Rxthe prescription

Wedding gift — pick one perfect thing.

Couples spend hundreds of hours building registries. The best gift is something from it. Here's how to pick the right thing from a long registry, plus solid off-registry picks if you must.

How to pick from the registry

Hit the high-priority items first (top of the list usually = most-wanted). Match your budget to the registry's mid-tier items — too cheap looks indifferent, too expensive embarrasses everyone. If you can buy a piece of a group gift (e.g. one place setting in a 12-place set), that often appreciated.

Off-registry picks that always land

A beautiful cast iron skillet (Lodge or Le Creuset). High-quality olive oil + balsamic + finishing salt set. A board game both will play (Codenames, Catan). Cash for the honeymoon. Their favorite local restaurant gift card. A handwritten letter (zero dollars, infinite ROI).

Don't

Buy two registry items in the same category. Buy an off-registry version of a registry item (they picked that specific one for a reason). Buy a giant centerpiece they have to find storage for.

Frequently asked questions

How much should I spend?+

Co-worker: $75-100. Friend: $100-200. Close friend or family: $150-300. Adjust for how nice the wedding is.

Cash okay?+

Always. Most couples prefer it.

Need a quick pick?

Tell us their style and your budget.

Related