That is my sarcastic answer when my wife asks, "What should we get COUPLE X for their wedding?" Judging by the strange things people include in their wedding registries, a clue is what they really need. Here are a few oddities I've seen or heard of lately:
Candles
Condoms
Movies or CDs
Trash bags
Paper towels
Garden hose
Inkjet photo paper
Wooden toilet seat
Socks
A box of those bendy drinking straws
I wonder if the modern wedding registry is designed to let us old hats have a good laugh before having to don itchy clothes and sit on an uncomfortable wooden pew or cold metal folding chair for hours while the betrohed are, well, trothed. I would gladly trade valet parking for a good laugh anyday.
Many of us are tying the knot later in life. My wife and I were both 25 when we were hitched, so we had already accumulated the basics of life (toaster, microwave, socks, duct tape, etc.). We registered for some fine china and assorted fancy things at a large department store, but also went to Target and added things like a charcoal grill, oven mitts and a crockpot.
To us, and probably according to tradition (I didn't have time to wade through all my search results when hunting for the history of wedding gifts), items purchased for newlyweds should ideally help them set up their new house together. The short list above looks more like a grocery list, or weekend to-do list. Granted, they were not all on the same registry. Weddings are special, but they are not supposed to be like a second Christmas (or Hannakuh), or for that matter, a birthday.
We are going to a wedding Saturday. More like, I'm being dragged to a wedding on Saturday. It's at one of the largest Catholic churches in the area that morning, and then the reception which we're skipping is at 5. The ceremony had better not last that long. Maybe we should take two cars so I could slip out early. After all, the nuptials are preventing me from exercising my pseudo-celebrity status in the community to serve as a barbecue cookoff judge (believe me, I am totally bummed about missing that opportunity). And the groom is my wife's ex-boss; we don't owe the guy anything other than maybe a punch in the gut.
As for presents, the soon-to-be-coupled souls chose some wacky things, ranging from wooden candle votive holders (Crate & Barrel, $3.99 ea.) to a $2,000 bed. Both are in their 30s, and have lived on their own (including one suffering through a previous marriage) for years. They both make decent livings. That's why, if we can find one in the appropriate color, I still vote for buying them a clue.
ROTFL. Nice.
That sucks that you are missing out on judging the cook-off.
Go for the votive candle holders.
Cas
we never get off cheap when we attend weddings - whether we really know them or not.
25 is no longer considered "older" to get married! I'm 30 and nowhere near marriage yet...
Artwork. That's what you want to give them.
Are they planning on a family? Well, then, may I suggest a gift that just keeps on giving and giving?
When the rubber band breaks, the remaining part of the gift is indispensable in learning how to discipline dogs and children!
Agree with your thoughts here T.
Some people lose it when selecting gifts for bridal registries.
Enjoy the ceremony...maybe if you sneak out early you can manage to take in some of the BBQ cook off! ;-)
I hear ya!
I am 22, I got married young (for these times) at 20. I stuck to the basics for the registry: dishes, cookware, crockpot. The only "wish list" type thing on there was a GameBoy Advanced that my groom wanted. I didn't want to add it on, but it was the ONLY thing he asked me to put on. I figured that our friends and family would not mind that one thing was not really for the house, and if they didn't want to buy it they didn't have to (my mom bought it for him, along with a couple of games my bro helped her pick out for it).
My point was not to tell that story...
Oh, yeah. What I was going to comment was that my cousin got married this weekend and on their registry they had board games, dvd sets (i.e. complete seasons of Seinfeld and 24), officially licensed sports team jerseys and other items, digital camera and printer, too many "as seen on TV" items to count, and ... well, you get the picture. They also had the standard registry items too. Which, I thought, was weird considering that they are both about 30 and have lived on their own. Have they never bought a frying pan? or measuring cup? I was 20, and even I had those things already.
I think it comes down to (1) people are greedy and (2) yes, they need a clue.
CONDOMS?? That's a new one. That one just seems more quirky than paper towels. I need some weirder friends.
See if Home Depot has and Clue x 4's in stock.
I'm with Teablossom - 25 is young to be married.
I had 5 weddings this year, all to couples in their mid-30's. All of them registered for "normal" gifts. Table settings, linens, furniture, etc.
I hate the thought of a registry - especially since it's used for everything from weddings to retirement parties.
I guess the one benefit of being a freelance writer... No co-workers to make you go to weddings. Which also means no free holiday parties, either. Most of my friends got married in unconventional ways and I completely lack wedding invites.
My cousin (20) registered for condoms, pregnancy tests, asprin, Metamucil, and beer, all of which are much funnier if you know how Mormons are. Yikes.