Is shopping off the registry a good idea?
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Winter wedding season is here, and as happy couples prep for the big day, guests are busy planning travel arrangements, picking out cold-weather attire, and searching for the perfect gift. While shopping off the registry can be daunting, here are three ideas to help your present stand out.
Cold, Hard Cash
The real reason brides cry at their wedding? The price tag. The average wedding in the U.S. costs $35,329, and while family might be there to help, much of the cost falls upon the newlyweds. So, while you’re snapping the perfect new profile pic in the professional photo booth or filling up on mid-dance snacks at the chocolate fondue fountain, consider what you’d normally have to pay to attend such a lavish event.
If an envelope stuffed with greenbacks doesn’t seem appropriate, there are plenty of websites that turn cash transfers into a classy affair. Honeyfund, Wanderable, and Zola make it easier to give the new couple what they really want – less debt.
High-Quality Home Goods
Remember when you were young and even the threat of socks for Christmas was grounds for emancipation? As fledgling adults, practical gifts are increasingly appealing.
High-quality appliances like the ElectroZoom XL, the first industrial strength consumer vacuum, are a perfect choice. Chances are, the happy couple hasn’t bought a new vacuum since their freshman year, and features like the extendable Lock n’ Load Handle, detachable canister, and cordless option make this machine a fashionable and functional appliance to usher them into adulthood.
Less Stuff
Rethink unnecessary items. If the couple hasn't needed a decorative dish set or a cupcake pan until now, what are the chances they’ll need one after they are happily hitched? “For the couples who already have everything, creating a cherished memory is so much more valuable than a material item that will likely end up in the donation box,” said professional organizer Marie Kondo.
Why not surprise them with reservations to a play or a kayaking lessons? Check local listings for events, activities, or new restaurants to give them a great excuse for a date night.
No matter what you decide to get the happy couple, remember that the true gift is your presence at their special event. Did we miss anything? Be sure to share your best gift ideas in the comments below.
