Wedding Gift Ideas for Friends That Are Actually Useful

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What to Consider When Choosing the Perfect Gift

Choosing the perfect wedding gift idea for a friend that’s useful is tough – we get it.

How are you supposed to get a gift that’s within your price range, meaningful to the relationship you have, AND something your friend actually wants for their wedding?

Before diving into wedding gift ideas for friends, take a few minutes to reflect on the relationship you have with your friend. Then, think about how your relationship intersects with the person they’re marrying.

What are your shared hobbies and interests? What are activities you and your friend have done together that the person they’re marrying also likes? How can you shape your gift to express the meaning of your friendship best while being enjoyed by the person they are marrying?

Finally, consider how close you are to your friend. Is this someone you’re close with but it’s clear that you both have people in your lives who are closer? Or, are you searching for wedding gift ideas for your best friend?

The nature of your relationship will come into play when choosing how meaningful your gift needs to be.

In this post, you’ll learn how to choose a meaningful AND useful wedding gift for your friend. We even include curated lists of wedding gift ideas enjoyed by many to help get you started. (Thank us later!)

Stick to the Wedding Registry!

While researching this topic, Reddit threads all said one thing in common – stop buying things that aren’t on the registry!

Buying things that you think the new couple needs is a recipe for giving them the chore of making a return.

There is one instance where going rogue from the registry is acceptable – if you are 100% certain that your friend wants the gift you are planning on purchasing.

Some things that might apply here are items they’ve talked about wanting but aren’t appropriate for the entire registry. This includes gifts of adventure like scuba diving lessons or creative gifts that you know will be appreciated like stocking their fridge with foods they like when they return from their honeymoon.

How close you are to your friend should also play a role in whether or not you buy something off the registry. The closer you are to your friend, the more likely you’ll be able to buy them something that’s not on the registry, but they’ll love.

Budget-Friendly Wedding Gift Ideas for Friends

Picking a gift that is within your price range is a must. Odds are, you’re attending (or even planning!) lots of pre-wedding parties which is majorly dipping into your budget.

Choosing a budget-friendly gift doesn’t mean there’s no meaning behind it. When picking out more affordable gifts, make sure it’s clear to your friend what the meaning is behind it. This way, your gift is extremely thoughtful while still being affordable. Personalizing this gift can also make it special.

And remember, meaningful doesn’t mean the same thing as sentimental. A meaningful gift could be as simple as the fancy garlic press you saw them fawning over on your last shopping trip. It’s a meaningful gift because you took the time to remember something they forgot how much they liked, and you knew they wanted based on personal experiences you had with them.

Experiential Wedding Gift Ideas for Friends

This is your opportunity to let your knowledge of your friend shine.

Experiential gifts are a great way to give your friend a fun experience with their new spouse that you personally know they will enjoy. Have you heard your friend talk about their wishes to learn how to ski? Get them and their new spouse a day on the ski hill – complete with a ski lesson.

When picking an experiential gift, there are a few logistical details that you need to keep in mind.

First, always ensure that the experience is fully refundable or exchangeable. It’s way too tedious to choose an experiential gift and schedule it on your friends behalf. To make sure they can enjoy the experience, purchase a voucher that they can redeem when they’re ready.

Second, consider your budget constraints for experiential gifts. Depending on the experience, these gifts can be on the pricier side. Making pricy experiential gifts into a group gift can keep them budget-friendly.

When you give the gift, make sure you’re able to express the meaning behind it. This can be summed up in a card or a few words that you say when you give the new couple the gift. Touch on why you picked this gift and what you hope it brings the newlywed couple.

Popular Experiential Wedding Gift IDEAS for Friends

Travel and Getaways:
- Weekend getaway to a cozy bed and breakfast.
- Luxury stay at a boutique hotel or resort.
- Adventure trip, like a safari or scuba diving package.
- Road trip adventure package complete with car rental and itinerary.
Adventure and Outdoors:
- Skydiving or paragliding experience.
- Hot air balloon ride.
- Guided hiking or backpacking excursion.
- Private sailing charter or lessons.
Food and Drink:
- Gourmet cooking classes with a professional chef.
- Wine or craft beer tasting tour.
- Private dining experience at a top restaurant.
- Subscription to a meal kit service for a taste of cooking at home.

Arts and Culture:
- Season tickets to the theater, ballet, or symphony.
- Membership to a museum or art gallery.
- Art classes, such as painting, pottery, or photography workshops.
- Tickets to a concert or music festival.
Wellness and Relaxation:
- Spa day or couples massage.
- Yoga retreat or meditation workshop.
- Luxury spa resort stay.
- Personal training or wellness coaching sessions.
Home and Lifestyle:
- Interior design consultation for their new home.
- Landscaping or gardening course.
- Professional organization services.
- Smart home setup and training.

Home Goods Wedding Gift Ideas for Friends

Home goods are among the most popular wedding gift ideas for friends. They’re practical and personable, perfect for the newlywed couple as they start out their lives.

To begin picking out a great home goods item (or items) for your friend, first look at the wedding registry. Is it pretty decked out with the things they want? Then, buy them a few nice things off of it and get a supplemental gift that’s more personalized. If the registry seems large but you choose to get them something that’s not on it, odds are you’re getting them something they already have.

If the registry doesn’t seem exhaustive, consider the most popular home goods wedding gift ideas. Make sure that you’re able to get a gift receipt, and consider the ability to personalize the gift – like monogramming towels.

Kitchen

Revolving Spice Rack with Refills

15-Piece Knife
Set with Block

13-Piece Cooking Utensil Set

Calphalon Stackable Pots and Pans Set

DINING

12-Piece Ceramic Dinnerware Set

Crystal Wine Glass Set

Serving Trays

Linen Placemats

BEDROOM

Under Bed Storage Bins

Luxury Sheet Set

All-Season Duvet Insert

Echo Show 8

Put Meaning Behind it with the Card

No matter which wedding gift idea you choose for your friend, you need to tie in the meaning behind it.

In the card, make sure you express the importance of their friendship with you and how you hope this new item will help them along on their journey.

Remember that this doesn’t need to be super sappy. The wedding already has enough emotion! Showing the meaning behind the gift can be as simple as hoping their bread-making hobby becomes more relaxing with the Kitchenaid you bought them. This keeps it light while still showing how personalized the gift is.

Finish out your card by sharing in their excitement for the new chapter of their life and how honored you are to be a part of it.

Useful Wedding Gift Ideas for Friends

Picking a wedding gift for your friend that’s useful is critical.

Choosing a wedding gift that’s wanted and useful shows your friend how much your friendship to them means, and allows you to showcase how close of a friendship you have.

First, start with the wedding registry. When researching this topic, it’s clear that people do not appreciate when guests go rogue from their curated registry. Odds are, you’re just signing your friend up to make an annoying return.

If the wedding registry is sparse, or you’re 100% sure your friend will enjoy the gift you have in mind, you can bypass the registry. Make sure you always get a gift receipt, and try to purchase experiential gifts as vouchers so they can schedule the experience at a time that works well for them.

Finally, when there’s a sparse wedding registry and you’re unsure if an experiential gift is a good fit, settle for some nice home goods. Make the home goods items you pick more personal by monogramming them or tying in the meaning of them with the card you include.

FAQ

Probably. While there isn’t a TON of meaning behind it, $500 is a great gift across the board. If you want to make this gift more meaningful, add a supplemental gift alongside it and make sure you express the meaning of the friendship in the card.

See our section above about popular home goods items. They’re a safe bet and very useful for newlywed couples. With a wide price range, you’re likely to find something that you know will be cherished.

The short answer – yes! Gifts from a group of friends, especially those with higher value are very meaningful. Plus, this is a great way for everyone to stick to their budget and still be a part of a very nice wedding gift.

If you’d like to do this, take the lead! Start a group chat with a few of your friends to see if they’re interested. It’s a good idea to stay on top of this and take care of fully organizing it to ensure everyone follows through. Be prepared to come up with gift ideas, price ranges, and to send people reminders.

Yes! Take into consideration the length of the subscription when selecting a gift like this, too. There’s a subscription for nearly every type of gift you can think of. Get creative and think of the things that your friend and their partner like to do, and start searching for subscription options. Try to get a subscription that’s 3-12 months to make it really nice.

A honeymoon-related gift is a great idea, but will need some coordination with your friend. It doesn’t hurt to be brutally honest and tell them that you would like to purchase them a really nice experience on their honeymoon. Do some research and give your friend options, working along a line of open communication to ensure it’s something they’ll truly enjoy.

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