Wedding Woe #3.
The bride and groom are a pair of do-gooders. They’ve asked for charitable donations to the charity of your choice instead of gifts. Trouble is, you don’t have a place in mind.
Solution.
If you’re not a routine giver, now is a great time to shop for a charity you can champion. A good place to start looking is the Charity Navigator. They evaluate various charities to determine which groups make the most of your money, and different causes are grouped under one Web site, so the search is easy. Finding a worthy cause that you’ll want to support again makes this the gift that keeps on giving.
Wedding Woe #4.
Etiquette says a guest should “cover his or her plate.” In other words, give a gift that costs about as much as the couple spends in hosting you. But you’re an assistant, and you’re going to a white glove affair. How can you give something in your price range without looking cheap?
Solution.
If your gift doesn’t carry a hefty price tag, it can still be rich in emotion. Go for something personal. Knit a pair of His and Hers scarves. Monogram a clay pot you made with their initials. Enlarge and frame a special photo of the happy couple, or enlist the help of TogetherBook.com, and for as little as $30, they will pull together a professional mini album of photographic memories guaranteed to summon the Kleenex.
So what did I end up buying? A Krups toaster oven, with my grandmother’s recipe for toasted banana nut bread tucked inside. I also added a pitcher to serve fresh cream on the side. I like to think this gift says, “I value our friendship—and I know your new husband has a weakness for banana nut bread!” Now, if only I could find a dress to wear, I’d be set.
Related Story: Look What I Bought!
