dry soak for 3 hrs first),1 rubber band, 1yd. pink ribbon, and 1yd bergundy ribbon or whatever colors you like. Even up the ends and secure with a ruber band. Then braid the stalks using 2 stalks per braiding strand.Whenyou get to the heads wrap your ribbons together and centerd around to secure them. Cris cross the ribbons around the braid and tie the ribbons in a pretty bow near the stalk ends. Very pretty!!

-- Anonymous, July 12, 2001

How about a personalized piece of pottery, like a crock, or a cookie jar? Maybe a crock to hold kitchen utensils, or one large enough for making sauerkraut (or holding plants on the front porch)? Rowe Pottery Works is a local place that does that sort of thing, and they also do mail order. Here is the personalized page: LINK
and their home page is: Rowe Pottery

Very likely there is someone in your area that does something similar, and it might mean more to them if you obtained it locally.

Another thought: A small piece of stained glass artwork to hang in a sunny window? If you can find something that you think is appropriate and in your price range.

-- Anonymous, July 12, 2001

For a cousins wedding a few months ago I bought a pretty basket that had tulips painted on it, and filled it with a romantic evening. Included in it were: Two bath towels embroidered with their initials, two wine glasses filled with those round bath oil balls, some bubble bath, sponges, relaxing bath oils, soap and a bottle of wine. I shopped around and bought stuff on sale. They really seemed to like it. I also give a like basket to folks after a baby. only replace the wine with juice. Joanie

-- Anonymous, July 12, 2001

Jim, dude they have those already!! Minus the handles, that is. Same wheat pattern, though!

Thanks for the suggestions. I'm considering...

-- Anonymous, July 12, 2001

OK, they are "beer nuts" themselves, right? Go for the other beer drinking accompaniment, pretzels, the "fancy" kind, a whole elaborate assortment, chocolate covered, flavored, no-salt, lots of salt, whole wheat ones, you get the general idea!!! One of those over-priced yuppie specialty shops ought to have oodles of kinds to choose from, put them in a cutsy basket with a ribbon on top, and there you go! Beer and pretzels go together like hot dogs and ball games, and so All American too!

-- Anonymous, July 12, 2001

We almost always give towel sets for these occassions. Two large bath sheets, two hand towels and two washcloths. If it all was a good price then we add some kitchen towels or regular bath towels. Have also given lovely wooden shelf with peg hangers. These can be put anywhere, even the garage.

-- Anonymous, July 13, 2001