Giving Something not on the Registry?

B.dry

My friend is getting married in a few weeks and is having a bridal shower this coming weekend. My Fiance and I went to buy them a wedding gift and her a shower gift last night and found that most things on their registry were already bought or were things that we just didn't feel like was enough. Is it okay to buy them something that is not on their registry?I was thinking of making a cookbook filled with my personal favorite recipes and giving that with an apron for the shower gift and possibly some fun things for them to use on their honeymoon to Jamaica for their wedding gift (Think just married flip flops, Personalized sweatshirts or something similar.)Good idea or not?

JuliaGoolia719

Its hard to know what your friend would like, do you and she like the same types of food?  You know better than we do what types of gifts she and her FI would like, so if you can see them wearing the personalized "just married" things then go for it, just make sure they get it before the wedding (maybe drop it off the week before so she can add it to the things they are taking w them)

kiki05

I think both ideas are really good, I would like either combination! Obviously as pp have said you know your friend better than any of us but they are good ideas.

britab

I would have liked some more personalized things from my shower. Get what you want! There's no requirement to shop from the registry. I got my friend just married flipflop from Oriental Trading and she loved them. It shows you are putting in a lot of thought.

Irishsapphire

The only thing personal that I really liked was Mike and Diana notes that my husband's grandmother got me. I loved those notes because they symbolized us as a couple, and I could use them for thank you notes or for other special occasions. I would have preferred a cookbook from one of stores that they were registered at. Or even a subscription to a good cooking magazine (one of our favorite things is to look at cooking magazines as a couple). It is up to them to create their own good recipes. You passing on the your favorite recipes should be free not a gift. As well, it is important that the gift feel like it is new (not just passed on). The best gifts that we received were either on the registry, and they just made us feel special--spending at least $30 and having a gift receipt--just in case of duplicates. I will be really honest that I did get just married flip flops. I honestly forgot to pack them, and I have yet to wear them. I know--I feel bad, but it was hectic with the wedding. They are still in my closet.

tiffwins

As much as I am looking forward to receiving some of the items on my registry, I think all of these "registry formalities" can be taken a little too far. You are by no means required to get them something from their registry. Registries are made to help guests find gifts that the couple would like, but if you are giving such a thoughtful and personal gift, chances are that you know the bride well enough to know that she would like it. This is just me, but I would be honored to receive a gift like that. It's such a thoughtful idea... although you may not have the same tastes in all of the foods, it's up to her which recipes she uses. A lot of times, I find recipes that I never thought I would use being the perfect thing to take to a potluck or something. The honeymoon ideas are thoughtful too because I can't imagine that many would be thinking of that. I wouldn't let other people make you second guess yourself. I think it's thoughtful and a wonderful idea. It says a lot more than a bundle of spatulas ever could.

brideofmonkey

For my shower I got a personalized bag of wedding day essentials--- tissues, bottle of water, clear nail polish for hosiery runs, and nail polish remover, a small mirror, etc. It's nice to have that all packed up and ready to go. My friend put it all in a zippered tote she dyed my wedding colors, and added my married initials in ribbon.

KJDOHERTY

Ditto the post about a giftcard to the store the friend is registered at if there aren't enough gifts left on the registry.  Like others have said you know better than us what your friend would like, but we personally did not like any of the gifts that were given to us that we didn't register for. 

Kristin789

Your ideas sound great!

lynlovesjoe

I hate gift cards, I'd rather get money than a gift card. I checked the box that says that I don't want guests to be able to give me a giftcards instead. I think they are a tacky monster that has infected our society. lol.My fiance and I built a coffee table for a friend's wedding. The material alone is worth $600 because it's made with granite. They are using it, so I hope they liked it. They could always sell it for some hefty profit, I guess...I was never notified about an registry info, so we just came up with our own gift. Turned out that her grandmother stuffed the invites with a registry slip of paper, but I never saw this.