The Best Wedding Gift Ideas for Every Budget

Let’s be honest: Getting invited to a friend of family member’s wedding is always exciting. But there’s also a teeny bit of dread that goes along with it. Not only because you might have to book flights and a hotel if it’s a destination wedding, but you’ll know have to think about wedding gift ideas that nobody else has. Trust me. I run a wedding website and I know that being a wedding guest these days can be a little bit stressful, not to mention expensive!

Before we get into the best wedding gift ideas for 2023, let’s talk about where to buy the best wedding gifts. And if you’re looking to find out how much to spend on a gift and when to send it, be sure to read our guide to wedding gift etiquette.

First Things First, Start With the Wedding Registry

Before you go shopping for a wedding gift, you’ll want to see if the couple has created a wedding registry. This information will usually be located on the couple’s wedding website, and will link to their registry so you can easily buy a gift from it online, or visit the store in-person depending on which retailers they’ve chosen.

Where are couples registering?

Most couples these days are choosing to create an online wedding registry that is easily accessible to guests across the country (and globe!). While a lot of couples will still create online wedding registries at stores with brick and mortar locations that you can visit like Williams Sonoma, Pottery Barn, and Crate & Barrel, online-only options like those from The Knot and Zola allow couples to pull in gifts from lots of different brands, giving them (and you!) more options to choose from.

A couple may also choose to have a traditional wedding registry, or one with a cash fund for a honeymoon or even a home. (You can read more about these honeymoon registries here). While it might have been taboo to ask for cash 10 years ago, it’s completely acceptable (and actually common!) now. Thankfully, online wedding registries have made it easy for you to safely and securely send a cash gift to the couple, and instructions on how to do it should be on the registry website.

Can I buy a gift that’s not on a wedding registry?

Yes. Just remember that a couple has created this wedding registry for a reason. It might be filled with household essentials they are hoping to get, and the gifts are in their exact style. While you might like a brightly-colored set of dishes, they might be looking for a more simple, everyday color, which is why they registered for the set they want in the first place! It’s always best to err on the side of caution and go with what the couple requested.

With that said, if you want to go off-registry to give them a unique gift (like an heirloom-worthy vase), or an actual heirloom or personalized gift that will have meaning to them, that is ALWAYS appreciated.

What if a couple doesn’t have a wedding registry?

Don’t see wedding registry or gifting info on a couple’s wedding website? First off, have them come talk to me. LOL. Because they should absolutely have gifting instructions on their wedding website or invitation insert, even if it’s to say no gifts! But on the off chance they don’t, it’s perfectly acceptable to text the wedding party member you’re closest to (be it the parents or couple themselves) and ask them if they are registered anywhere. If not (and they didn’t insist on no gifts or give instructions otherwise) you can choose from one of our wedding gift ideas below. You can also write a check. And remember there’s no specific amount you have to spend. You can send them a gift amount that works best for you and your budget. If you are looking for a range, however, my rule of thumb is to gift what I would spend on a nice dinner out with my husband.

Where to Buy Wedding Gifts

Not sure where to shop? First, we’re always a fan of finding local home stores so you can support small businesses. So start there! (Just make sure they offer shipping, and that you have the couple’s address if you need to mail the gift.) Also most small businesses across the country have a web presence, so if there’s a store you visited once and loved, see if they have a website you can order from if you can’t physically go there.

Also, I would avoid buying anything too personal, like sheets or towels or things like a complete dinnerware or glassware collection. If they really wanted those basics, chances are they would have registered for them. Instead, opt for unique gifts like a beautiful vase, salad serving set, platters, or candleholders.

If you’re looking for other online option, some of our favorite go-to stores to look for wedding gifts ideas include:

• CB2
• Saks Fifth Avenue
• John Derian
• Anthropologie
• Etsy
• Uncommon Goods
• Food52

What’s the Best Wedding Gift You’ve Received?

We recently polled our followers on Instagram and Facebook, and got some great responses. Here’s a few of the items that couples said were the best gifts they received:

• “Gift cards! Not al people share the same style, and it’s nice to have a house with 100% your own style.”—Arianna
• “A beautiful wooden cutting board with a chef’s knife.”—Caitlin
• “My Dyson vacuum!!”—Paige
• “Our friend (who is an artist) painted a watercolor picture from a photo of our first dance. It’s now hanging in our living room.”—Jen
• “It’s not very uncommon, but our KitchenAid stand mixer is my favorite. I use it all the time to bake and even make pasta with a separate attachment I got.”—Kai
• “We got a set of Riedel wine glasses, and even through several house moves we still have them, and they’re the best!—Annie