Ask the Readers: Frugal wedding gifts

photo by Bonnie BonBon

I was wondering if any of your readers had ideas for frugal wedding gifts? My youngest sister is getting married and I would like to give her something nice but our budget is limited. I'm not very creative or crafty, so it has to be something simple to do. I am a mom of 7, as well, so time is limited. -Michelle

I'd love to hear your ideas and suggestions for Michelle. With "wedding season" fast approaching, I'm sure many of us could benefit by hearing about your frugal but thoughtful wedding gift ideas. Post away!

Comments

[Sassysaver]

We give themed gifts! Like a waffle iron (on sale of course) with homemade pancake mix (recipe in the more with less cookbook), or a homemade cookbook (print fav recipes on the computer and put in 3 ring binder with cute cover) and menu plans with some sort of cooking gadget or fun pan.

[Gale]

I made the favors for my sisters wedding and i also made the invatations for her wedding on my computer

[Katie]

You could put together a photo book for the couple-- include baby photos & school photos of each, then show photos of them together. A lot of the digital photo sites have easy programs for photo books where you can just upload photos to the site and then drag and drop to ready-made templates. Artscow had a deal going when I signed up where they gave you a free 8x8 photo book for signing up, I just had to pay shipping for it.

[Jenna @ Newlyweds]

I think a neat and really thoughtful wedding gift would be to ask family and friends of the couple to give advice for the newlyweds and write something nice about each of them and then you will put them all together in a scrap book. This would take time but not alot of money and I think the couple will enjoy these forever.

[geri anne]

I recently attended a wedding and had the same dilema....I got to thinking about how I could use my stash of free/cheap stuff for a gift. I spent $5 for a laundry basket and then filled it with items from my stash...toilet paper, paper towels, air freshener spray & candles, laundry detergent, toothbrushes, toothpaste, shampoo & condition, body wash, dish soap, cleaning supplies, etc. I then used some pretty, wide ribbon to tie it up with a big bow on top. Nobody likes to buy that kind of stuff, but everyone needs it -- especially when you're just starting out!

[Meg R]

I'm a newly-wed (March 15, 2008) and thought I'd share a few ideas that I enjoyed receiving. :)
1. My sister gave me hand-crafted Thank-you notes as a shower gift. These don't have to be super-complicated! Find a rubber stamp that says "Thank You" and repeatedly stamp small pieces of white/light-colored paper. Glue these onto printed paper rectangles and glue that onto plain white notecards. You can buy those at Hobby Lobby, Michael's and probably other craft stores. Embellish w/ a bit of fuzzy yarn and there you go!

2. Purchase a storage container (laundry basket, plastic bucket, etc) and fill it with household necessities such as cleaners, kleenex, toothbrushes, toothpaste, dusters, cleaning clothes, dryer sheets - whatever you can think of! I'm doing this with the "extras" I find on sale or while "CVS-ing" for a couple getting married this summer.

3. Same as above but purchase food staples you know she & he will enjoy. My wedding shower with my mom-in-law including everyone contributing a "pantry item" - very helpful to us as we were just starting out!

4. Gather family recipes and print them onto cards for her to take to her new home.

It may be that these ideas are "too frugal" for your sister. Sometimes we want to do something a little nicer for those close to us, and that's perfectly understandable. Maybe someone else reading this will benefit though!

[susan]

What about a recipe book or box? You can use your computer to make a simple booklet-maybe with some pictures from over the years?

Or, purchase (or make) a simple recipe box with matching cards. Send the cards out to friends/family members of the bride and ask them to contribute a few favorite recipes and give them back to you to be put in the box. This is especially fun for a family member if you can have some traditional family recipes like Grandma's pumpkin pie!

[kimberly]

My sister-in-law compiled all the family favorite recipes from my husband's side of the family (it was his sister) and put them together in a recipe book for my gift.

Perhaps your reader could get all the recipes from her family and put them together. Since she isn't crafty, she could have the "owner" of the recipe to write it out in their own handwriting. How cool to have "Grandma's Pound Cake" recipe handwritten by Grandma herself?

Just an idea!

[Jessica]

If you have some prescriptions that could be transferred using some RX Transfer coupons, you could use those to build a few of those up from Target or something and combine them on one gift card. At no cost to you, you have a wedding gift that any newly married couple could use!

[Emily Anne]

My sister-in-law just got married and I made her a gift basket. I spent $25 to buy towels and a few cleaning utensils and I filled the rest of the basket with CVS freebies or cheapies. The basket was beautiful and very useful. It contained: Three bath towels, one hand towel, scrubbin bubbles automatic shower cleaner, another new scrubbin bubbles gadget, febreeze candle and Glade plugins. It was a hit!

[Michele]

Gift baskets always are among my favorite gifts for almost any occasion. They are simple to make and can cost as little or as much as you want. Since the couple will be setting up a new home, you can do a basket with things they will need - detergent, soaps, towels, shampoos, etc. Or it can be more luxurious such as gourmet foods and drinks for a "night in." The possibilities are endless - a game night basket with favorite games of theirs - Scrabble, Trivial Pursuit, snacks, etc., a Spa night basket with bubble baths, towels, scrubber, etc. They're fun to put together and can be inexpensive, too.

[Lee]

I've used this idea several times with great success...
A few months before the wedding, I contact family and friends of the couple asking for beloved recipes, either old family recipes, easy things to learn or recipes that they know the couple enjoys. I make sure to definately include the mothers and sisters if possible.

While I'm waiting for recipes to come in (which sometimes takes some prompting or reminding), I shop around for a small notebook. You can usually find them at the dollar store or on clearance at craft stores. Purchase one and cover it with pretty scrapbook paper. Embellish it with what you have on hand and add some ribbon to the spin... Maybe even a ribbon and charm as a place holder.

Make dividing pages by pasting in pictures of yummy dishes from magazines, and making tabs that stick out. I usually include: appetizers and drinks, soups and salads, breads and sides, entrees, and desserts. Sometimes I also include a take out section if I know the area where the couple will be residing. Take out section can include names of restaurants, phone number and street location, and favorite dishes.

Include recipes as you receive them and sprinkle a few of your own in as well.

[Phoebe @ CEnts to Get Debt Free]

I've never personally done this,but I have seen it done before. Take your favorite recipes and type them out, take them to an office supply store to get bound. This way the new bride will have tried and true recipes from family, and a personalized gift. The possiblilites are endless as far as how you do it. You could include it in a gift basket with pot holders, kitchen towels, utensils...anything kitchen related.

[Mialee]

One of my absolute favorite wedding gifts was a basket of goodies left in our hotel room on our wedding night. We had been so busy visiting with guests and such, that we didn't have much to eat at the wedding. The basket had crackers, cheese, fruit, cookies, drinks, and maybe candy? - can't quite remember. But it was a FANTASTIC surprise, as we were pretty hungry when we got to the hotel. Good luck!

[Alex]

This is a bit different for a gift idea, but if you think your sister would appreciate it, then it's not that expensive, although it would take some time. I made my sister-in-law a coupon binder and gave her some duplicates of my coupons. I also put some coupon tips and website in there for her.

[Maria]

I love to giveaway gift baskets but for a wedding I use a laundry basket and fill it full of household items. You can always find household items at great prices by using coupons. When you buy something for yourself just by an extra one for her.

[Lindsay]

Years ago my Mother began framing the bride and grooms wedding invitation and giving it as their gift. I have picked up on her idea and have started doing the same. I pick up a nice frame (definitely under $10) that goes well with the style of invitation and add a piece of scrapbook paper etc. behind the invitation to pull everything together. This is a link to one similar to what we have put together but not ours.

http://www.quillingbysandrawhite.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/wedi58.jpg

It's cheap, easy and more importantly something they will probably keep for a lifetime! All in all, you could really do this on the cheap!

Check out my blog. I picked up 10 NICE frames at a local thrift shop for under $20 this past weekend. I could definitely use one of them for a project like this.

~Lindsay
Passenger Seat Kind of Girl
http://passengerseatkindofgirl.blogspot.com/

[Brandy]

My dear friend was married in October, and I made her a cookbook. This is my post about how I did it.

http://savinsome.blogspot.com/2008/10/frugal-but-meaningful-wedding-gift.html

[Shana]

What about doing freezer paper stencils on some solid color tablecloths for holidays and do matching placemats and napkins?

Maybe an array of holiday centerpieces for her table? You can decorate candles SUPER easily and cheaply

Or something like this : http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=sr_gallery_12&listing_id=20224313

[Honey]

I like to do a "date night" bucket. Look for a nice bucket, popcorn, soda pop glasses (Dollar Tree had coca-cola glasses), and then get a video store gift card=instant date. Another idea is a pasta basket. I get a nice big ceramic pasta bowl, some pasta, sauce, a nice checkered dish towel, pasta spoon, etc. I like to think of things that make life fun and easy for a new wife. I also have gotten an apron in the Walmart craft section and stenciled (for example: "Cafe Jennifer" or whatever the ladies name is) onto it. I think if both bride and groom liked to cook, you could do 2 aprons and perhaps a cookbook from a discount bookseller. I once received a big laundry basket with spatulas, towels, measuring spoons, and much more! I think most things came from the $1 store, but they were everything a girl needs to start her kitchen and I was thankful. I think that doing a theme makes an ordinary gift lots of fun to put together and to receive. Looking forward to all the other ideas people share.

[missy]

one idea that is thoughtful is to frame the wedding invitation and give that with maybe a nice scrapbook of your sister thru the years (childhood to now) make sure to leave some bank pages at the end for them to fill with their own pics of their new life together.

[Lorena]

You can always get a recipe box or a little notebook and fill it with some of your favorite recipes. This is a gift that is good for both her and him!! :o)

[Robin]

One of my favorite gifts I recieved when we got marreid was a cookbook put together by one of my sister-in-laws. It has recipes from our church and family. This has been very nice since I moved 2500 miles from home! Some of these recipes are now are favorites. She took a white 3 ring binder and decorated the outside. Inside she seperated it with dividers into catergories and people emailed or gave her the recipes. She then typed them up and printed them out, hole punched them and put them in the book. I have since made 2 books for friends who got married. Some of the recipes are heritage recipes passed down from generation to generation. Also at the bottom of the page if there was anything special about the recipe or a special note she included that. My mom and different family included favorites!!

[Candace]

What a coincidence that I just barely ordered materials for TWO different wedding gifts and I only spent $21 (and that included shipping!) There's a website where you can order vinyl lettering and make your own tiles or boards, or you can just order them already made (although they're a little more expensive that way). You can make them very personable if you want, with last names & all that. There are SO many different ideas at this website, and SO many Great gift ideas! Good luck. Here's the website: http://www.vinylcraftlettering.com

[Mel]

I once filled a cooler full of everyday items that people need when they are getting started or moving. Items such as paper plates, cups, bowls, paper towels, wash clothes, etc. You could easily fill it with anything you think they might need!

[Lucky]

I have started framing each person's wedding invitation. I never feel right throwing an invite away, but I'm never sure what to do with it either. So, I frame it in a nice frame from Target and give it to the couple. Its quick and easy on my part and everyone has seemed to like it!

[Claire in CA, USA]

Some people don't like to give perishable weddings gifts, but the best response I ever got to a gift (raves, actually) was when I put together a basket of food for a new couple. Some people never even get to eat at their reception, so putting together a basket with wine (or sparking cider), salami, crackers, french bread, etc. gives them something to eat either on their honeymoon, or in their room on their wedding night. The friends we did this for mentioned it for months after. They were so thankful to have it, and they didn't have to pay for room service.

[Lady Ozma]

I'm a photographer so often I find a print that I think they might like and get it processed and then getting matting and frame that look appropriate. I've even been known to shoot the wedding or engagement photos.

I've also made gift baskets of all the little piddly thing that people never get but need. You'd be surprised what you can put into a nice wicker laundry basket for cheap! :)

[Belle]

When my husband and I were married I was given a cd cookbook that my aunt made of all of her recipes. This was frugal and it helped us out with those first years of cooking- also it means more being homemade.

[Aimee]

Great question! I am anxious to hear answers. My older sister is getting married and I have the same question. My only issue is that she does not want gifts-openly asked for money and is having a "green back" wedding shower. Maybe readers could offer what is acceptable as a monetary gift-anyone know? Thanks!

Oh, btw, my only thought on frugal gifts would be to really watch clearance sales for items that she may need. I love Target clearance-last year I bought a turkey roaster for only a few dollars and it was originally over $40. That could help a great deal with budget. Good luck!

[Autumn]

My favorite wedding gifts are super simple!

I get a nice basket from the dollar store and fill it with the following:

2 nice coffee mugs
instant hot coco (or instant coffee, like the international coffee house flavored late type things)
a cheap bottle of wine
and some lube

some times I even get some travel sized lotions or shampoos and gift card for dinner or something

I never spend more than $20 and every one I have given one to loves it... its like a nice little care package for the honeymoon!

~A~

[Sandi]

One of the best wedding gifts I got was a caddy with cleaning supplies (Windex, Pledge, rubber gloves, paper towels, etc). I still use it. I have also seen laundry baskets filled with cleaning supplies given as gifts. It is perfect for someone starting out in a new household. And of course, any self-respecting couponer knows how to get cleaning supplies for pretty cheap!

[Anon]

If the newlyweds just moved into a new house, how about painting some of the rooms for them? They buy the paint and rollers, etc. but you do the labor. They take the kids for the day or if they are old enough, they help. If painting is not your thing, substitute with gardening, etc.

[Rhonda]

We were in the same predicament this last year when I needed to give two wedding gifts. I put together a homecoming welcome gift basket. I filled it with cleaning products, glade air fresheners, etc. Of course, if you play the drug store games, you quickly accumulate a nice stash of these kinds of items--it was a very nice gift and something that was useful to the new couple.
I remember when I first got married and the sticker shock I experienced when I went to the grocery store the first time because I needed all those initial cleaning products to get started:)
It seems everyone is appreciating practical gifts these days--something they can really use and this fits the bill perfectly!

[Patty]

My suggestion would be to give her a couple of used cook books. I received two basic cook books when I married, over 25 years ago, and I still use them to this day.

[grocerymama]

Photo books!
You can use snapfish, walgreens or any number of places to create a photobook. Include pictures from when you were kids, funny stories and remember whens. . .
I did this for my sister when she got married. It had family picts in and stories of her, my cousin and I.
A very personal gift and they are pretty easy to make. Google coupon codes wherever you make it and find some money off!

[Lisa]

One thing I have done for wedding gifts is to cross-stitch a sign that said, "(first line)Jones Home (second line)est. 2009". I made a checkerboard border around it. Although the skill level is beginner, it still makes a nice finished project. Put it in a nice frame, perhaps with a mat in a complementary color.

Another thing I have done was to print a Bible verse on the computer, using a nice font. Using high-quality scrapbooking tagboard, colored ink and a nice frame, made a finished project that looked like some of the things I had seen in Christian bookstores for around $30.

I almost never get rid of picture frames, so I can usually find something nice to use for my projects. Of course, if I didn't have something nice to use, I would go ahead and spend the money on a nice frame, because that can make or break the project.

[cara davis]

Well ... if you have a Dillard's nearby, they are currently having an extra 30% off their sale items. Much of it is 70% off already. You can also shop online. Lots of home and dining/kitchen items that might make for good gifts. I found a beautiful serving tray there today marked $9 with an extra 30% off of that.

[couponinggal]

I just gave my newlywed brother and sister-in-law a bag FULL of couponed toiletries, household goods, and dry goods. They were so surprised and still remark every time they see me what has recently been used. Sample ideas from their giant box (I even wrapped most of them just for kicks...maybe tacky but fits my family to a T):

CVS finds:
Deodorant (his and hers)
L'Oreal Lip gloss
Toothpaste galore
Febreeze Air Effects Air Freshener plugin w/refill
Spices ($0.75-$1 at CVS, great fillers)
Body wash (St. Ives)

Grocery store coupon finds, almost all doubled/tripled coupon purchases:
Cookie/cake/brownie mixes and frosting (bought with Betty Crocker coupons)
Other baking supplies - baking powder, cornstarch, sugar etc., from tripled coupons
No-stick spray
Seasonings
Shout spray
Windex

To cap this all off, I 'splurged' (by which I mean paid full price and used a free shipping code) at TasteBook.com. I made a cookbook consisting of recipes from both sides of the family (I had emailed contributors and asked them for their very best recipes). It was really easy to do, and the cookbook itself was $38. The newlyweds were very pleased to have access to all the family recipes in one location (and I had included pics of past dishes in the recipe page layouts).

So...maybe $20 total invested in the box of goodies, plus $38, under $60 for a memorable and very practical wedding gift. If you have no time or inclination to skim off your coupon stockpile for the box of goodies, the TasteBook idea is still low-effort and stylish for under $40!

[Jennifer]

A nice set of thrifted (or new) clear glasses can be a cheap purchase. Add an etched monogram or last initial with etching cream, and you have a classy but easy/inexpensive gift. An example tutorial is here: http://www.wikihow.com/Etch-Glass-with-Etching-Cream, but there are others, and videos as well.

[Kat]

I forgot to put how I wrapped the cast iron skillet. I used one of those clear plastic bags that you can find at any craft store and some LO Christmas curling ribbon.

[Karen White-]

A cookbook is ALWAYS nice! Church cookbooks are usually available in any area and very budget friendly AND the recipes are usually "tried and true".

[kendra ~ shoppingfortwo]

For our wedding, a good friend of ours gave us a basket with hot pads, wooden spoons, a spatula and then a really nice small collection of cookie cutters. It was an inexpensive gift to put together, but well thought out and we use all of those things all the time. I think about her whenever we make sugar cookies and use the cookie cutters.

[Alicia]

For younger people who have not set up a home before I have created a basket for them-usually a laundry basket. This is also easy if you stockpile yourself. I can go through my stockpile and give them a nice gift that might cost them $100, but because I purchased the items for dirt cheaper or free it cost me very little. I give them laundry soap, dish soap, shampoo, soap, other personal care items, etc. Also I give things for the kitchen as well-flour, sugar, and other non perishable items that I have stockpiled. Then I make a big bow and put it on the basket.
For someone I know who is frugally minded, but young and hasn't set up a house before I've also included many extra coupons and a coupon organizer for them.
Good luck and congrats to your sister!

[Cheri]

I love to create a homemade cookbook using a 3-ring binder and typing up or copying our family favorites. I then also pick up a few of our favorite kitchen utencils (on sale) to give with the book. It gives them a great way to start their own collection of recipies by easily adding to the binder as they are starting their own family.

[Going Green Mama]

I've done:
a bottle of red wine with my sangria recipe attached on a pretty card
an Italian dinner - pasta, sp. sauce, bottle of wine, loaf of Italian bread or cheese (parm-reg can sit out without problem)

[Leslie]

I’m not sure if anyone would want to do this or not. I was just kind of proud of this gift! I found out about one of my husband’s friends wedding and was a little nervous about a gift because we had had some unexpected expenses and the budget was very tight. Thanks to money saving blogs like this one, I was able to score household items for super cheap to free. I took a big basket that I had recycled and filled it to the brim with candles, air fresheners, dish detergents, sponges, dusters…just everything that you could think of. It was huge!! I wrapped it with cellophane and tied a big bow on. It made a beautiful gift. They were so thankful and every time we see them they make sure to tell us that they are still using things form that gift and how much they appreciated it. The best thing was that I added up the value of the gift it they would have bought all of that themselves…it would have been well over $200. I spent $7 total. Thank you Crystal!!

[Mrs. Mordecai]

I love giving a favorite cookbook or homemaking book. These can be bought in bulk and given as needed. I also like giving a jarful of towels (or anything!), which I posted about long ago here:

http://be-it-ever-so-humble.blogspot.com/2007/12/jarful-of-towels.html

[Emily]

For a family member or good friend, the very best gift might be your time in preparation. Can you (and your kids!) put together table decorations? Or get there early on the wedding day and set up chairs and tables? What about taking charge of the gifts after the wedding and making sure they get safely to the new couple's house?

For some people, giving a couple of collage photo frames and a coupon for an afternoon spent together creating them might be a good gift.

Do you or your husband have a skill that could be useful? Perhaps you could offer to paint their first (non-apartment) home?

What about a window box, complete with flowers and a watering can?

Hope some of those are helpful! :)

[Katie @cold noodles]

I LOVED getting recipes for a wedding gift! I still use the ones I received at my shower in 2001! A nice collection of 'tried and true' recipes would be welcome by most new wives.
In October, we attended the wedding of couple in their late 30s. They didn't "need" anything so we got copies of Created to Be His Helpmeet and the Five Love Languages and placed them in a plastic reusable box. The couple really liked the idea, nothing fancy and definitely books that change marriages (of people of any age!)