More wedding gifts for couples who have everything

My last post talked about wedding gifts for couples who have everything. Today, I was reminded of another great wedding gift idea by a post on Wedding Bee. Miss Cookie suggested that a charitable donation in the couple's name is great alternative to purchasing a gift from the couple's registry. I couldn't agree more. A charitable donation is a great gift for a couple who is socially conscious or a couple who supports a specific charity. Charitable donation gifts are meaningful and memorable.

Wedding Gifts for couples who have everything?

I recently saw an article in NYMag's the Cut announcing the upcoming nuptials of Simon Doonan and Jonathan Adler. A quote by Simon Doonan really stood out to me. Asked about the details of the wedding, Doonan replied, ".....[N]o gifts,”.... “We have enough tchotchkes at home for one lifetime.” Doonan's statement reflects the state of many nearly wed couples these days. Many couples already have established homes stocked with small appliances, linens, towels, glassware, and pots and pans; and really don't need the items they've selected for their wedding gift registries. Take me for example, I'm in my early thirties and I already have a Cuisinart Griddler, Kitchenaid mixer and mini food processor, Oster toaster and blender, T-Fal pots, and Ralph Lauren towel sets. Seriously, I don't need anything else. I'm pretty set. So what do you get the couple who has everything? Do you go ahead and purchase the blender from their registry, even though you know they already have two state of the art blenders, one that's still in the box? Many of my friends don't even visit the wedding registry. They prefer to give a monetary gift in a nice card. However, I find that some people think monetary gifts are tacky. I disagree. I believe a monetary gift is perfect for newlyweds. We all know how expensive weddings are. A monetary gift could help defray the costs of putting on the shindig for family and friends. Yes, I know it's not your job to help pay for the cost of the wedding. But, wouldn't you rather give a gift you know the couple will actually use, instead of pushing in the back of a closet and forgetting about it until it's time to move to a new house? If the thought of giving a monetary gift still makes you feel a little icky, another great idea is to give a group gift. Get together with a couple of friends you have in common with the couple and purchase a big ticket item you know the couple really needs. A third cool gift idea is to purchase a gift that reflects or encourages the couples hobbies or interests. For example, if you know the bride and groom are sports fans, purchase tickets to a sporting event. This type of gift will most definitely be appreciated and remembered.

Now that I've given you a few gift ideas for couples who have everything, it's your turn to tell me how you feel about registries and what types of gifts you would give to couples who have everything. Please Click Here to share your thoughts.

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New Gift Consulting service for bridesmaids gifts, groomsmen gifts and wedding favors

Are you too overwhelmed with other wedding planning details to search for gifts for your wedding party or your wedding guests? Don't spend your precious time racking your brain looking for gifts for your bridesmaids, groomsmen, and wedding guests! That Perfect Something's new Wedding Solutions Gift Consulting service can help. We'll find gift ideas for you so you can use your time for other aspects of your wedding. Email us today for more information.

Help your man get spiffy at Spiff a new NYC grooming salon for men

If you are looking for the perfect summer birthday gift for a guy in your life who needs some spiffing up, look no further. Today, the New York Times' Critical Shopper highlighted a cool new grooming salon for men in NYC called Spiff. Spiff offers a long list of services for men, including haircuts, hair color, shaves, shoe shine, manicures, pedicures, and waxing. You can purchase a gift certificate in any denomination or get a gift certificate for a specific service. Spiff also offers a 6 month membership plan for $425 and a 12 month membership plan for $750. The membership includes unlimited haircut/style, unlimited manicures, unlimited shoeshine, 10% off any additional services and any retail product. Spiff is located at 750 Third Avenue at 46th Street.

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Gift cards as Teacher appreciation gifts

A few days ago I came across a post in Real Simple's Simply Stated Blog where the author discusses trying to find appropriate Teacher appreciation gifts. She didn't have the time make a personal handmade gift but wondered if giving a gift certificate/gift card is too impersonal. A number of teachers responded to the post and said they love to receive gift cards and did not find them impersonal. Generally, I don't think gift cards are impersonal. In fact, they are great gifts for people who you don't know very well. But, I also think that there are little things you can do to add a more personal touch to gift cards. You can include a handwritten note to the recipient. You can also include some inexpensive related gifts with the gift card. For example, say you are planning to give someone a gift card to a bookstore. In addition to the gift card you could also include a bookmark, a book by the recipient's favorite author, and maybe some tea bags or a bag of coffee beans. Another way to make a gift card more personal is to purchase a gift card that encourages the recipient's hobby. You can read a post I wrote on this subject here. If you are still struggling with giving a gift certificate/gift card as a gift to your child's teacher, I think a great alternative is to give a subscription to a monthly book club. There are also other great monthly club options, including a bouquet of the month and tea of the month clubs. What are some of the gifts you've given to your child's teacher?

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Birthday gift for Top Chef fan, food lover, or burgeoning chef

I'm a huge fan of the TV show Top Chef and I wish I could cook like the contestants who appear on the show. So, you can imagine my excitement when I learned through a post in Apartment Therapy's the Kitchn that the Culinary Institute of America is offering cooking classes with former Top Chef contestants. How cool is that? The CIA is offering 3hr classes with a number of former Top Chef contestants including Sam Talbot, Dale Talde, Tre Wilcox, Stephanie Izard, Marcel Vigeron, Casey Thompson, Dale Levitski, and Jennifer Biesty. Your Top Chef instructor will prepare a signature dish, two other recipes, and a cocktail. This great opportunity costs $195. It's the perfect summer birthday gift for a burgeoning chef, food lover, or Top Chef fan.

Eco Friendly Ergonomic Chair

(image via Steelcase)

When I saw this post on the Daily Dose today about the eco-friendly Amia chair, my immediate reaction was how can an office chair be eco-friendly? I checked out Steelcase's website and was pleased to learn that the Amia chair is 97% recyclable. According to the Daily Dose, the chair has earned the gold cradle to cradle certification by MBDC, which rates how environmentally safe a design is. I love this chair because it is not only environmentally friendly but it is also ergonomic. The chair has technology that allows it to flex with your back movement, it also has pneumatic seat height and adjustable arms. The Amia comes in either a black or platinum frame and has twelve upholstery finishes. This really is a great gift for someone with back problems, or someone who has an eco-friendly office. The chair can be purchased for $599.