Wedding Gifts

New Zealand Wedding Gifts

Modern weddings are as varied as the people having them so choosing a gift seems like the easiest decision of the day – but sometimes it can be quite a challenge. Here are some helpful tips to protect you from wedding gift pitfalls on the big day.

• Wedding Gifts
• Gift Shops

Follow these tips for the best wedding gifts and gift ideas that are sure to be a hit with the happy couple:

• The price Is right
  There’s no hard and fast rule about what to spend on a gift - other than only spend what you can afford! Take your cue from the style of wedding and the venue, as well as whether you are bringing your family and partner along. If you are really short of cash, consider a gift of your time - two nights' free babysitting or a Saturday morning gardening voucher would be an appreciated wedding day gift.

• The wedding list
  If the happy couple has gone to the trouble of registering a wedding day gift list, it’s proper to respect this rather than buying something outside the list - unless you can be sure it’s something they would really like. Remember that the purpose of a wedding gift is to make the couple feel special and if you go against their wishes it may have the opposite effect; don’t forget that it’s their special day. If you do veer from the list, include a receipt for exchange if necessary, saving the couple any embarrassment of you finding it for sale on Trade Me after the wedding.

• I do... again
  Gifts for vow renewal or reaffirmation ceremonies are not mandatory but are a nice gesture. Experiential gifts are a good idea for a wedding anniversary gift for a couple who have already set up their home - ideas like a hot air balloon ride or a certificate for a night in an exclusive lodge such as Peppers on the Point, Lake Rotorua, would be a nice gesture.
• Show me the money
  For some, money is the best wedding gift and guests should spend as much as they would have spent on a real present. Wedding Wishing Wells provide a focal point at the reception where guests to put money into a well for the happy couple. A cheque is the best way to give money at a wedding; addressing it to 'Mr and Mrs' is appropriate, but find out first if the bride is taking on the groom’s surname, don’t just assume.
• Office showers
  It can be awkward to be invited to a colleague’s wedding if you don’t usually socialise outside work. It’s appropriate to celebrate with an 'office shower' where everyone contributes towards a joint wedding gift. Traditionally, this is the only type of 'shower' where the guests don’t come to the actual wedding.
• Flight, hotel... now a gift too?
  Destination weddings are becoming more popular and are an expensive choice for the bridal party and guests. Despite this, a gift is still deemed appropriate - just remember to send it to the couple’s home rather than taking it to the actual wedding, as airlines have yet to give extra luggage capacity for recently married couples! Work out financials before accepting a destination wedding invitation and find out if accommodation is provided - this is usually the responsibility of the bride and groom.
• Personalise it
  Some of the most memorable wedding gifts are personalised. How about an autograph frame with guests' messages engraved on the frame instead of in the usual guestbook? If sticking to the wedding list, you can always have items engraved or personalised if appropriate, such as champagne flutes with the date of the wedding etched on the bottom. Personalized wedding gifts are often cheap and can be a way for you to have a creative wedding gift, such as a pair of 'Just Married' jandals from Bride's Best Friend, alongside what you have chosen from the formal wedding gift list.
• Kiwiana
  Many couples living abroad come home for their wedding day and a beautiful New Zealand wedding gift would be appropriate. Just remember freight costs back to the couple’s country of residence, so no heavy wooden carvings! Maori art with symbolic meanings of hope or love from Artport or glass coasters would be welcome gifts. Avoid the common NZ wedding gift of a clunky wooden photo album; the couple will most likely prefer the modern digital photo album such as those available at Bad Boyz Gifts, in keyring to 10.4 inch in size, for the happy couple to watch their wedding photos playing on rotation for hours on end.
• No gifts, please!
  While this is an honourable idea, it’s still appropriate to give a small creative wedding gift to the happy couple, despite their protestations. A donation in their name to a charity of their choice is a way to get around this without going against their wishes.
• Do leave home without it
  Whichever gift you choose, don’t carry the gift to the wedding reception. Simply send it to the address of the couple’s wedding registry or to the bride or groom’s parents to save everyone’s arms on the day.

And if you can’t make it to the wedding, how about sending an old-fashioned but well-meaning wedding day telegram which can be sent for just $1.99 to anywhere within New Zealand? This wil show you care - often the words on the card or in the telegram are the most cherished gift of all.

Looking for more information? Find New Zealand wedding gifts in the NZS.com directory.

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Family images from Flickr: Baby Boots, Kids Classroom and Hands.