Gift Guide #1: It’s Wedding Season, Y’all!
It was the year 2000, the economy was in the toilet, and I found myself taking that all-so-important first job out of college at … Williams Sonoma. I ate humble pie and learned some things.
The wedding registries of younger couples often resemble a rambling wish list penned by a bored fiancée armed with a point-and-click scanner. It’s OK to deviate from the list if you really know the couple. Otherwise, just stick with the list even if it looks like a 6-year old’s list to Santa.
And don’t punish those couples entering a second (or third) marriage by throwing Amazon gift cards at them. Remarriage can be rough and clearing out the cobalt blue glassware purchased by a first wife going through an identity crisis in a Pier 1 fifteen years ago can be much-needed therapy for this new couple. Respect the registry in this situation, and you’ll bring much joy.
You’ll never go wrong with a blue box. I recommend not breaking the bank with Tiffany champagne glasses and a note along the lines of, “May you always have something to celebrate.” ($125)
My college roommate gifted this pair of Williams Sonoma’s quarter baking sheets and Silpat mats, and they will remain a favorite wedding gift forever and ever, amen. ($45ish for the pans; $16 for the mat)
For the couple who love a bit of elegance, you’ll never go wrong with a pair of Waterford candlesticks. ($125 and up)
The registry is sold out, and the couple already has a full house. Perhaps you’d like to give them a memorable honeymoon souvenir? Flytographer will connect the couple with professional photographers around the world for a 30-minute photo shoot. Perfect for honeymoons. ($285 and up; message me for a discount ;)
There’s something so special about sitting down at a table adorned in gifts from loved ones. The memory draws them closer. Consider a tablecloth and matching napkins as a memorable gift. High end options available at the always glorious Matouk ($99 - $800), mid-range options available from Amanda Lindroth ($60 - $160), and very affordable options via Ikea’s online store ($6 - $40).
Does anyone love a tasteful theme more than I do? This was perhaps the most popular type of wedding gift I wrapped during those aforementioned Williams Sonoma days. Consider a gift for the salad lover: Salad spinner ($30) + Japanese Mandolin ($45) + Bowls for mixing ingredients ($60 for 3 bowls) + a handy dressing mixer($25) or a set of tried-and-true glass jars with lids ($18) – total $160ish. You could consider also similar themed gifts for baking, pizza night, backyard entertaining, or outfitting a guest bathroom.
And the gift one friend said was like “winning a Superbowl ring for Southern women” – a KitchenAid stand mixer. Consider a 3.5-quart basic model for those who cook a little ($379), or this larger, more powerful modelfor the friends who wow in the kitchen ($600) Bonus points for the pasta attachments ($150).
