Wedding Gift Help

khamylak

I have a work friend getting married in late June. She and her fiance just bought a house, but don't have much in it yet. He lives there, she doesn't so I am thinking they probably don't cook very much there yet. Her wedding registry has been completely purchased so she told me to "be creative". I love to cook (she knows this) and I was thinking I could buy like the top 10-15 spices a cook needs, pot holders, towels, whisks/spoons/spatulas, and either some baking pans or ceramic baking dishes etc. Thoughts on this idea? My other thought was a wine aerator and wine. I'm at a loss. 

I saw these and thought they were cool; they met and grew up in the same town. 

Or maybe this? 

I'm open to any suggestions. Looking to spend about $100-$120. 

formerlyGDaisy09

We got the "Wedding Gift Crate" from here as a wedding gift, still my favorite thing we received. 

It's a little outside your price range...but they have several other wedding-themed gift boxes you could combine with something else. 

I loved that it it came with the Wedding Charms spices (whole Star Anise, whole Nutmegs, and rosemary) that are suppose to bring good luck to a marriage if they're kept in the kitchen. 

jt305

I personally love the idea about the spices and putting together your own gift.  I like the link @gdaisy09 posted, too.  Although the cute-sy name stuff is really in right now, I got a TON of things that have our last name or initials on it when I got married.  If I would hang it up, it would be comical.  The other gifts mentioned are more outside the box and show that you put more thought into your gift.  

jackisilvan

I purchased the cookbook "The Newlyweds Cookbook" for a friend and she still uses it 8 years later. Adding in a favorite cookbook to your "basket" would be great if your friend is a newbie or doesn't have a ton of kitchen experience. A few other fun things that your colleague may not have registered for that are super helpful is the Simple Human Soap Dispenser (you don't have to touch it so it's fantastic for hands covered in raw chicken or other grossness), a countertop utensil holder, a garlic press, and some pretty serving bowls.

OtterJ

I love the map and the name that you linked to. 

I would hesitate to get them something like a baking dish, only because if they created a registry, then they probably filled it with all of the typical registry items that they actually want/need (like spoons, bowls, and baking dishes).  We got married about a year ago, and we did not register for a crock pot because I already had one that worked great (and that I used often).  Even though we didn't register for one, we received two as gifts.  Now....they are great gifts (obviously I think they're great - I love mine!), and we really appreciated the thoughtfulness and generosity of our guests that gave us crock pots....but since we already had one, they were both returned to the store.  So take a look at her registry.  If she registered for cooking items, and already got them, then they don't need any extras.  If they didn't register for cooking items, then there may be a reason for it. 

If the registry is full, I would suggest to either go for consumable items (spices are great), personal ones (like the things you linked to - I would have loved to get either one), something classic (if she didn't register for many decor items, maybe a timeless vase would be a nice surprise), or useful things that people don't always think about adding to registries (like the soap dispenser mentioned above - that's a good idea). 

How much a gift is loved depends upon the receiver, and their personal taste. 

trntyrebrth

jackisilvan said:

I purchased the cookbook "The Newlyweds Cookbook" for a friend and she still uses it 8 years later. Adding in a favorite cookbook to your "basket" would be great if your friend is a newbie or doesn't have a ton of kitchen experience. A few other fun things that your colleague may not have registered for that are super helpful is the Simple Human Soap Dispenser (you don't have to touch it so it's fantastic for hands covered in raw chicken or other grossness), a countertop utensil holder, a garlic press, and some pretty serving bowls.

I love the bridal/newlywed cookbooks I got when I married

Erikan73

I love the idea of a cookbook for couples. Then the portions fit them better then the regular cookbook where portions feed 6 people.