A friend of ours recently got engaged and has invited us to her wedding. We are not very close to the bride, but feel obligated to go since our daughter is friends with her daughter. What gifts are appropriate for a second marriage? I should add that she has 3 teenagers, and they are so excited to have a father in their lives again! Also, the family has struggled financially since mom's divorce 3 years ago.
P.S. We live in a small town with nothing to do...no restaurants or theatres or entertainment...or shopping! I'll have to go out of town to get the gift or buy online.
CASH! Any dollar amount would be greatly appreciated by them. I'm in a blended family, both of us married before and we really appreciated cash when we were married almost 2 years ago.
Sounds like money would be greatly appreciated, especially if they want to go on a honeymoon, even if it's in-state. I also have a friend getting married and they are both a little older. They are hoping for a little cash for the honeymoon.
When it is a wedding that either the bride or groom have children, I like to give a picture frame that has to do with family.
Maybe a fun family board game? Apples to Apples, Cranium, Taboo to name a few. Be sure to include a gift receipt if they might already have the game.
A Target Gift Card?
A 'family movie' basket with popcorn and a movie and candy?
(My second marriage, we got lots of gift-cards for Home Depot and Lowes. People knew we were upgrading our home at the time and we spent every penny of the gift cards.)
How about a nice gift certificate for dinner for the newly married couple??
I give the same "thing" regardless of number. Something needed. I consider wedding gifts to be good karma. Best wishes on their lives together.
In a young couple starting out, that's probably household goods. Basics that neither has had time to accumulate. Or straight cash.
In a more established couple -but not completely established-, that's "easy making" stuff. Things that you CAN do by hand or with the cheap option you bought to get you through, but are just soooooo much easier with the more expensive doo dad. GOOD knives, a power drill, etc.
In a young family... that's luxury stuff. Time away stuff. A good tent. A weekend away. Posh pillows. A nice bottle of scotch. Airline miles. Photography shoot. Stuff that you really want, but the kids come first, so you don't get them. Something they'd love to have but wouldn't buy for themselves.
For the established couple (has everything), something personal. A memento.
For the couple that I don't know "well enough": alcohol or cash.
I think at this point in their lives, and in combining two households, that they are most likely not lacking in terms of household items. So I would also choose a gift certificate to a restaurant, place of entertainment, etc.
I would think a nice board game or game set or a gift certificate for a family outting, since the girls are so excited to have a dad. It would be great to celebrate that by sending them all to play putt putt and go-karts or something.
How about a NetFlix subscription that the family can enjoy together?
I think the same type of gift as you would give at any wedding. I'm not sure if it matters that it is a second marriage. I normally decide based on how close I am with the couple. Not very close, maybe a $25 gift card to where ever they are registered or something like that.
No matter which wedding it is I always give a gift basket (from my HBB) with massage oil , shampoo, body wash, body lotion and a candle. My nephew's both said it was the best gift they got especially the massage oil for the honeymoon! Sometimes I just give them the oil and a candle and a gift certificate so they can order what they want from me of course.
A nice handwritten card, and money.
Gifts, are hit or miss.
You don't know EXACTLY what they may need or what their home tastes are like.
Always, per the card, hand write something nice. Not a generic "congratulations" and that's it with your names written in it.
Actually, write something in the card. Thoughtful.
So many people, just sign their names in a card, and it looks, insincere or not even a thought put into it or it looks last minute.
You get what you can afford. Something nice, something personal, something that the couple would appreciate. It doesn't matter that it's her second marriage or that she has teenagers. This is a new marriage.
I don't think the second marriage thing should play a role at all. I think the fact that you are not close to them plays more of a role in the gift. My favorite wedding gifts were the personal ones and the money in cards with sincere handwritten messages. One person gave us an album of candid shots from the wedding day of family and friends. My dad made us a memory chest and had guests write a message to place in it to be read at our 25th anniversary. From my not-close friends and relatives money and a message was lovely. Just your presence and support will be super special to them as well I am sure!
Depends on the wedding. We had a full semi-formal wedding and the gifts, even though we asked for none, we pretty much in line with a first wedding. I would imagine if we had ran off to Vegas or some variation on that theme people would have respected our wishes.
I hate to say it but it seems the gift varies with the party.
So I guess what I am saying is take the first, second, third..... out of the picture and give what you would normally give for the event.
Can you buy a gift certificate for something they can do as a family - like have a family picture taken? Or maybe tickets to a theme park of some sort that they can all do together to make a good memory together??
