Real Life MMD: What gift should I buy for my nephew's wedding?

Losinmoney

It's a nephew, a close relative. I would send money or a store voucher from the wedding list. No need to send £200 or anywhere near it. Not a charity gift on this occasion, that's not for them and just makes you feel better. They're fine if you give them on top of other presents, not instead of.

borokat

I really like the case of wine idea - you can get some good offers on wine and it shows a bit of effort.
I would just ask if they have a gift list first, and if they do I would buy something I could afford from that. If not, then money, while it does seem impersonal, can always be put to good use. Most people would be happy with whatever you did. I got married this year and we had a list but not everyone bought off it, some people gave cash instead. We used some of the money to buy the dinner service that was on the list and will put the rest towards some new furniture. I also got some personalised gifts such as a heart shaped plaque with our names and the date which was lovely. Notonthehighstreet.com is a good shout there are some lovely personalised items such as prints on there, I'm sure you would find something suitable.

pebbly_sue

Just buy what you can afford, and what you would deem as an affordable and appropriate gift. It's the meaning, not the cost that counts -- for my wedding, I appreciated the tea towels and egg timer that one guest gave me just as much as the £100 cheque that another gave me. It's the thought that counts...

onesixfive

How about a nice Photo (or two) - (possibly taken unobserved by another guest at the wedding), and then placed in a nice photo frame - it will have to be given a day or two after the event, but it will be so personal.
Alternatively, if they have a garden - how about a plant/rose in their name (search the web) - but that may have to wait until Spring for planting.
Depends on their feelings on this, & timing of their wedding, (ideal for 11th Nov!) - but its the Legions 90th anniversary for the poppy appeal - they have some fab gifts on their website & all for a good cause.

Jagala

If you think the couple would not mind not having a present for themselves that they probably don't need, why not consider something like an Oxfam Unwrapped, where you pay for money to go into a specific fund for development aid, eg 'Safe Water', 'Train a Midwife', 'Equip a Classroom', etc. The Unwrapped gifts are grouped thematically to appeal to the interests of the recipients, as in education, horticulture, health, etc, and you get a colourful card to send, saying what the gift is. They are available from Oxfam shops or on line, but many other charities do them as well.

pitry

In Italy it's tradition to give an anonymous envelope with cash in it to the best man/maid of honour. This way no one knows who put what and the bride and groom can pay for the wedding/honeymoon expenses without being in debt.

If you don't go you don't have to send a gift, however some of the ideas here sound really cool and if you feel like you want to (not have to) then give them something it may remind them of you. Maybe a photo of you three together, or the family together in a nice frame?

Good luck, whatever you choose it will be ok!

JanMal

The Woodland Trust (woodlandtrust.org.uk) allows you to dedicate a tree(or trees) to mark special occasions. You receive an appropriately worded certificate with details of the wood where the trees have been planted. One tree costs £15.00 - you can add more if you wish. I have done this for births, weddings, anniversaries, choosing woods near to where the dedicatee lives. THis has always been warmly accepted as a very unusual gift. It has the added advantage of not adding to clutter if two households are merging into one.

suzitiger

Hey there, I have loved reading people's suggestions, there are some really nice, imaginative ones. I love making things for people. One of my oldest, dearest friends got married this year, and I really had the stiff competition of oxford graduates and rich family salaries to go againt. I wrote a card that said 'the present was a secret and had to follow the wedding. so they would get it later' as i needed the wedding photos to make it. I then spent hours on photoshop armed with old photographs given to me by friends and family of the bride/groom, hen do pictures and wedding pictures, again some taken by me and some by others to make a persoinalised photobook, a professional photographer friend had shown me how to do it but it took me DAYS of fiddely work. I used a groupon voucher to pay for the photobook which in total cost me £16 including delivery and when i passed it over to her my friend was in tears. There are some things money just can't buy. It was worth all the hard work just to see her face :j

slopemaster

The cookbook idea is nice.

Or, something my mum did for a friend years ago which was v well received was to put together a basket with a screwdriver, fuse wire, old kitchen knives for odd jobs, old vests for dusters etc
Very different to most wedding pressies but v useful!

Lady_Annabel_Aardvark

kikamorris wrote: »

Wedding guests are expected to provide presents. You aren't going to the wedding, so nothing will be expected. Send the couple a nice card wishing them a happy day and a happy future - job done!

I totally agree. I wouldn't have enough money to send a gift to a wedding I wasn't going to.

And as i found out a few years ago, some people turn up at weddings with no gift! I don't hold it against them though.