<p>Leave all the standard stuff out. Forget the "supposed to"s. HImom hit it right on the nose: Scrapbook, already all put together–absolutely an incredible gift. And this is not formal stuff btw:</p>
<p>Contact both sets of parents & see if you can scrape together some growing up pictures, show them “as they were.” Include anything of special interest to them–newspaper clippings, bits of school playbills, especially if you can find some evidence of how they met. Go to a warehouse store like Sam’s Club or BJ’s and pick up a multi pack of disposable cameras to entrust to others in the wedding party to take candids at the reception, get them developed & put in the scrapbook. Be sure to tell your picture takers to get pictures of all sorts of people (not just the people they know). Put in the scrapbook any and everything from the wedding–the invitation, the menu at the reception (the caterer should give you that), any favor sort of thing, like printed matchbooks (that’s a bit dated-LOL- but it used to be standard along with printed cocktail napkins), one of the little bags of rice or birdseed, or bubble kits they give out nowadays. If there’s a printed program for the church service, include that. Be sure to include all the newspaper announcements. Finally, set aside some space for honeymoon snapshots, and if you know where they’re going get some promotional material from the hotel/resort/whatever.</p>
<p>This isn’t a present to give at the wedding, obviously, but don’t worry about it. There is so much going on that day your cousin will be happy that it arrives a month or two later when she has time to really appreciate it!</p>