My brother is getting married in about a week. I am leaving for the trip (St. Thomas) on the 24th.
I need a wedding present but there is a problem. My brother and his soon to be wife don’t *need * anything. They have a house fully stocked, all the stuff they need and then some.
I have no idea on what to get them.
Any suggestions would be aprreciated.
Slee
Okay, well, uh… candlesticks always make a nice gift, and uh, maybe you could find out where she’s registered and maybe a place-setting or maybe a silverware pattern. Okay, let’s get two! Go get 'em.
They are not registered anywhere which is a bummer because that’d make the whole thing much easier.
Slee
Give them an experience: tickets to a ballgame or a play; gift certificate for dinner or a couple’s massage. Something that they can do together that they may not otherwise do if you didn’t give them the tickets.
Even if you have everything, you can always use more time with the people you love.
For people who have everything, I usually try to find tickets to some show or event that they would like. Or perhaps a hefty gift certificate to a really upscale restaurant?
However, should you want to buy a “thing” that will become an heirloom or something to remember the blessed event - perhaps a custom made stained glass window pane with their initials? Depending on your budget, you could commission an oil panting of their wedding picture.
Hmm…Campion and I almost posted simultaneously, but I see we seem to think alike in terms of gifts.
Offer to pay for them to have a picture from their honeymoon blown up and framed so that it can decorate their walls for years to come.
My favorite gifts to give for weddings are ones people don’t usually already own…an ice cream maker, and a picnic basket. You need to get the type of ice cream maker that requires some couple-time…either an old-fashioned crank style with the ice and rock salt, or one of the newer ones (like a Donvier) that you freeze the vessel, and then crank. If they live in a house, the old-fashioned one is great, because you really should use it outdoors. Apartment…get a Donvier.
The theory behind this gift is that the two of them have to sit down, together, and take turns cranking…they have to spend time together, and share the work, and it is impossible to stay mad at someone if you’re making ice cream together. If they both want to share in the ice cream, they have to work together, and sometimes you need to be forced to sit together, in close proximity, and talk. It’s a big frosty metaphor for marriage!
The picnic basket is just nice…I still use the one I got for my wedding, even though the marriage has long ended. The wicker is showing some wear, but then we used it a lot since 1979…thanks again, Lauren, for your thoughtful gift. I think of you every time I drag it out for a potluck.
Not registered anywhere and they still expect a gift? I think that’s kind of rude. If two people are getting together and they’ve had their own separate lives and together they don’t need anything, I think the right thing to do is advise the guests that no gifts are expected. Wedding registeries are more for the gift-buying guests than they are for the couple.
Still, I guess a gift certificate to a nice local restaurant is where I’d start.
I second this (or by the time I read this entire thread, I’ll realize I’m twenty-seconding or twenty-thirding this 
)
Regardless… If you can’t get them something to ‘have’, the next best choice is to get them something to ‘do’. Consumable are always a nice treat, and can be anything from a massage at a spa to movie or theatre tickets.
How dare you steal my ideas, and then post them before I even had a chance to!
I like the idea to give them an experience as well, but if you can’t, how about some art? Specifically, art that you or someone else who knows them can do based on them. A drawing of them at a favourite cottage, say, or a photo-collage, or something.
This reminds me of something … a friend of mine, an artist, has done several drawings of people’s homes, which are then made into note cards. Maybe you could find a local artist to sketch their home and have the cards printed up?
I really wouldn’t try to buy art for another person. It’s too personal. The only way I would consider it is if I new the person’s favorite artist and could get them an original. Otherwise, no way. Do they have any favorite charities that you could make a donation to in their name?
If they’re not registered anywhere, it must mean they don’t expect gifts… Right?
If you are artsy/craftsy/creative, you could make them something. I have made photo albums/scrapbooks for people.
If you know what kind of taste they have for artwork, you could get them an original piece of art – but if you’re not pretty positive they’d like it, don’t get it. (There’s nothing sadder than an original work of art sitting in the back of a closet.)
I like the idea of getting them an experience; tickets to a game, a concert, a play.
Congrats to your brother, and have fun in St. Thomas!
I’ve given art, but it was pictures I drew, to people I knew. 
This is the second time I have seen this sentiment in the thread, and it’s disappointing. If you’re getting married and you expect gifts, you’re an ungracious host and a jerk.
If you realize that a lot of people will enjoy celebrating with you and wish you well in your new life by purchasing something for you to start anew together, then you’re on the right track. You register for stuff and discreetly let out the registry info so that those people who would like to wish you well but don’t know your tastes can purchase something nice for you.
If you don’t register, it’s wide open, and people can give whatever. If they purposely didn’t register just so poeple would give cash, that’s tacky and I would get them a 12-pack of doilies from costco.
If they have some cause that they are passionate about (the environment, breast cancer research, etc.) maybe you could make a donation in their name to a worthy charity.
That is actually a quote from Bull Durham,
but,
You can always give consumables. Like a bottle of wine.
A gift that I got that we did register for but really used were some nice sheets. Just plain ones but of very high quality. They use those for years.
Absolutely. It never occurred to me that registering for gifts was manatory for a wedding. I totally disagree that it is rude not to do so. I think it is nice to make things easy but for a second or a late in life marriage, I find it a little tacky to request specific items at all. Personally, if that is the case here, I agree with tickets or gift certificates to something such as a massage or dinner. Someone mentioned an icecream maker but as far as I am concerned, for most, that will just be another “thing” to find a place for. If you’re an adult with everything, you’d have an ice cream maker by now if you wanted one.
I gave a friend a night at a nice hotel with a jacuzzi in the room which her and her new husband seemed to really enjoy.
Donations to a charity are also nice but i would do the research as to what charities they support or are active in to make it more personal.