Wedding Gift Ideas

Wedding bells are ringing! Do you hear them? Soon, you’ll be celebrating love, stuffing your face with wedding cake, and doing the chicken dance in front of family and friends.

But first—you have to shop for a wedding gift.

That part isn’t always easy. You’ve got to think about your budget and how meaningful you want your gift to be.

Don’t worry. With this list of wedding gift ideas, you can find the perfect present and get back to practicing your moves for the dance floor.

8 Wedding Gift Ideas

1. Shop the registry.

Okay, we’ll start with the obvious. If the couple has a registry, check it out. Yes, buying hand towels is pretty boring, but they asked for those hand towels for a reason. (Probably because they need hand towels.)

So, don’t look down your nose at giving the happy couple a wedding gift they asked for in the first place!

2. Give a future date night.

Before the wedding, couples usually like to go out together. That’s just part of the getting-to-know-each-other process. But after the honeymoon, it’s easy to get into a daily routine that doesn’t include dates.

Encourage some romance by gifting a future date night package. A gift card to dinner and a board game. A bottle of bubbly and a pack of conversation starters. Movie tickets and a gift certificate to a local dessert spot. Or even an Airbnb gift card so they can look forward to a weekend getaway soon.

Stick your gift in a bag, basket or envelope, and ta-da—they’ve got a free date night.

3. Put their name on it.

A personalized wedding gift is pretty much always a great idea. Get their last name or wedding date (or both!) etched on a cutting board, matching tumblers or a wooden sign.

Check out Etsy wedding gifts and get creative! Every time they see their one-of-a-kind gift, they’ll be reminded of their special day.

4. Contribute to the honeymoon fund.

Do you have any idea what the average honeymoon costs these days? $5,100.¹ (Yeah, wedding costs in general can be super expensive.) Even mini-moons (shorter, local honeymoons) can get pricey.

If the couple has a honeymoon fund on their website or registry, giving money to it is a great wedding gift. You’ll help the newlyweds cover the costs of their first vacation as a married couple.

It’s romantic, useful and kind.

5. Give gift cards or cash.

Hey, the couple has already (hopefully) been working hard on making and keeping their wedding budget. What if you could help them lower some of their wedding expenses or their future everyday expenses?

A gift card to a place like Amazon, Target or a grocery store isn’t lame. It’s a fantastic way to help them decorate their home or stock their pantry.

Or get more creative (and personal) by customizing your gift card to their interests. If they love greenery, gift a certificate to their local nursery so they can grow their plant collection. There are lots of options here!

Or consider giving them cash to spend wherever they want! Because cash is king—even for wedding gifts.

6. Sign them up for a fun subscription box.

If you know a hobby or interest the couple shares, you can gift a year-long (or a few-months-long) subscription to a box or service they’d love.

Maybe they’re foodies, but they’re also super busy. Send them a meal subscription box like Blue Apron, Hello Fresh or Home Chef.

Or maybe they both love ice cream (who doesn’t?). Sign them up for a flavor-of-the-month membership. You get the idea.

A subscription is the gift that keeps on giving, and the right one will remind the happy couple of your generosity and care many times that first year!

7. Create a unique recipe book.

Want a truly meaningful wedding gift idea? We’re not talking about printing a bunch of instructions off the internet and throwing them in a three-ring binder. We’re about to get really intentional here.

Start budgeting with EveryDollar today!

What if you gathered their favorite recipes from friends and family into one recipe book or box for the couple?

Sharing Grandma’s German chocolate cake in her own handwriting is priceless.

It’s a treasure that also serves as a practical way to help the couple meal plan and answer the eternal nightly question: “What’s for dinner?”

8. Give a wedding gift that makes an impact.

If you want to take your wedding gift to the next level, skip the stuff that collects dust and give something that makes a lasting impact.

Our research shows money is the number one issue couples argue about. But it doesn’t have to be!

Listen, you can help those newlyweds avoid money fights early on by gifting them a Ramsey+ membership. They’ll get to take Financial Peace University, budget with the premium version of the EveryDollar, and get live financial coaching.

They’ll learn how to open the lines of communication about money, make a plan for their future, and start making real progress toward their dreams. Together.

Okay, now that you’ve got eight great ideas, you’re ready to find the perfect gift. Remember, the heart of it all is to think about the couple. They’re starting their lives together, and you get to take some part in that! What an honor. Keep this in mind as you pick out a gift. Whether it’s practical or personal or impactful—it’ll be the perfect way to say congratulations to the bride and groom.