10 Creative Wedding Gift Ideas (that work with their registry)

(This post is updated from one I wrote 4 years ago… and yes, I actually wore those bright pink high heels for my sister’s wedding!)

It’s officially wedding season!

During the months of May – September, it’s not uncommon for Dave and I to attend SEVERAL weddings for various relatives, friends, co-workers… and even some of Dave’s former students (yes, that makes us feel old!)

Of course, along with the weddings come bridal showers, bachelorette/bachelor parties, etc. etc. and yes, gift-giving is always involved!

Obviously, I don’t mind bringing gifts to a wedding or shower, but I will say that it gets old just bringing the same purple and white Bed Bath and Beyond gift bags to every single event.

That said, I know from personal experience how frustrating it is to get something that’s not on my registry (both for wedding and baby items). Not only do I most likely NOT want or need it (otherwise I would have certainly put it on my registry), but it’s also very difficult to return these items as many stores have very strict return policies without a receipt or registry log.

So when it comes to buying gifts for a wedding (or a baby), I will ALWAYS buy something directly off their registry. The only exception is if I give them a gift card or cash.

However, I do try to get a little bit creative with my gift giving. Not “crafty” or time-consuming, but I’ll often try to create a theme to the gifts, maybe wrap them nicely, and put my own special touch on them so they are just a little more exciting than the purple and white Bed Bath and Beyond bags 🙂

Today I’m sharing some of my favorite creative wedding gift ideas… I’d love to hear some of your ideas as well!

By the way, our “record” for most weddings in one wedding season is 14!

photo source

1. Wine Gift Set:

This is an easy one because almost everyone I know registers for wine glasses — and you really can’t give wine glasses without giving them wine to go with it!

Purchase the wine glasses off their registry and then add in a few bottles of your favorite wine, and a wine stopper.

If you really want to treat them, you could purchase a wine and cheese of the month club registration for them so they can be sure to use their wine glasses every month!

You could also do something similar if they register for margarita glasses or beer mugs.

2. Pizza Kit:

Purchase the pizza stone/ pan and pizza cutter off their registry and add in a bottle of homemade pizza seasonings, a nice bottle of olive oil, and your favorite pizza recipes.

You could also include a gift card to your favorite pizza restaurant to round out the gift.

3. Baking Supplies:

Purchase cupcake pans, bread pans, cookie sheets, mixing bowls, or any other baking supplies; then include the dry ingredients and the recipe.

I’ll often stack the measuring cups they registered for (with dry ingredients in each cup), attach the cookie scoop they registered for to the side, and then tie some handwritten or printed recipes.

4. Picnic Set:

Assuming that most people won’t register for a picnic basket, this might be a time when you buy them something that’s not on their registry.

We didn’t register for a picnic basket but we got one, and although we’ve never used it to go on a picnic, it was a cute enough basket that we’ve found other uses for it throughout the year.

Our picnic basket was filled with all sorts of paper products {napkins, paper plates, paper cups, plastic silverware} and non-perishable condiments. The contents of the picnic basket definitely came in handy, and now we have a cute picnic basket too!

5. Coffee and/or Tea:

Purchase the coffee maker (and coffee grinder) or tea pot off their registry and then add in a bunch of fancy coffee beans, a variety of tea, hot chocolate packets, or Keurig cups (depending on what they registered for).

You could also check to see if they registered for any travel coffee mugs, a set of ceramic mugs, or any other coffee/tea accessories.

And of course, a gift card to a local coffee shop would be a nice addition to this gift.

6. Date Night Package:

This is a great idea if you are willing to spend a bit more, or if you want to “go in” on a gift with a group of people.

If you can find a decorative basket or cute container on their registry, you can then fill it with movie theater gift cards (or even a Netflix subscription), mini golf passes, gift cards for various local restaurants and fast food places, bags of popcorn and candy, various beverages, and anything else you think might make a fun date night for the new couple.

7. House Cleaning Kit:

Purchase a few of the household cleaning products off their registry (broom, mop, toilet brush, trash can, etc.) and then include some of your favorite cleaning products.

I also know people who have given a years worth of professional maid service (one a month) or even a “coupon” for their own cleaning services.

8. Laundry Kit:

Purchase the laundry basket and hangers off their registry and then fill the basket with detergent, fabric softener, stain removers, garment bags, dryer balls, a roll of quarters (if they will be using a laundromat), or maybe even a gift certificate for a local dry cleaners — if you think that’s something they might need.

9. Lawn and Garden Kit:

If they registered for yard tools, get them a couple and then add in his and hers gardening gloves, a bag or two of lawn fertilizer, and maybe a cute wind chime.

You could also give a small tree with money tied to various branches (think ‘money tree’) that they can plant in their new yard.

10. Gift Wrapping Kit:

Find a cute container on their register and fill it with tissue paper, a set of gift bags, various ribbons and bows, tape, a big box of miscellaneous cards and gift tags, and a few rolls of wrapping paper.

Another idea (if you are more crafty) is to hand-make a set of gift cards and gift tags and put them in a nice box or basket.

These are just a few of my semi-creative wedding gift ideas that honor the couple’s registry but still allow for a bit of creativity and my own personal touch 🙂

Of course, if you’d like to give cash, I don’t think anyone will complain! Here are a few creative ways to give the gift of cash!

What ideas would you add to my list?