Best Non-Registry Gift?

pearlaqua

What was your best non-registry gift?

We received a personalized plate (lots of sentimental value/stories behind it) and a cool cheese board (carved out of an old tree from a special part of the country to H and me).

In the past, I have given personalized, non-registry gifts (like a poster of the couple's entirely genealogy spanning 4 continents and 200+ years).

Well, I feel tapped out of all of my good ideas and I have a REALLY good friend getting married and would love to pick your brains on some good non-registry things you received.

Thanks!!!

**Non-Cash gift ideas, please

JoanE2012

I think cash is a good option!

dramaqueen91087

My great Aunt knitted me an afgan. Oh and a woman I work with gave me a cabbage patch doll wearing a Mets uniform. We are both really big Mets fans. It was hers and she has no children so she wanted me to have it.

jagore08

Besides the cash, FIL made us a quilt with our last name and wedding date embroidered on it.

BeachLover2885

One of my BMs got me a signature frame for the wedding.  I'm so excited to use it as our guestbook and would never have even thought of buying it for myself!

http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?SKU=18956128

gananoque

This is really going to depend upon your friend's taste. And also your abilities. Not everyone can hand-make a gorgeous quilt or an original painting or sculpture...

We got very few unique pieces of artwork but we love them all. If you trust yourself and think you know your friend's taste, some art for their home is a wonderful and personal gift!

kitty02kat

I once made a "photo" for a friend of mine.  Let's say her last name was "Smith."  I went to all their special places and took photos of a specific letter from their signs.  So, for example, I got the "S" from the high school  they went to, I got the "M" from the bar they met at, etc.   I was able to use letters so they went in order (It just happened to work out); the last letter of their last name I got from the church sign where they got married.  

I then framed them and put a note on the back of each photo to remind them, in case they didn't recognize the letter, where they were from.  They LOVED it and have it hanging in their living room. 

This is similar to how it turned out (except the photos were from signs not from architecture):

mbrischoux

My mom had my grandmother's Irish Soda Bread recipe done in caligraphy on slate with celtic knots around it.  LOVE it.

pearlaqua

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_registering-gifts_best-non-registry-gift?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:34Discussion:8698cbc9-2ee0-4b62-ac59-19b7cc617206Post:2344e60c-1fa6-48ea-acb6-8529f64db01b">Re: Best Non-Registry Gift?</a>:
[QUOTE]Besides the cash, FIL made us a quilt with our last name and wedding date embroidered on it.
Posted by jagore08[/QUOTE]

What a personalized idea! I sew, but don't quilt.  If I have a year to learn, I might pull this off...

pearlaqua

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_registering-gifts_best-non-registry-gift?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:34Discussion:8698cbc9-2ee0-4b62-ac59-19b7cc617206Post:30ddf110-a98f-49d2-9595-08e04e657167">Re: Best Non-Registry Gift?</a>:
[QUOTE]I once made a "photo" for a friend of mine.  Let's say her last name was "Smith."  I went to all their special places and took photos of a specific letter from their signs.  So, for example, I got the "S" from the high school  they went to, I got the "M" from the bar they met at, etc.   I was able to use letters so they went in order (It just happened to work out); the last letter of their last name I got from the church sign where they got married.   I then framed them and put a note on the back of each photo to remind them, in case they didn't recognize the letter, where they were from.  They LOVED it and have it hanging in their living room.  This is similar to how it turned out (except the photos were from signs not from architecture):
Posted by kitty02kat[/QUOTE]

Ahhh!! So cute!

pearlaqua

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_registering-gifts_best-non-registry-gift?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:34Discussion:8698cbc9-2ee0-4b62-ac59-19b7cc617206Post:22d71c3b-7969-4904-8c9e-65701810f508">Re: Best Non-Registry Gift?</a>:
[QUOTE]My mom had my grandmother's Irish Soda Bread recipe done in caligraphy on slate with celtic knots around it.  LOVE it.
Posted by mbrischoux[/QUOTE]

There is a semi-ethnic/family recipe thing that would work for this.

You guys are all so great for sharing!  (Keep them coming either way... I have MANY weddings in the next 3 years) (hehe)

mcskatcat

The family I used to nanny for got us a Peggy Karr plate of the city we went to college (and met) in.  It is lovingly hanging on our wall.  

kimberlykh

We got aprons with our names along with a Newlywed Cookbook.  I liked it, and cannot wait to make some of the recipes.

Avion22

My husband's estranged older half-sister came to our wedding after no contact with anyone in the family for over seven years.  She gave us a very large cross-stitch made by my husband's great-grandmother about 50 years ago.   It was incredibly moving and thoughtful, and a great piece of family history.

And, the half-sister is now back in contact with everyone.  Happy situation all around:-)

cwaggoner07

We just had a shower this weekend in Arkansas (where FI is from), and one of his dad's friends gave us a decorative bowl made of clay from a cave in the Ozarks. It's BEAUTIFUL and a nice reminder of FI's home state (since the chances are very slim that we will ever move there).

pearlaqua

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_registering-gifts_best-non-registry-gift?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:34Discussion:8698cbc9-2ee0-4b62-ac59-19b7cc617206Post:f76d347e-58dc-4057-91b0-d74f5eed170e">Re: Best Non-Registry Gift?</a>:
[QUOTE]My husband's estranged older half-sister came to our wedding after no contact with anyone in the family for over seven years.  She gave us a very large cross-stitch made by my husband's great-grandmother about 50 years ago.   It was incredibly moving and thoughtful, and a great piece of family history. And, the half-sister is now back in contact with everyone.  Happy situation all around:-)
Posted by Avion22[/QUOTE]

That's so lovely! I will have to keep in mind family heirlooms when little sis gets married.

pearlaqua

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_registering-gifts_best-non-registry-gift?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:34Discussion:8698cbc9-2ee0-4b62-ac59-19b7cc617206Post:cac12447-99bd-4077-bd4b-6e0043d50d49">Re: Best Non-Registry Gift?</a>:
[QUOTE]A friend of mine decoupaged a tray with the wrapping paper from my shower and our wedding invitation on it.  I keep it by my bed.
Posted by edielaura[/QUOTE]

How fun, easy-ish, and truly unique!

kimandjosh22

one of my bridesmaids gave us a red dish set and a journal, and a nice letter explaining the Red Plate Tradition, which I had never heard of before.  in doing some online research it seems like it might come from a catholic tradition...we're not catholic but still think it is a very cute idea.  Its basically a way you can recognize any sort of accomplishment (big or small) when one of your has something to celebrate you serve dinner on the red dish set and record the accomplishment in the journal. this site has some examples http://www.catholicfamilygifts.com/the-red-plate-stories.aspx

ECook25

H's uncle had the family's coat of arms framed...we love it!

Maybone

A friend of mine recieved a gift at her shower that had supplies for a happy marriage. There were several small and useful things that were all attached to a card with a sute saying.  I'm having trouble thinking of examplse, this was a few years ago. But stuff like a salt and pepper shaker and the card would say "Remember to spice things up." Kind of marriage advice matched to a tangible item. It was really cute and meaningful.  I guess it best comes from someone who is married and has the right to give the advice!

capnlizard

Last year I was in a wedding with several other friends and we bought the couple engraved toast glasses with a matching serving set. While we were shopping, another of the bridesmaids, who is also a friend of mine, started picking my brain and asking me what kind of toast glasses I would like (we had already gotten engaged and set a date at this point). I replied that we were both pretty clumsy and would probably break fancy glasses eventually, so guests would be better off saving their money, rather than getting us expensive breakables. Fast-forward to my shower, when that same friend found us hand-carved MARBLE wine glasses, with a rustic/sage green/tan coloring to them. Gorgeous, special, and totally our style, and I doubt we could break those bad boys if we tried....excellent!