<p>I have had this same situation twice in the last year. Each couple already had established homes and did not need “stuff”.</p>
<p>For one couple I took pictures that I had taken at the event and put them together in a nice album (I included captions with each photo) and gave that to them along with a gift certificate to a special restaurant in their area. I sent it to them a few months after the ceremony. </p>
<p>For the other couple I knew where they were going on their honeymoon and I called ahead to the resort and gave a resort credit/gift card to be used for dinner or spa (really for whatever they wanted). They used it for a couples massage.</p>
<p>Also, I like the idea of a charitable donation!</p>
<p>Wow, does this friend always make everything about her? An invitation was sent to all with “no gifts” on it and she immediately thinks the couple was making a specific statement about her? </p>
<p>I would do the donation thing. It benefits people who are not so fortunate to be set up in not only one home, but multiple homes. At the same time, you are both honoring your friends, and respecting their wishes.</p>
<p>The invitation did not say “no gifts.” I asked my relative about registries, and she told me that they didn’t want gifts, just our presence.</p>
<p>I don’t know why I didn’t think of this before, but I know the perfect donation. This couple met when my relative was working for a local institution and her husband-to-be is on the board. They are both very enthusiastic about this institution, which is quite unusual and effective at their mission. A donation to this institution seems perfect.</p>
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