‘I Asked WH Editors Which Wedding Gifts They Actually Used (And Loved)’
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At this point in your life, you've probably purchased and received a countless number of gifts. From Mother's Day to Valentine's Day, plus all the birthdays, baby showers, and housewarming parties in between, it seems like our world is constantly finding ways to celebrate one another. Although gift-giving can be tons of fun, it's also a lot of pressure to show how much you love someone via a physical item—especially when it comes to finding a wedding gift for *that* couple in your life who seems to have it all.
Figuring out how to please two separate humans while celebrating their love can be difficult, which is precisely why I called in wedding planner and event manager Chanakya Gandhi, who's seen at least thousands of wedding gifts throughout the years. First things first? "Put yourself in the newlywed couple’s shoes," he says. "Make sure you would actually want the gift you're getting them."
Still totally lost? Home goods, pieces of decor, and appliances are always a great place to start, according to Gandhi (and the several married Women's Health editors that I consulted). If you really want to go the extra mile, you can also buy the couple something that will create a memory or experience, like a session with a photographer or a gift card to a nice restaurant. But otherwise, budget-friendly items like cookbooks or online classes can help generate memories, too.
See below for the 33 best wedding planner and editor-approved wedding gift ideas.
Gift Card
Several Women's Health editors, including lifestyle director Lindsay Geller, loved receiving Flytographer gift cards. The gist: Recipients can use the card to hire a pro photographer for their honeymoon (or another vacation).
"We're used to taking typical vacation photos on our phones, so this was a unique (and likely once-in-a-lifetime) experience," says Geller. "Not only did it create a special memory, but the results were beautiful."
Gift Card
Who doesn't love to travel? Give your favorite couple the Gandhi-approved gift of an experience with an Airbnb gift card at the amount you choose. Whether they'll apply it to a staycation or international adventure, you know this is a gift the couple will actually love and use.
Smitten Kitchen Keepers: New Classics for Your Forever Files: A Cookbook by Deb Perelman
If you want to treat the newlyweds to a fun date night, but you're on a tighter budget, why not buy them a cookbook full of recipes they can try out together? For a cute touch, toss in a nice cutting board, too.
HERO9 Black
You know that couple who always seems to be rock climbing, hiking, whitewater rafting, or skydiving? They'll love this waterproof GoPro that comes with a touch screen and has the capability to live stream to their social media accounts.
"This was one of my favorite and most-used wedding gifts," says fitness editor Jennifer Nied. "It was perfect for capturing our honeymoon, and many more trips after that we enjoyed and remembered fondly."
Hand Casting Kit
The super sentimental couple in your life is going to love making this one-of-a-kind sculpture of their hands, which they can then proudly display on their mantle. It's an experience and a physical gift.
Hardcover Photo Book
What newlyweds won't tear up at a photo book full of their fondest memories? Nied gifted this one as a wedding present to herself, but she said the quality's unbeatable: "The photos look amazing and vibrant even 10 years later."
A 'Behind The Scenes' Photo Book
Sure, this is also a photo book, but with a twist. Health and fitness director Jacqueline Andriakos received a "behind the scenes" book from a close friend.
"He and his fiancé sourced photos from friends that they took throughout the [wedding] weekend and used Shutterfly to build a custom album," Andriakos says. "It featured photos of sweet little moments we never even saw ourselves. It was by far the most thoughtful and memorable gift, and I’ll cherish it forever."
Push Pin World Map Board
The happy couple will have so much fun documenting their travel journey as newlyweds with this map of the world, which comes with colorful pushpins.
"The pins are color-coded so you can mark off where you want to go, where you've been, anywhere that is important to you," says Amanda Lucci, deputy editor of content strategy. "It's really fun to come back from a trip and put a new pin on the map together!"
Multi-Photo Frame Wood Tray
This is a great example of a gift that's affordable and totally customizable. Don't just frame pictures of the couple—frame their wedding invitation and any other keepsakes from engagement or bachelorette parties, too. They'll love coming home to put their keys and wallet in this little tray.
Dom Pérignon Vintage Champagne
This bottle of champagne is pricy, but that's what makes it such a special gift.
"My now-husband and I love to travel to different wine regions for vacation. We were shocked and delighted when a friend sent us a bottle of spendy Dom Perignon," says senior deputy digital editor Maridel Reyes. "It's creamy, bread-y, and feels so special. We didn't pop it open until another special occasion—when one of us got a big promotion!"
Blue Saber
If the couple in question loves champagne but you want to give them something slightly more creative than a nice bottle, Reyes recommends this handmade saber.
"As a wedding gift, a chef friend gave us a proper champagne saber, along with instructions on how to use it and a heartfelt letter with marriage advice," Reyes says. "Today, the box still sits next to our wine rack."
Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Reversible Grill/Griddle
You know the couple who's always inviting you over for BBQs? Return the favor with this fancy reversible cast iron grill/griddle. Lucci loved getting this gift at her wedding.
"The cast iron grill is key to getting that BBQ taste when you live in a small apartment with no outdoor space or access to a real grill," she says. "It goes over two burners on your stove so you can prep a bunch of food at once, and the raised edges keep any grease from getting all over your kitchen. I also like the griddle side for batch-making pancakes!"
Stainless Steel 10-Piece Cookware Set
You can't go wrong with a high-quality, 10-piece cookware set. Nied received this stainless steel one from Williams Sonoma, and can't recommend it highly enough. "Having quality tools makes cooking together as a couple fun and something to look forward to," she explains.
Luxe Core Sheet Set
Luxurious sheets are a great home gift if you don't necessarily feel like getting something for the kitchen (or have a couple on your hands who doesn't like to cook). Lucci received some, and always tells her engaged friends to add them to their registries.
"Nice sheets are the type of thing you will always hesitate to splurge on for yourself, but they makes such a difference in quality of life," she says.
Springform Nonstick Cake Pan Set
You love the cakes they've been baking for every potluck, so what better way to thank them (and keep 'em coming) than with this springform cake pan set? At $22, it's a great value, too.
Hardside Expandable Luggage Set
There's a reason people love receiving luggage as a gift—it's one of those spendy luxuries that never quite fits into your own budget. Unboxing this three-piece set is definitely going to put a smile on your fave couple's face.
Gift Card
Let's face it: Every couple has different interests, wants, and wedding wishlists. But one thing all of them have in common? They want to frame the photographed memories from their wedding night.
"Framebridge makes it really easy to upload an image and design a beautiful custom frame job," says Andriakos, citing the website's huge variety of frame styles and sizes. After receiving this gift herself, she's gone on to give it to friends and family members, too.
Harvest with Gourmet Herb Seed Pod Kit
Whether the newlyweds love gardening, cooking, or both, they'll be psyched to receive this hydroponic garden, complete with seeds to grow their own basil, dill, thyme, mint, and more. This particular set doesn't even need sunlight (or a ton of real estate on the counter), making it perfect for people who live in smaller spaces.
Enameled Cast Iron Signature French Oven
Le Creuset. Need I say more? Seriously, though, the brand's pots are at the top of everyone's wishlist for good reason: they're gorgeous and durable. Plus, this French oven is available in 11 colors, so you can pick the recipient's favorite shade.
Personalized Wedding Champagne Flutes
These personalized champagne flutes are a great engagement or wedding gift. Better yet, pair them with a nice bottle of champagne for an unforgettable present.
Premium Plush Bath Towels
There's nothing better than a towel upgrade, but it's not the kind of thing everyone wants to splurge on themselves. So, gift your favorite new married couple a set of super-soft, uber-absorbent bath towels from cult favorite brand Cozy Earth.
Professional Cocktail Machine
The Bartesian is kind of like a Keurig, but instead of coffee, it makes cocktails. Simply pop in a pod, choose your preferred amount of alcohol, and let the machine do its thing. This is also a perfect gift for couples who love hosting.
Customizable Star Map Poster
Perfect for astrology or astronomy fans, this gift allows you to pick an exact date and get a print of what the stars looked like at that point in time. Choose any significant day, from when the couple first met to their wedding date.
Foot Massager Machine
Are you seeking a gift for the bride or groom who's been a little stressed out with wedding planning? Chances are, they'll appreciate this luxe foot massager, which lets you choose between six intensities and has a heating feature.
Williams Sonoma Newlywed Boxed Set
This box set comes with two hardcover books: one that features date night recipes, and another with dessert, cocktail, and snack ideas for hosting events. Between the two books, your recipient will enjoy nearly 400 new recipes in total. Plus, they're undeniably gorgeous coffee table books.
Five Piece Pasta-Making Set
Whether they constantly talk about that one trip they took to Italy nine years ago or just love to spend a date night cooking together, the happy couple will seriously enjoy the challenge of creating their own homemade pasta. And, this one doesn't just make spaghetti, fettuccine, and angel hair-shaped pasta—it'll even make ravioli.
Meditations for Couples
If they're always going on yoga retreats or talking your ear off about how mindfulness changed their lives forever, they'll seriously appreciate these couples meditations they can do together. It's a more budget-conscious gift you can give alone, or as an add-on to a luxe item.
Nespresso Vertuo Next Espresso Machine
For coffee snobs, it doesn't get more luxurious than a good Nespresso machine. This brand new Vertuo makes everything from espresso to lattes, cappuccinos, and more—plus, the set even comes with an Aero milk frother. It's basically the next best thing to actually sending them to Italy.
Crystal Ring Holder
This crystal wedding ring holder is ultra-elegant, but without a super steep price tag. They'll love displaying it on their bathroom counter or night stand.
Gas Pizza Oven
Upgrade their backyard pizza parties with this portable oven that'll be super fun to use and play around with. And, don't worry—since Gandhi recommended staying away from large items for gifts, this one's totally compact at just 13 inches wide.
Le Clair Cinq Eternity Roses
You could get them flowers any time, but this isn't your typical floral arrangement. They're those beautiful luxury roses that last forever—yup, even the heavenly scent is going to linger for years. This small blush-colored box is versatile enough to class up any space in their home, too.
Citrus Juicer
The bougie couple who already seems to have it all is so. hard. to shop for. If they're into sipping their own fresh-pressed OJ or lemon water on the daily, though, you'll win major points with them for this luxurious citrus juicer from Smeg.
Electric Air Fryer
I'm sorry, but I just couldn't top off this article without the most classic kitchen essential of our decade. There's a reason everyone from home chefs to people who barely know how to boil water are loving their air fryers. If they don't already have one, do them a solid and wrap this up—drop in this book of air fryer recipes with it, too!
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