Presents...we go all over creation to pick the best present for a wedding or new baby (or just run to CVS for a gift card). I am known for creating themed presents. I never can tell if the receiver really likes them or not. Well, no one has complained yet...
So what were the best presents I've received? For my wedding, it was anything off the registry (for the most part). We were trying to establish a cohesive look to our home. The towels, bedding, kitchen stuff, etc. that we picked out matched. That's why we picked it. Yes, that vase was beautiful, but the one on the registry was the same pattern as the china; that's why we put it there! I am a fan of combining one or two registry items with some unique other items that I find helpful or whimiscal (depending on the couple) for wedding gifts. I will also ask the bride or groom what they haven't received yet. That gives me a great idea of what things they really want.
Now, you'll notice I said "for the most part." Those people who knew me...really knew me...got me things that I adored and were not on the registry--Longenberger baskets for example. My grandmother gave me a basket full of cleaning supplies (she wanted the shower to be a cleaning shower, but my aunts had already planned a recipe shower--long story). But, it was the most practical gift I got. I never thought to register for a broom--but you need one. And the other off-the-registry gift I loved was from one of my mom's best friends. It's a family tree book to record our memories and histories. It's been six years and we've only filled out a few pages, but it definitely was a treasured gift.
Of course, money and gift cards were great too. My mom actually gave an older bride and groom a gift card to a bed and breakfast of their choice. I would have loved that as a younger bride too. But the gift cards should be somewhere you know the couple will frequent or would be a dream splurge for them. And, of course, cash is always welcome. But be wary of people like me who forget to cash checks.
Babies, too, receive gift cards. And for them, any place that sells clothes or diapers is good. But to be honest, what everyone loves to buy babies is clothes. There is something about miniature size pants and shirts that no one can resist. Even my husband goes into the baby clothes section willingly. While girls will definitely receive more clothes than baby boys (who can resist pink ruffles on the bum), each child will have a semi-finished waredrobe for his/her first year of life. I thought I would avoid the plethora of sleepers and outfits but not knowing the baby's sex, but even we received a ton of gender neutral clothes. And within a month of her being born, we went from yellows, greens, whites, and browns, to mostly pink. (Think twice about announcing you are having a girl, unless you love the color pink...)
Of course, the next question is "what size to buy." Now, experienced moms will tell you to buy big. But if you go larger than 0-3 months, make sure to take the season in account. Fleece PJs in the middle of July are not going to be very helpful unless you live in Alaska. Actually, very few people bought us newborn size clothes. So few, in fact, that we actually had to go shopping for clothes when the baby I thought would be 8 lbs. turned out to be 6.8. She's 7 weeks old this week and we are still in the newborn clothes! (Just this weekend, we've started introducing the 0-3s.)
Also, for either weddings or baby showers, don't discount going as a group for a larger present. I know many couples that would appreciate a vacuum cleaner or stoller much more than the a set of handtowels or bibs.
But as any gift receiver will tell you, no matter what you buy, please give a gift receipt! It's rather depressing when you go to exchange or return something only to find out (as I did recently) that what the giver paid $9 for, will only be able to be returned for $1.84. So I forked over the money, just to get the larger size...don't do that to your loved ones.
So...what were the best gifts that you received or have given?
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