26 Wedding Gift Ideas That Really Show the Love

Mar 13, 2016

Sound the bells — wedding season is upon us! As the wedding invitations start to roll in, now is the time to start thinking about the perfect gift for the soon-to-be newlyweds. If you’re planning on skipping the gift registry route and want to do something more creative and clever, anything on this list will majorly impress. So before the big day, start shopping for the latest spring pastel dresses to clinch your best-dressed-guest status, brush up on your wedding guest dos and don’ts and be sure to grab one of these thoughtful presents that really show the couple you care.

1. Kraft Seed Starter Kit ($17): Watch their love grow with cute outdoor seed kits that can be used for cooking or scenting their green space. If you’re lucky, they’ll whip you up a tasty treat with their bountiful harvest!

2. James Grace Owens Personalized Papers Dolls ($43 +): A picture is worth a thousand words, but a pair of paper dolls really says you care. Capture your favorite couple with a framed set of paper dolls in their likeness.

3. Polaroid Instant Snap Digital Camera ($100): For the snap-happy bride and groom, add an extra jolt of retro fun to their honeymoon festivities with a Polaroid camera. They’ll have fun creating mini one-of-a-kind masterpieces they’ll treasure for years to come.

4. Cathy’s Concepts “For the Couple” Etched Champagne Glasses Set ($45): Let’s make it official! Present your favorite couple with a pair of etched champagne glasses bearing their post-wedding titles, so they can drink in style.

5. Gourmet Camping Utensil Kit ($19): Their first camping trip as marrieds will be smooth sailing when you gift them this all-encompassing kit. They’ll be able to make five-star meals under the stars.

6. Dot & Bo His & Hers Dessert Cups ($48): Just because you’re married doesn’t mean you always have to share, especially when it comes to ice cream. These playful cups are great for treating yo’self as well as the one you love.

7. BHLDN Gilt Vow Journals ($28): Great for a wedding or bridal shower gift, these pretty little journals will capture the happy couple’s heartfelt feelings leading up to the big day and beyond.

8. Jessica N Designs I Do, Me Too Cake Forks ($41): Saying “I do” isn’t just for the ceremony. Remind them of their vows every day with these forks, which they should definitely use to eat their leftover wedding cake.

9. Brit + Co Watercolor Painting Online Class + Kit ($117): Photos are great and all, but the only thing that will really do that honeymoon sunset justice is a watercolor painting. They’ll learn how to blend colors into a masterpiece — brushes, paper and palette included — that brings back memories like they were yesterday.

10. INTERVINO Personalised Wedding Wine Box ($116): Buy them the gift that keeps on giving. Present your loved ones with a personalized wine box, which will help them celebrate some of the many milestones to come.

11. King + Queen Art Prints ($28 each): Mr. + Mrs. is okay, but King + Queen is more like it! Show your friends their love deserves the royal treatment with a pair of prints to mount over their bed.

12. Audio-Technica Wireless AT-LP60 Vinyl Record Player ($180): Keep em’ dancing like every night is their wedding night with this sleek and modern record player. Want to go the distance? Grab the record of their wedding song for an extra-thoughtful touch.

13. Isa’s Restoratives Love Potion ($18): Give your friends a gift with some quirk. Drop this love potion — blended with roses, brandy and more — on the tongue to elicit warm feelings of love and passion.

14. Parima Creative Studio Elephant Love Print ($21): Did you know that elephants mate for life? Celebrate your favorite couple with an elephant print commemorating their lifelong union.

15. Tops Malibu Big Golden Sparkler Wands L-O-V-E Letters ($24): For a love that burns bright, give their one-year anniversary cake a little extra sparkle.

16. Liz and Sarah Downey Mixology Dice ($24): This one’s for the bride and groom who like to walk on the wild side. Gift them the dice that will surely keep things saucy!

17. What I Love About You by Knock Knock ($10): There are a million ways to say “I love you,” though sometimes we need a little help. This fill-in-the-blanks book is perfect for encouraging professions of love and appreciation that sometimes go unsaid.

18. Molly Hatch Sketched Story French Press ($58): You know it’s love when his crazy matches hers. For the coffee-crazed couple in your life, gift a French press that spells meant to be.

19. Angelique Ink Custom Address Stamp ($45): Celebrate the new place in the newlyweds’ life, both metaphorically and literally, with a customized address stamp. They’ll be perfect for mailing out their post-wedding thank-you cards.

20. Geo Salt + Pepper Shakers ($24): Shake things up in style with these silver and gold salt and pepper shakers. Pair with some artisanal salts and mixed peppercorns and you’re good to go.

21. Rising to the Occasion: The Best Toasts for Any Celebration by Paul Dickson ($10): Sometimes it’s hard to find the words to express our joy. Say everything you couldn’t say on the big day with a book of toasts, laughs, love and heaps of charisma.

22. Fishs Eddy Whole Latte Love Mug ($12): Give the couple who shares everything a latte mug big enough for two. But just in case, gift them two!

23. BHLDN Just Married Dessert Plates ($38): Help the newlyweds celebrate the honeymoon stage. From birthdays to late-night desserts, these sweet plates will bring them back to their perfect day.

24. West Elm Gold Cake + Knife Set ($49): If there’s any cake set you need on your wedding day, and pretty much for the rest of your life, it would be this golden pair. These beauties are perfect for all their fanciest occasions.

25. Dot & Bo Old School Smartphone Projector ($38): Marriage signifies change, both large and small, even in the Netflix and chill department. Give their typical movie nights a fun twist with this smartphone movie projector.

26. DESIGN*SPONGE Cheese Board Kit ($50): For the couple who loves to entertain (as well as DIY), gift them a cheese board kit that they can burn their new monogram into. Tasty bites not included!

Your Big Day is just starting! Check out all things Brit + Co Weddings, and follow us on Pinterest for more beautiful + creative wedding inspo.

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Not Close With Your Family? Here's How To Have a Joyous And Connected Holiday Season

Last year, some of us celebrated the holidays apart from our families for the first time. COVID has brought with it many changes, some of them arguably positive (like increased flexibility to work from home), some difficult (such as the realization of vastly different political and social views between family and friends), and some horrible (obviously, the health implications of a global pandemic). However, for some of us, celebrating the holidays without family members isn't exclusively due to COVID. In addition to so many of us living in different areas than our families of origin, some of us simply don't have close bonds with the people we grew up around. Sometimes, this can cause loneliness.

If you're not close with your family members, the holidays can be a difficult time. This is doubly true if you don't have a close circle of friends to call upon. But make no mistake, if this sounds like your situation, you're not alone — there are thousands of other people going through the same struggles you are. We sat down with Irad Eichler, founder of Circles, a website that connects people who are sharing similar struggles, like heartbreak, grief, or loneliness. Here are some of Eichler's tips for coping — and even thriving! — during the holiday season when you're not planning on spending it with your family, for one reason or another.

Don't Fall For "Perfect Families" On Social Media

Laura Chouette

The first VERY important step to having a joyous holiday season when you're going it alone is to stop believing the narrative that others' family situations are perfect, Eichler says.

"Remember people only post a moment in time, and only the moments when they look their happiest and best."

In addition to the fact that everything you see on social media is curated for the 'gram, it's also important to remember that by focusing on what others have and you lack, you risk failing to see the great things at play in your own life.

"These holiday periods can become a time of focusing on who and what we don't have, rather than who or what we do, and can cause a negative spiral into depressing and dreadful feelings of inadequacy," says Eichler.

Gratitude is the reason for the season, after all. So instead of only seeing the negative, try some gratitude journal prompts to help you focus on what's actually really wonderful about your life right now.

Make An Effort To Deepen New Connections

Joel Muniz

While it may seem like everyone has friends and family to spend time with during the holiday season, that doesn't mean no one is available for deepening a blossoming relationship or new friendship.

"Make a list of people you can or would like to connect with, and try to reach out to at least one of them," advises Eichler.

Reaching out doesn't have to mean a big plan or an hour-long conversation. Even a quick text letting a friendly coworker know you're thinking about them can go a long way toward deepening the relationship and moving it in the direction of closer friendship.

Don't have an acquaintance in mind? Then it's time to make new acquaintances. What's more in line with the Christmas spirit than attending a Meetup or event full of people eager to make new friends?

"Join groups with similar interests to yours, such as hiking, baking, or games. Push your boundaries and be brave - you might find new people who have much in common with you."

Give Back

Priscilla Du Preez

The holiday season is a great time to focus on giving back to your community, and coincidentally, acts of generosity and kindness are known to reduce loneliness and help people feel happier. One study found that knowing a few of your neighbors and doing small acts of kindness for them — such as cheering them up, listening to them, mowing their lawn, providing advice about local business recommendations and job opportunities, and chatting over the fence — was statistically correlated with feeling less lonely and having a lower risk of depression.

Helping out elderly neighbors can be a particularly gratifying way to give back.

"Notice older lonely people in your neighborhood or community who might have no family at all, and offer to help them," says Eichler. "These can become mutually meaningful connections, and help you 'adopt' a grandparent."

Connect With Others Online

Thought Catalog

Finally, use the Internet for its highest and best purpose: to connect people. Whether you're using Meetup to find in-person events, digital forums for having conversations about special interests, or programs like Circle for getting support from others in your situation, the opportunities to create new connections are practically endless.

"There are many interest groups that can be found digitally, where or any person can connect with others in the same life stage, going through the same challenges, or who would like to explore the same interests," Eichler states. "Meaningful connections can be formed easily in these circumstances. The Internet enables us to find and connect to people all over the world who fit this, and to whom we can become more easily attached, as we are able to find people with the exact interests that energize us."

If you're struggling with loneliness, you're not alone. Connect with our digital community of makers and creatives here at Brit+Co by following us on IG and signing up for our newsletter!

This post has been updated.

Zach Bryan & Brianna Chickenfry's Break Up Is COMPLICATED — Here's What To Know

Zach Bryan and Brianna "Chickenfry" LaPaglia's explosive breakup is everywhere right now. From his seemingly one-sided social media posts to all the bombshell revelations she keeps dropping, it's clear this split is NOT amicable. Both parties are dropping tons of lore, info, and everything in between — including new music?! — right now, so it makes sense if you can't keep up. Luckily, I'm here to help break this breakup down for you! Here's everything you need to know about Zach Bryan and Brianna Chickenfry's relationship...or lack thereof.

Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for The Recording Academy

October 22, 2024 – Zach Bryan Announces His Breakup With Brianna Chickenfry

On October 22, 2024, after some recent speculation that Zach Bryan and Brianna Chickenfry split up, Zach took to his Instagram stories. The country star said, "Addressing something: Brianna and me have broken up with [each other] and I respect and love her with every ounce of my heart. She has loved me unconditionally for a very long time and for that I'll always thank her."

He continued, noting, "I have had an incredibly hard year personally and struggled through some pretty severe things. I thought it would be beneficial for both of us to go our different ways. I am not perfect and never will be. Please respect Brianna's privacy and space in this and if you have it in your heart, mine too."

To wrap it all up, he closed by apologizing to his fans. He said, "With everything I am and to anyone I let down, I am sorry. I try my best in everything. I failed people that love me and mostly myself."

www.youtube.com

- YouTube

Brianna hopped on her own Instagram stories shortly there after. She posted, "Hey guys I'm feeling really blindsided right now. Gonna hop off social media for a while and attempt to heal privately, when I'm ready I'll be back and ready to talk. I love you guys so much thank you for all of your kind words. Remember you are so loved and everything's always gonna be okay 🫶"

The Brianna got on Youtube next, posting a raw, emotional video about the situation. Sitting on the floor of her bathroom, she opened up as much as she could in the moment about her breakup. She said, "I just woke up to Zach posting on his Instagram that we broke up and I had no idea that post was going up. He didn't text me, he didn't call me. I just woke up to a bunch of texts, like, 'Are you okay?'"

Brianna, with her teary eyes and red face, explained she's been crying for "five days straight." She said, "I'm at the point where it's like, how can you give someone everything and love them so unconditionally, like through stuff that you shouldn't because you just love them and you want them... like you see the good in them?"

The internet personality said that this is all "so embarrassing" and "really, really heartbreaking." She elaborated that the couple broke up on October 21, but wanted to process on her own and "didn't want it to be public."

Much like her Instagram story, she told her audience that she'll come back when she's ready.

www.youtube.com

- YouTube

November 7, 2024 — Brianna Claims Zach's Emotionally Abusive, Wanted $12Mil NDA

Well, it appears this week, Brianna decided she's ready. On Barstool Sports' BFF's Pod November 7, 2024, Brianna gave an inside look at the breakup unlike any other. Not only did she claim Zach was abusive, but she also alleged that he offered her a $12 million NDA to "not talk about the relationship."

After saying it's been the hardest year of her life, she said. "I'm still scared right now because I'm scared of him. My brain's rewired and I'm scared to make him mad and last week, I didn't want to talk about it 'cause I was scared."

Brianna then described the alleged emotional abuse. She noted that everything was cyclical and that he would build her up only to break her back down again. "There was always another excuse as to why he was treating me so poorly and why I'm crying myself to sleep every night, why he's screaming at me," she said. "And then you wake up, it's the apology, it's the 'I'm going to be better like I need you in my life,' but if you've been through this — I don't expect people to understand emotional abuse if you haven't been through it. I hope you never have to go through it but if you've been there you know what I'm talking about."

Not only does Brianna allege she was offered an NDA, but she said that other women that came before her had to sign their own agreements. She declined the offer because she didn't want to "sign away [her] experiences and what [she] went through to protect someone that hurt [her]." She also wanted to share this experience for other women who've suffered something similar.

And when it comes to the logistics of losing out on the famous lifestyle and alleged $12 million? She said, "It was never about the money — I was with the dude because I loved the dude."

Jason Kempin/Getty Images for Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival

November 8, 2024 — Zach Quit Touring Amid Abuse Allegations

On November 8, 2024, Zach posted on Instagram — where he clearly loves to share all his big news — that not only is his new single "High Road" out today, but that he's also ending his tour early. Read his full statement here:

After not being home for a year and a half I drove out to my mothers gravestone in the dead of night a few days back on familiar Oklahoma roads and I came to realize just like in the past, that she never would call me again

Told her I quit touring because I got accepted to get my masters in Paris next year, I told her I was back in Oklahoma, told her about all my best friends in New York and all the nights we howled with the moon, told her about the immeasurable laughter my band and me have shared these last five years, all the calluses on my finger tips, every tear shed, told her about making it on The Rolling Stone and most importantly told her about porch swinging with my beautiful sister.
I wrote the chorus for this song a month or two back and finished it when I realized I was blessed with all these things.

I figured it was about time I released it.

Thank you guys for listening to ‘This Worlds a Giant’ last night and thank you to all the people who love me; who have truly carried the weight with me.

Seems that all these Quiet Dreams have gotten much too heavy but I’m home now and I’ll hold you through the pain.

High Road is out today and I appreciate all of you"

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83 Budget-Friendly Finds Under $30 That'll Have You Gifting Ready This Season

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