A wedding gift does not have to be expensive to be well received and appreciated by the couple.  While the extravagance of some weddings may compel their guests to purchase pricey gifts, it is not necessary to do so.  Many people are invited to a number of weddings each year and it’s not feasible to purchase an expensive gift for every wedding you attend.  While you may want to splurge on an extravagant gift for a close friend or relative, you are not required to invest a great deal of money in a gift for a casual acquaintance.  Even if you are very close with the couple you may be able to create a very inexpensive gift for their wedding.  The following are just a few ideas for inexpensive wedding gifts that are sure to delight the couple without breaking your budget.

One inexpensive gift idea is to fill a mixing bowl with a variety of kitchen utensils.  This is both an inexpensive and an extremely useful gift.  Many couples are starting their life together and will need a few basic utensils and kitchen gadgets to get them started.  This gift is thoughtful and useful without being detrimental to your budget.

Another inexpensive gift idea is to create a basket containing elements for a romantic dinner.  You could put this basket together by yourself and include items such as dry pasta and sauce as well as a bottle of wine and two wine glasses.  You might also want to include a non-perishable desert such as biscotti to complete your meal.  You could even include a recipe card with one of your own personally tested recipes.  This inexpensive gift idea will be greatly valued by the couple because it essentially giving them the gift of a romantic night alone.

Picture frames can also be an inexpensive wedding gift idea.  The couple will likely have a wide variety of photos that they will want to display in their home and providing them with a few simple frames is an inexpensive way to give them a truly useful gift.  While many picture frames can be expensive, you could find simple wooden frames in a craft store and paint or decorate to suit the couple’s taste.  You could also shop at closeout stores for these items and may find quite a few bargains available.  Picture frames are an inexpensive and useful wedding gift idea that is likely to be cherished by the couple.

The couple’s registry could also be another source of inexpensive wedding gift ideas.  Many couples will register for an assortment of items that span a large price spectrum.  You may find that the couple has included many inexpensive items in their registry that may fall within your budget constraints.  Choosing an inexpensive item from the couple’s registry ensures that you are giving them a gift that they will truly like and appreciate because they picked out the item themselves.

If you are a close friend or relative of the couple you may be able to make a very inexpensive wedding gift that will also be unique and greatly cherished by the couple.  If you have many pictures of the couple, you might consider arranging these pictures in a unique way in a photo album to give to the couple as a gift.  You could also use the photos to create a scrapbook or even a video presentation set to music that features the couple.  These gifts will be greatly appreciated by the couple and can be created for a relatively small cost.

Candles are another inexpensive wedding gift.  Newlyweds often incorporate candles in their decorating and also use candles to create ambiance during dinner or on other occasions.  Just after they are married is the time when couples are most likely to enjoy candlelight dinners frequently and for no specific occasion so a wedding gift of candles is bound to be used often.  Candles come in a great variety of colors, sizes and scents so it should be easy to find an assortment of candles that will be appreciated by the couple.

A wedding gift does not have to be expensive to be useful and appreciated by the couple.  Many wedding guests spend a great deal of money on fancy china or glassware that is only used on special occasions while inexpensive gifts such as candles and kitchen utensils are used by the couple on a daily basis.

The wedding ring is perhaps the single most important piece of jewelry that you will give to your spouse in your lifetime.  It is important that you choose a timeless ring that will not become outdated or unstylish after a length of time.  Men and women have different options available to them when choosing a wedding ring and it is not required that they choose matching rings.  The couple traditionally picks out their rings together so there is no need for either the bride or groom to become unnecessarily stressed out about choosing the perfect wedding ring.  Choosing the rings together takes a great deal of pressure off of the couple because they do not have to worry that their spouse may not like the ring that is expected to last for their entire lifetime.

The material of the ring is an important consideration for both men’s and women’s rings.  The most common materials include gold, silver and platinum although the rings can be made of any material that the couple chooses.  Gold is the most popular wedding ring material.  Gold can be 14 karat gold, 18 karat gold and 24 karat gold.  Of these three options 14 karat gold is the type that is most recommended for wedding rings.  14 karat gold is durable without sacrificing luster.  18 karat gold can also be used for wedding rings but because it is a softer metal it is more prone to scratches.  24 karat gold is even softer than 18 karat gold and many do not recommended creating rings out of 24 karat gold because it is so prone to scratches.  Silver is another metal that can also be used in creating a wedding ring.  Silver is a soft white metal that is very soft and therefore prone to scratching.  Additionally it is also prone to tarnishing and discolorations but it is still a popular choice because of its relatively low cost.  Platinum is a precious metal that is becoming increasingly popular as wedding ring material.  Although platinum is considered too soft to be used in making rings, small amounts of ruthenium and iridium can be added to platinum to increase the hardness and result in a wedding ring that is extremely durable.

After choosing a metal for the wedding ring, it is time to consider the style of the ring.  When it comes to style there are even more options available then there are for metals.  Some of the basic wedding ring styles include flat bands, half-round bands and comfit bands.  A flat band is one that is rectangular in cross section.  These types of bands are also decorated with engravings.  Half-round bands are the most traditional style available.  These bands are flat on the underside or against the finger and have an arched structure on the top.  Comfort-fit bands feature an oval cross section and they are heavier and more expensive than the other types of rings.  If a bride intends to wear her wedding band with her engagement ring, she should consider choosing a wedding band style that matches her engagement ring so that neither one overpowers the other.

Once you have decided on a metal and style, it is time to choose whether or not to engrave your wedding ring.  A good jeweler should be capable of engraving anything you want onto your ring including letters, numbers and symbols.  Many couples choose to have their names or initial along with the wedding date engraved on the inside of the ring.  This is not necessary though as the couple is not required to have the rings engraved.  If the couple does opt for engraving though, they must realize that they can choose to engrave anything they wish on the rings.  It could either be names and the wedding date or a phrase that has significant meaning to the couple.

The wedding ring is a very important piece of jewelry because it is meant to be worn for a lifetime.  When choosing a wedding ring the material of the ring, the style of the ring and whether or not to include an engraved sentiment are just a few of the factors to consider.  Shopping for a wedding ring can be a wonderful experience if the couple makes an effort to enjoy the experience instead of stressing about it.

Wedding invitations do more than tell who, what, where and when. Wedding invitations set the overall tone of the event. From the way the invitation is addressed on the outside to the font used for the text inside, a wedding invitation says whether the event will be formal, casual, grand, intimate, themed, traditional, or something entirely different. Who could have imagined that an invitation to a wedding could say so much?

While many of the ‘rules’ dictating a wedding are often broken by today’s couples-to-be, don’t even consider going against generally-accepted etiquette when sending your wedding invitations. In addition to providing the details and setting the tone, a wedding invitation should also convey what is and is not allowed. And as tempting as it may be to put your guest’s names and addresses into a database, select a script font and print out a sheet of stick-on labels, don’t do it! If you’re having a casual affair, it may be okay, but anything else requires handwriting. If your handwriting is not up to par, hire someone for this task. Many couples hire calligraphers, which is a great option if your budget allows.

It’s important to include a response card and a stamped, pre-addressed return envelope in with the wedding invitation to make replying an easy task. As for addressing, here are a few of the etiquette rules. If you’re allowing the invitee to bring a guest, or if children are not invited, you need to specify this. Customarily this is handled by the way the inner envelope is addressed.

Adding ‘and guest’ after the invited guest’s name conveys the message that the guest is allowed to bring a guest. Adding the names of the guest’s children, in order from oldest to youngest, indicates that their children are welcome to attend. There are other rules for addressing the envelopes of professionals, couples that live together but are not married, women who use their maiden name and others so be sure you follow them.

It’s customary to mail wedding invitations at least six weeks prior to the wedding date to allow guests adequate time to respond. Guests arriving from out of state or even out of the country will appreciate the extra time to coordinate their travel so as a courtesy, it’s a good idea to mail their invitations 8 – 10 weeks before the wedding.

And while you’re busy selecting your wedding invitations, you’ll find matching wedding stationary available for purchase. For that special day, you can order coordinating beverage napkins, match books, place cards, wedding cake box, and even a special wedding album. You can have the menu printed up and a wedding ceremony program that can be handed out to guests. You’ll also need to thank your guests for attending and for their generous wedding gifts so it’s a good idea to order thank-you cards and envelopes when you’re ordering wedding invitations.

You and your partner should plan to shop for wedding invitations and wedding stationery when you aren’t feeling rushed, and do keep that budget in mind!