Best Wedding Gifts Ideas for No Registry Weddings

When couples register for wedding gifts, it’s easy to buy them something that suits their taste and interests. But what about if the couple you’re buying for doesn’t have a registry?

Choosing the perfect wedding present can be tricky, especially if you’re not very close to the bride or groom or you’re trying to think of personalised wedding gifts. But fear not, here are our top tips for buying the ideal wedding present for a couple who don’t have a registry.

Wedding Gifts FAQs

The best wedding gifts are like birthday gifts, they are either personal, meaningful or useful, but they can also be slight more tricky to pick.

That’s because, although you want to get the couple something they’ll love and use, you also have to think about whether the gift is appropriate for their relationship and the kind of wedding they’re having.

So, to help you with your gift choice, we’ve put together this list of frequently asked questions about wedding gifts.

What Is a Good Wedding Gift?

The perfect wedding gift is one the married couple will treasure or need as newlyweds. Traditionally, couples didn’t live together before marriage, so staples like kitchen gadgets and crockery were the ideal gift.

But times have changed, and many couples now live together before tying the knot, so you have to get a little more creative if you want your gift to be extra special. For some out of the box wedding inspiration, why not go for something like hiring them a personal chef service for one week in their home? Or how about a nice piece of art or sculpture that means something to the bride and groom?

How to Ask for Money as a Wedding Gift?

If during your wedding planning you’ve chosen not to have a gift registry for your wedding, you might be wondering how to ask for cash as a wedding gift. It can be a little tricky at first, but it’s actually a nice option for some couples.

To do this politely its always best to inform your guests on your wedding invites, website or via word of mouth. You could word it as “Please consider giving money instead of a gift” or “We’d love for you to contribute toward our honeymoon fund.”

Rather than having physical cash, you could simply upload a link to where people can donate online. This also allows guests to choose how much they want to give, without feeling pressured into contributing more than they can afford.

How Much to Spend for a Wedding Gift?

The perfect price range for a wedding gift completely depends on your budget, no matter how important the newlyweds are to you, you don’t need to blow the budget when celebrating their marriage.

As a ball park, wedding guests usually spend about £100 on gifts for immediate family and for those they have very close friendships with, but it’s common to spend anything from £25 to £50 on couples you are less close to.

What to Write in a Wedding Gift Card?

You don’t need to overthink this one. A personalised message to the bride and groom that includes well wishes for their honeymoon and married life together is all you need to write in the wedding cards.

Does the Groom’s Parents Give a Wedding Gift?

Most couples receive a wedding gift from both sets of parents, although sometimes they will offer to pay for certain aspects of the wedding day such as for the flowers, venue, cake or clothing instead.

Traditionally, the groom’s parents were also responsible for paying for the rehearsal dinner and the wedding reception. There really are no hard and fast rules about this one though —it just depends on the individuals.

How Much Should Parents Give for Wedding Gift?

It can be difficult to set a budget for this, especially if, as parents, you are paying for part or all of the wedding. If the couple doesn’t have a wedding registry, it’s probably a good idea to discuss their expectations of a gift with them. But remember, you should never feel obligated to spend more than you can afford – even if one part of the happy couple is your child!

What Is the Second Wedding Anniversary Gift?

The traditional second anniversary gift is cotton, this makes luxury bedding, clothing or soft furnishings the perfect gift for a second wedding anniversary.

Who Gets a Gift at a Wedding?

The newlyweds typically get gifts from the majority of their wedding guests. In addition, the bride and groom themselves often give gifts to the members of their wedding party to thank them for all the support and help with their big day.

Do Parents Give Wedding Gifts?

Parents commonly give wedding gifts or pay for some part of the big day. In some cultures, the bride’s family would give a dowry to the groom’s family as part of the marriage agreement—and in other cultures, both sides would have gifts for each other.

Does the Best Man Buy a Wedding Gift?

The best man is usually expected to bring a gift personalised to the happy couple as there is an assumption that they will know the couple very well. They could opt for something like a Mr and Mrs photo frame personalised with the couple’s names.

How Much Should a Bridesmaid Spend on a Wedding Gift?

A bridesmaid will typically spend in the region of £100 on a wedding gift, but it is understandable to have a more conservative budget as being in a wedding party can often come with expenses like Hen Parties, Make-up and Outfit. These costs can be especially large at destination weddings.

How Much Should Grandparents Give for a Wedding Gift?

Close relations like Grandparents typically spend over £100 on the couple for their special day. If your budget is bit more conservative, instead of an expensive gift, consider giving something meaningful that reflects your love for your grandchild and their spouse-to-be.

What Are Some Traditional Wedding Anniversary Gifts?

The choice of wedding anniversary gifts is generally based on the particular year of the couple’s anniversary. For example, the first year is all about paper, whilst the 5th year focuses on wood. Other traditional anniversary presents might be diamonds, silverware, and even crystal, often also personalised with the names of the couple or their wedding date.

What is the Most Popular Gift for Golden Wedding Anniversary?

It probably comes as no surprise that the most popular gift for a Golden Wedding Anniversary is in fact gold! However, yellow roses and violets are often given as well. These complementary flowers symbolise the long life of two people who have come together and complement each other so a beautiful bouquet makes a perfect gift.

Do You Bring a Gift to a Wedding Reception?

Yes, typically you bring your gift with you to the reception rather than the wedding venue.

Do You Mention Gifts on a Wedding Invite?

Wedding invites tend to include important details such as the wedding date, wedding venue, food choices, and they often also include a mention to the gift registry, or the couple’s preference for a monetary gift instead.

Does a Groomsman Give a Wedding Gift?

Yes, typically a groomsman will bring a gift, but it doesn’t have to be an expensive one! Something small that is practical and useful is the way to go for this wedding gift.

How to Set up a Wedding Gift Fund?

If a wedding gift registry is not your thing, you can set up a wedding gift fund instead. This allows you to ask for monetary contributions towards expenses related to your big day, and also means guests can contribute however much (or little) they can afford, without feeling obliged to buy something specific.

Setting up a wedding fund is really simple. You can use one of your existing bank accounts, open a new one specifically for this, or create an account at one of the several online wedding gift funds sites and get expert advice on how to manage it too.

Then all that’s left to do is let your guests know about it, and either provide your bank account details or a link to the online wedding gift fund.

How to Wrap Money as a Wedding Gift?

Whilst often a well received gift, monetary presents can feel a little low effort. If you want your cash gift to make more of an impression on the wedding day you can try wrapping the cash in interesting ways such as folded into origami cranes or rolled into a bouquet-like display.

Is It Rude Not to Give a Wedding Gift?

When it comes to the etiquette of gift-giving, there are always two sides to every story. And while it’s not the end of the world if you don’t give a wedding gift, the reality is most people invited to a wedding celebration are expected to bring a gift with them. Even if it is just a small token to show their appreciation and love for the happy couple.

Popular Wedding Gifts Ideas

When it comes to wedding gifts, it can be hard to find something that’s both personal and practical. And if you’re looking for something that’s going to last the test of time too, it can be even trickier.

So we’ve done the legwork for you and rounded up some of our most popular and unique wedding gift ideas.

Wedding Gift Ideas for Groom

Looking for a gift idea for a groom? The kind of treat that is always appreciated is an edible one. Why not gift the groom a basket filled with tasty treats or a personalised bottle of their preferred spirit.

Wedding Gift Ideas for Bride

If you’re searching for a gift idea for a bride then consider getting them a beautiful piece of jewellery to add to their collection. For something a little less extravagant, think vouchers for their favourite store, or a selection box of luxury chocolates. If you are feeling creative, you could even make a keepsake box for the perfect place to store all their lovely wedding memories.

Wedding Gift Ideas for Parents

Shop for personalised wedding gifts such as a photo frame or wedding album. Artwork of the wedding day or venue to bring back wedding memories is another great option for a special gift. Or for something a bit more unique, how a bout an extra large suitcase for the happy couple’s post-wedding adventures.

Wedding Gift Ideas for Friends

Friends are often able to choose a great gift simply by knowing what the couple enjoys together, or relating it to the happy memories they share. For a very special gift with a bit of a personal touch, find out where they had their first date or where they went on their first holiday together. Then shop for a gift voucher so that they can go back there.

Another option is to relate the present to where they are getting married. For an extra special and unique gift, why not commission an embroidered artwork of the wedding venue.

Wedding Gift Ideas for Sister and Brother in Law

Sentimental gifts such as a box filled with a collection of photographs of the couple throughout their lives together, or a heirloom of the family, are perfect gift ideas for in-laws.

Wedding Gift Ideas for Work Colleagues

If you’re not sure of the happy couple’s tastes, it can be difficult to buy them a gift. John Lewis vouchers, while not personal, are always a good option for colleagues, as they can treat themselves to something for their homes like stylish wine glasses or decor pieces that suit their style.

Traditional Wedding Gift Ideas by Year

Some of the traditional wedding anniversary gifts are uncommon goods today (like the 14th anniversary being Ivory) but you can still buy a beautiful gift while keeping the tradition alive in a more modern fashion.

1st Wedding Anniversary Gifts

1st Anniversary – Paper
Books are a common gift of choice for one-year anniversaries, particularly cookbooks or stylish coffee table books for the married couple’s house.

10th Wedding Anniversary Gifts

10th Anniversary – Tin or Aluminum
This is one of the stranger traditional gifts, as it seems almost wrong to celebrate an impressive 10 years together with a present made of Tin! The reasoning behind this tradition is that the strong metal represents your durable marriage. Couples often choose to celebrate in style by upgrading their wedding rings, or gifting each other statement jewellery like a watch personalised with a meaningful inscription.

20th Wedding Anniversary Gifts

20th Anniversary – China
Traditionally the 20th year is when couples update their formal dinner wear. Nowadays, the 20th anniversary wedding gift is a bit more relaxed, and any gift for the house is seen as being vaguely in keeping with this tradition.

30th Wedding Anniversary Gifts

30th Anniversary – Pearl
This is one of the easier anniversaries to buy for as you can opt for beautiful pearl jewellery or even a personalised family photograph in a mother of pearl photo frame.

40th Wedding Anniversary Gifts

4oth Anniversary – Ruby
Again jewellery or any red-themed gift (such as roses) is appropriate for this impossible-to-forget milestone.

50th Wedding Anniversary Gifts

50th Anniversary – Gold
It’s incredibly significant when a couple has been Mr and Mrs for 50 years! The golden wedding anniversary is the sign of a life well lived, a gift of golden jewellery or a clock is appropriate.