Choose a Time-Tested Wedding Gift

Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through
every circumstance. 1 Corinthians 13:7

Spring is in the air and many of us are adding weddings to our calendars. As you think about a wedding gift for a new couple, are you searching for a gift would be useful to them for years to come?

With my 20th wedding anniversary approaching, I have been paying more attention to the wedding gifts we still own and use regularly. These gifts are reminders of the dear people who gave them to us as well as the day our lives as husband and wife began.

If you are looking for an enduring, useful gift to remind the couple of their start in life together, here are a few that have stood the test of time in our home.

1. High quality pots and pans. My husband’s grandparents gave us an incredible set of Lifetime pots and pans we still use every single day. They have held up to years of use and abuse and are still going strong. Just the other day, I was in his grandmother’s kitchen and saw pots of the same brand. I would love to know how old they are.

2. White bedding. Every spring, when I replace our winter comforter with a lighter coverlet, I think of my brother-in-law who gave it to us – even before he was married into our family. White bedding is timeless, beautiful, and so useful. It’s guaranteed to be around for a long time. And, I’d suggest that you don’t skimp on the quality. We all use our sheets 7-8 hours every single day, but are reluctant to spend money on them. Quality white bedding is always a wonderful gift.

3. A coat rack or hall tree. We registered for this item at Pottery Barn , and it was a little expensive. I’m sure my in-laws, who gave it to us, had some sticker shock. Twenty years later, it still stands in our foyer, greeting guests with willing arms to hold their coats, jackets, and purses.

4. The Pampered Chef batter bowl. Great wedding gifts don’t have to break your budget. This super-functional glass bowl is a mixing bowl, storage bowl, and large measuring bowl, and ranks high on our short list of favorite kitchen tools. Who knew that my teenage daughter would be mixing pancake batter in it 20 years after our wedding day?

5. Wine bottle chiller. If the happy couple drinks wine, this is a useful, beautiful gift they will enjoy for a long time. Whether in stainless or marble, a beautiful wine chiller will be keeping beverages cool while entertaining or just enjoying a pleasant evening on the patio. Small enough to tuck into a cabinet, this one will not wind up at Goodwill.

6. Quality flatware. When planning my wedding, I opted to skip the silver registry. Does anyone even register for real silver anymore? Instead, inspired by my grandmother’s Oneida stainless that had endured decades, I decided to spring for pricey everyday flatware. Twenty years later, it still shines and looks beautiful. I am short a few spoons, but I feel confident that when the kids head off to college, I’ll find some spoons in the excavation.

7. Whiskey glasses. I’m not sure where the decanter is, but a nice set of cocktail glasses are sure to be around years later. My husband drinks from them, and I sometimes use them as a mini windowsill vase by the kitchen sink.

8. Toaster oven. This item is the only one on the list we didn’t receive as a wedding gift, but I wish we had. I have a hand-me-down, ugly, decrepit toaster oven on my counter and only put up with the eyesore because of its usefulness. Not only does it make toast, but we also use ours every single day to heat pizza or sandwiches, reheat leftovers, or even bake small batches of cookies. It uses less electricity than a full-sized oven and is safer for kids to use.

9. A Classic cookbook. Yes, you could get the newlyweds the Paleo, Whole 30, or Vegan cookbook they might be into right now. But, a basic cookbook like one from Betty Crocker will be useful for decades. I still refer to mine when I need some tried-and-true guidance in making classic dishes that range from roasted vegetables or chicken to pancakes and brownies. She wields practical, basic cooking advice that everyone, young or old, needs. Even in the digital age, Betty still knows.

Time changes many things, but some gifts do last longer than others. As we toast the many new married couples beginning their lives together this year, I hope these ideas will help you to select a gift that will be useful for decades to come.