Wedding gifts for your spouse are often the last thing on the wedding planning list. While wedding gifts are often thought of as something guests give, the tradition of the couple exchanging meaningful presents can add a personal and memorable touch to the big day.
Adobe StockWhy exchange gifts?
Exchanging gifts allows the bride and groom to share an intimate, quiet moment amidst the hustle and bustle of wedding preparations. It’s a chance for them to show just how well they know each other, selecting gifts that reflect their partner’s personality, desires, and dreams. These gifts often reflect the thought and excitement that have gone into planning for their shared life.
Adobe StockCouple gift ideas
These gifts are for the two of you to either mutually give or enjoy together!
A personalized collection of letters or vow book
Handwritten vows or a heartfelt letter expressing your feelings can be incredibly meaningful. Fill the pages with how you met and your letters to one another. Presenting this gift to your spouse shows how much thought and care you’ve put into your relationship and future together.
“I didn’t know until the week of the wedding that the bride and groom would exchange gifts! This was after most of my savings were going to a wedding, honeymoon, and house. I bought a nice papyrus journal for $10 and wrote a “children’s story for adults” on how we met. I left a lot of pages afterwards, filling some with prayers we had prayed together while dating. Now, at least once a year, we put in a new prayer randomly on a feast day or special occasion.”
- Tom, married 17 years
A customized "First year" date night box
Put together a box of fun date night ideas for your first year of marriage. Each date night could have a theme or activity (such as a movie night, a cooking class, or a day trip), and inside the box, include details, tickets, or small items related to each date. It’s a thoughtful gift that helps you both keep the excitement of the honeymoon phase alive.
Keepsake box
A personalized wooden keepsake box can be a sentimental and long-lasting gift where you both store mementos from your life together. Fill the box with small tokens like love notes, photos from the big day, or a copy of your vows. Whenever you want to reminisce about wedding memories or make new memories, you can record them for years to come inside.
A surprise wedding day playlist
Create a personalized playlist filled with songs that have special meaning to both of you. It could include the song that played during your first dance or tunes from memorable moments in your relationship. Listen to it whenever you choose to relive the magic!
Wedding day video
“My sweet wife, with the help of my mother and aunts I’m sure, surprised me on our wedding day with a video highlighting my grandparents during our reception. Everyone knew how close I was to my grandparents, they helped raise me. There wasn’t a dry eye amongst the 300. It was that precise moment I knew, without a sliver of a doubt, that I married exactly the right woman– she would take the spotlight off her big Cinderella day and direct the attention to two people I loved more than this world itself, ones she never met. It showed me how beautiful my wife truly is, inside and out, to make such a selfless moment.”
- Jason, married 15 years.
Adobe StockFor the bride (from the groom)
Personalized perfume or scent
Create a custom fragrance or purchase a bottle of perfume that’s unique to her. Some perfume houses allow you to personalize scents, combining different notes that reflect her personality and your relationship. This way, every time she wears it, she’ll be reminded of you and your wedding day.
Custom wedding day shoes
Surprise her with a personalized pair of shoes she can wear on the wedding day. Whether they’re heels, flats, or sneakers, this thoughtful touch will make her feel extra special. She can even wear them on your honeymoon!
Personalized bridal robe or pajamas
Gift your bride a luxurious robe or set of pajamas. It’s a thoughtful and intimate gift that she can wear on your wedding night and beyond, giving her something comfortable and special to slip into.
Personalized wedding dish for jewelry with initials
With a catch-all dish with both your initials, you can both place your rings beside your bed. The dish could have her new last name or the initials of both your first or last names. It’s a reminder of your commitment to one another and a helpful way to take good care of your rings and belongings.
Adobe StockFor the groom (from the bride)
Engraved cufflinks
A timeless and classic gift, an engraved set of personalized cufflinks can serve as a daily reminder of the special day. It’s both functional and sentimental, something he can wear for years to come.
Custom dopp kit
A high-quality leather or a stylish dopp kit (for toiletries) can be a practical yet meaningful gift that lasts beyond the wedding day. Add his (and your) last name to the outside or fill it with his self-care essentials. It’s a gift he can use every day, keeping a piece of the wedding close to him.
Customized tie, handkerchief, or tie bar
A personalized tie is a stylish and thoughtful way for him to wear something from the bride on the big day. You could even engrave the tie bar with a meaningful date, initials, or even a Bible verse you both love.
Custom keychain or pocket knife
For a small yet thoughtful gift, a custom-engraved keychain or pocket knife can serve as a daily reminder of your groom's wedding day. It’s practical, portable, and reminds him of your love for him in ordinary, everyday things. You can personalize it with initials, a special date, or a meaningful message.
Adobe StockFinal thoughts
If the bride and groom choose to swap presents on their big day, it’s not about the price tag—it’s about saying, “I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with you.”
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