Tender Wedding Gifts

After writing my very strong opinions earlier this week on how to register for a wedding, I thought I would show up a bit softer and share what I call Tender Wedding Gifts.

If you are going to purchase a wedding gift for a couple, the best course of action is to stick to the registry. Truly, this is the way to go. Newlyweds need their registry items, and it is courteous to help them begin their new life by purchasing towels and sheets and silverware.

But. If you are in the mood to be generous and add on to a registry gift, or if you have already purchased a gift from their registry and want to do something extra, tender gifts are special. They come infused with meaning and offer rewards in the long haul.

ONE LINE A DAY JOURNAL
Ask any couple who has been married a long time, and they will tell you they would give anything to have a candid record of their first year together. The idea of writing one line a day as a couple for the first year is an easy way to capture the unique slice of time. This journal will become a gift the couple will give their future selves.

CHRISTMAS JOURNAL
In the same vein as the One Line A Day Journal, a Christmas Journal is truly wonderful. Each holiday, the couple notates a few details about where they are in life and how they celebrated. The simple exercise expanded over the years creates a time capsule of memories that will be treasure down the road for the couple as well as their children and grandchildren.

MONOGRAMMED CHAMPAGNE BUCKET & CHAMPAGNE
When it is time to celebrate, a bottle of bubbly is iconic for a reason. My favorite champagne is Perrier-Jouet, and while the standard bottle is classic, they also sell a version decorated with white flowers. Even on its own, the bottle of champagne makes a wonderful gift. Take it one step further and pair it with a monogrammed champagne bucket and an encouragement to pop a bottle of bubbly yearly on their anniversary. What a special gift!

WEDDING CAKE ORNAMENT
When Timm and I got married, we did not own a single Christmas ornament. Instead of rushing out and buying a bunch of meaningless ornaments, we decided to gift each other one ornament a year that signified something memorable from our year. Little by little our collection grew, each ornament holding meaning, and as we expanded the tradition to include our four children, we now have more ornaments than will fit on a single tree. It is a visual reminder of how rich our life together has been, and how from humble beginnings, beauty can grow. Gifting a beautiful wedding-related ornament to a new couple is a tangible reminder of their first year together and might even encourage them to start their own ornament tradition.

HIS & HERS COCKTAIL GLASSES
For the couple that enjoys a cocktail, gifting a cute pair of glasses, etched with His and Hers is a fun nod to all things newlywed. Perhaps you pair this with a bottle of his and her favorite liquor, or a book of cocktail recipes, or even a set of bar tools (from their registry, of course).

MONOGRAMMED STATIONERY
It’s a thrill to see your new name in print after you get married, and a set of classic stationary is both thoughtful and practical for newlyweds. Make the gift even more user-friendly by including a book of love stamps!

INSTAX CAMERA
The charm of tiny polaroid prints instantly creates an air of nostalgia. A Mini Instax Camera is a fun gift for the couple to keep handy to commemorate the small moments from their first year. Pair it with 12 cartridges of film (one for each month!) and a cute jar for them to collect all of their memory photos along the way. At the end of the year, their collection of tiny photos will provide a wealth of memories.

FRAMED INVITATION
Preserving a wedding invitation in a beautiful frame can be a beautifully tender gift. Obviously, if you are going to gift someone a frame with their wedding invitation inside, you need to have a clear understanding of their sense of personal style (which might be vastly different from your own!).

TENDER WEDDING GIFTS