Wedding gift idea needed for middle-aged couple

Parent Cafe
1

<p>The middle-aged couple are the ones getting married - both are in their mid-50’s, both were married before, and both are well-off (although not wealthy). One has an apartment in Manhattan, and the other has a house in Connecticut that he is selling to buy a condo for them in Florida as a winter home. The bride is an old friend of mine of 30 years, and we see each other perhaps once a year, if that. I can’t think of anything they actually need, and cash seems a little crass. Their wedding is coming up next week - any gift ideas? I was thinking of a gift certificate to a bed & breakfast, a gift box of wines perhaps.</p>

2

<p>A very nice bottle of champagne.</p>

3

<p>I like the gift certificate: B & B or really nice restaurant, etc.</p>

4

<p>I like food-of-the-month or beverage-of-the-month type gifts, because you get something tasty that doesn’t clutter up the house, and boxes keep showing up in the mail long after the wedding. It’s the gift that keeps on giving.</p>

5

<p>I am a big fan of Simon Pearce glass. You could buy a piece that is both useful and decorative. </p>

<p>[Blown</a> Glass & Handmade Pottery | Glassware, Dinnerware, Tableware & Home Dcor | Simon Pearce](<a href=“Search results for: '%5DBlown'”>http://www.simonpearce.com/)</p>

6

<p>OP your suggestions sound wonderful as does the ones mentioned by other posters. If one or both are involved in a charity you could make a donation in their name.</p>

7

<p>I like the idea of wine of the month, but I have to admit that we go through wine glasses so fast that we cab always use more!</p>

8

<p>If they will be living in Manhattan, you can give them gift certificates to the “TKTS” booth–the reduced price ticket booth for sale of same-day Broadway performances. I live in NYC and I’ve given that to older couples getting married.</p>

<p>If you know they enjoy concerts, ballet, etc., more than get tickets for something like that.</p>

9

<p>Recommend gift cert to kiva.com. its a microlending organization for 3rd world economic development and you choose the recipient. Its quite satisfying and perfect gift for people who really don’t need more stuff.</p>

10

<p>For New Yorkers: A year’s membership at the museums of their liking (be it the Met or…). LOVE the TKTS idea, and Simon Pearce (we have given a lot of his stuff) is excellent and fits any decor. My current favorite is Michael Aram for stainless and/or glass pieces.</p>

<p>Just because one is in their fifties doesn’t mean that they don’t want something(s) that are new. They are starting out new lives together. Why should they be denied a nice vase, new china, or lovely toasting glasses?</p>

11

<p>How about a lovely picture frame to display one of their new wedding photos? Doesn’t take up much room and is something everyone can always use.</p>

12

<p>If they are buying a condo in Florida, it will need to be furnished. And they will probably entertain there as well. You might find a great serving tray. Even some kind of beach bag/mats/chairs collection might be fun.</p>

13

<p>I love these hand painted bowls, made of wood. They are a perfect art piece that come with salad fork/spoon. Lovely for a an outdoor party.
Very large and gorgeous. We have given these as a group gift to someone treasured who is leaving the workforce or moving away.
PS. I have no financial gain, I just love these bowls.
<a href=“http://www.sherwoodforestdesign.com/images/group_retouch_72P.JPG[/url]”>http://www.sherwoodforestdesign.com/images/group_retouch_72P.JPG&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>[Vermont</a> Artisan Vermont Handcrafted Bowl Vermont Artisan Gallery](<a href=“http://www.peggypotter.com/]Vermont”>http://www.peggypotter.com/)</p>

<p>These are the prettiest bowls from VT. Who wouldn’t want one?!</p>

15

<p>How about a gift certificate to a department store like Bloomingdales? Too cheesy?</p>

16

<p>I love both those wooden bowls. Makes me want to buy one for myself!</p>

17

<p>How about an etched wine bottle commemorating the day, filled with a superb California cab?</p>

<p>I received a Birthday Bottle of Wine from here:</p>

<p>[Etched</a> Wine Bottles / Love & Marriage – Goosecross Cellars Online Store](<a href=“http://store.goosecross.com/love--marriage-c10.aspx]Etched”>http://store.goosecross.com/love--marriage-c10.aspx)</p>

18

<p>It is never “cheesy” to give a gift certificate to a store where the newlyweds can purchase anything from linens to rugs to furniture to crystal and china. Lovely idea.</p>

19

<p>I am a huge fan of the smaller Arthur Court serving pieces. (I like the grapevine tray) They are perfect for appetizers for small gatherings.</p>

<p>[Search</a> Results - Macy’s](<a href=“http://www1.macys.com/search/index.ognc?SearchTarget=*&Keyword=arthur+court&KEYWORD_GO_BUTTON.x=0&KEYWORD_GO_BUTTON.y=0&KEYWORD_GO_BUTTON=KEYWORD_GO_BUTTON]Search”>http://www1.macys.com/search/index.ognc?SearchTarget=*&Keyword=arthur+court&KEYWORD_GO_BUTTON.x=0&KEYWORD_GO_BUTTON.y=0&KEYWORD_GO_BUTTON=KEYWORD_GO_BUTTON)</p>

20

<p>Some of these ideas are pretty cool, but I got the impression from the OP that she was looking for something that wasn’t an actual “thing”, since they already have two households full of stuff (and one house is downsizing to a condo), and both had previous marriages where they might have accumulated stuff.</p>

<p>We have cabinets full of bowls and serving trays and stuff from our wedding 20+ years ago that rarely if ever see the light of day.</p>