A nice tablecloth or placemats and napkins set. Table runner to match? Candle sticks/holders or hurricanes. And some nice candles. I like to change things out in the DR so having different sets of things in different styles and colors is nice.

Will they be able to entertain outdoors? Perhaps a nice tray, barbecue items or something along those lines. Summer stuff.

Yes to the candles. I've been replacing most of mine with the flameless, and they are pricey, but you can even get an entire set of different sizes at PB for around $100 regular price. Send some batteries too. Mundane, but useful.

Another idea would be a copy of your favorite pretty decorating go-to book . Everybody needs a coffee table book. A pretty set of summer lanterns. Love to use those both inside or out.

My in-laws, when we moved into our house, gave us a basket with a nice bottle of wine, a gift certificate to a nice bakery, a candle, some gourmet flavored salts and a nice frame with a little poem that was framed inside explaining the meaning of each gift.

You could do something like that w/ a mix of different things that have symbolism/ meaning. They could use the nice frame to display their wedding picture (or whatever) and then enjoy the other stuff included:

• Bread: So that this house may never know hunger…or…So your cupboards will always be full
• Salt: Given with the message “That life may always have flavor”, can also represent added luxury or flavor to life
• Sugar: Means “So your life shall always have sweetness”
• Wine: Symbolizes the hope “That joy and prosperity may reign forever”…or…”That your family will never be thirsty”…or…”So you will always be of good cheer”
• Honey: So that you may always enjoy the sweetness of life
• Candle: “So that this house will always have light” or “So you may dwell in light and happiness”

Honestly the best housewarming gift I received was a gift card tree-- with gift cards to home depot, home goods/tj maxx, Benjamin Moore and some local restaurants (because moving is tough work-- who wants to cook!?). You could combine your 100 wrapped gift and 250 gift card together for a very nice gift tree.

Other ideas:

Given this is spring, I might stick with something for the outdoors but trees and large potted plants aren't so easily wrapped.. Do they have a grill? Maybe a blue tooth thermometer, a pizza stone, mesh baskets, skewers, etc.

Or something for entertaining? I love long serving boards-- JK Adams in Vt has a number of them in a variety of sizes but really, you'll find them all over-- WS, C&B, Terrain, etc. I use mine to serve dinner, drinks, snacks for 2.

Also, I am crazy for the trays from Rock Flower Paper. I think they look even better in person. I've shared the one below before. I plan to give one of these trays packaged with some other items from the registry as a shower gift to my nephew and his fiance. There are so many designs for a wide range of tastes-- I just happened to have the photo of the lobster on my computer. (This size is just under $100).

Beagles, that's very similar to a tradition my family follows.. but the bread, salt, sugar is passed down from a jar my grandmother gave my parents. It comes from an old Ukrainian tradition (though there is one very similar that is a jewish tradition).

Perfect for a housewarming!

You are very generous! Perhaps a bit bulky for mailing and probably over budget but when DH and I combined households, in our 40's and both having been previously married his parents got us some incredible pillows. The flameless candles are a good idea as well or a bunch of giftcards from local carryout or restaurants if they eat out.

A scented wax warmer and some wax cubes. Or an oil diffuser. Something small to make the house smell nice.

Beagles, that is such a beautiful gift. I tend to give money for newlyweds or housewarming but I like to give it with a gift. I will totally be doing this....now I just need someone to get married or move!!!

Do they cook? If so, how about some good steak knives or something le creuset in a fun color?

Favorite votives. Have two sets and have given to so many as engagement or housewarming gifts. Throws beautiful light.

http://m.tiffany.com/jewelry/candlesticks/rock-cut-votive-36286652?tfr=1

Wow, these are great, like them all. I think I need to ask them to send some photos; we've not been there yet...then I can get an idea of colors.

btw, a second, unrelated question for a second couple that I I need to buy a gift for. what letter is this? I? L?

Do they have a patio? How about a container herb garden? Maybe something that could be brought in during cold weather.

Perhaps "L"? Hard to know! I would not give anything that risks not being their taste - too awkward. Perhaps a gift certificate to a good plant nursery to buy a tree? It can still be gift wrapped.

Jterri, that's gorgeous.

Anglo, I know, right? I even tried looking on the front of the invitation to see If there were any words using that letter, but the invite is in a different font! I think it might be an I.

If it is, maybe I will get some nice evoo and vinegar and give them this:

I wish though that it were an L... I would do a cute little potted lavender plant or lemon basil plant

How strange Mnt! I was writing about herbs and posting pictures when you posted right before me. BTW I think it's an L. Or, an I, sheesh!

We just did it again lol.

A gift I use often and have given often is a set of personalized paper coasters in an acrylic container. Lots of places offer them. HERE is one link.

I think that looks like an "I". Do you think each invitee received a different letter?

I also thought of herbs-- and I absolutely love the request on the invitation. I am going to steal the idea!

I am certain it is an I (as in "Italian"). It's a variation on a brush script font.

Is there a registry still open? I would look to that for ideas. I have kids in their 20s and I work in retail, and I can tell you no one under 30 buys table runners, placemats, and table cloths. Don't even mention cloth napkins or aprons. . As an aside, my guy and I went to buy a engagement gift for a dear friend's 25 year old daughter. . He wanted to buy Waterford shot glasses. I talked him out of it and we bought Kate spade polka dotted champagne glasses instead. She loved them, and told us later that she's not into Waterford. Too stuffy.

I would look at things like a bar set, or some fun beach towels, Or fun serving pieces for summer. Or a string set of Edison light bulbs for alfresco dining, or patio candles to keep bugs away...or an ice bucket...or a cozy throw...do they have a dog? A sign to hang the leash, if they did. OK, I'll stop now

jo

For the housewarming couple, there is no registry extant. And the one they had was before this apt. I figure the $250 is for practical stuff, I just want to give something fun too.

For the other, bridal shower, couple, i assume that everyone got a different letter… There were slips of paper attached to the back of the shower invite. Darn I really don't like I !

For the bridal shower couple, I already got them A bunch of stuff from their registry… Essentially their bedding ... down comforter, their duvet cover, a set of sheets and a throw . The "big" gifts I give are always something from a registry or money… But I always also give an unexpected smaller gift ... because honestly I think it's a little bit boring not have any surprises to unwrap. I chose something small so they don't have to feel terribly guilty if they don't like it, and I give them the return receipt anyway. I haven't decided what the small thing is yet for the bridal couple.

Jojoco, i agree with you; brides tend to be more casual today.

I asked the hw couple to send me a few photos of their new place… I think that will help a lot

glassybaby wine glasses? I've given for 'couples' showers' and they have been much appreciated! Side note: they are "of the moment", so may be most appreciated by the twenty/thirty something crowd (many of my friends'/kids' friends getting married.)

Oh, I second anything monogrammed! Like rubyclaire, I have used numberfoureleven.com for shams. Gorgeous monogramming. I love monogrammed cocktail napkins or towels.

You are very generous and I know it will be appreciated!

My first thought on the bridal shower couple was that it was an i (lowercase to avoid confusion). You could verify with the hostess -- or do an i and L The most obvious i options involve Italian herbs or Italian sausage (I like the idea of Italian herbs and olive oil), but there is also Indian vanilla beans, Iranian Sargol Saffron, Indian Corriander, Indonesian Korinjte Cassia Cinnamon -- all based on location of origin, but OK. Pick one and pair it with the pot of lavendar or lemon basil. Other sites you might want to look at if you haven't are The Spice House and Spice Jungle.

All the votes for candles made me think--how are they for emergency supplies? It is always nice to have an emergency kit on hand for power outages, etc. You could send them a hand-cranked radio or a go-bag from the Red Cross.

Thanks to all of the people who gave us candles, when a blackout hits our house is filled with candlelight and soothing aromatherapy scents. : )

Renovator Girl, I'm in Florida and have given Emergency kits for wedding gifts. I include a little propane hot plate burner, a recipe book on one pot meals, batteries, battery operated lanterns and a bunch of stuff. It has always been appreciated. It costs a minimum of $500 to ready for a hurricane.

I recently had to come up with a gift for friends who have pretty much everything. What I did was go with a Let's Celebrate! patio theme. I bought them a beautiful bamboo tray that had a good rim and handles to make it practical for carrying drinks out to their back patio in the mountains. On it I added a box of unbreakable wine glasses. A set of beautiful turquoise and white cloth napkins. A set of turquoise glass votive candle holders with candles already in them. A set of colorful pop-up dish covers made of a nylon screen-like material to cover their appetizers, if needed. (Edited to add:) A set of pretty , tropical, metal napkin rings. And I packaged it all together in one of tnose big, clear gift bags, along woth a great bottle of wine and some gourmet frozen appetizers and tied it with a big turquoise bow. A party on a tray, was my thought. They loved it.

justerrilynn, great idea! I am mentally bookmarking it for the next wedding that comes my way. Emergency supplies are something that nobody ever thinks about for a wedding present--but when you need them, you REALLY need them. A friend once called me during a blackout to check on me, and she was SO pleased when I told her that the light in that room was coming from her birthday present (a lovely three-candle candleholder).

I spice could be

Indian Coriander Seed

Gift possibilities beautiful matching frames for some of their pictures.

Something I got for myself that would be a good gift is a Joseph Joseph set of kitchen tools on its own carousel stand. I love it and use it daily. I like the splash of color in the kitchen too.

https://www.josephjoseph.com/en-us/collections/elevate

Omg, love the monogrammed fouta!probably too fussy for her tastes but perfect for moi! The glassbaby stuff is gorgeous too but wow pricey

just wanted to follow up since everyone was so helpful...

For the housewarming, I borrowed ideas from a few people here and gave them everything for an outdoor party, trays, melamine plates, lantern, and an outdoor Bose mini speaker. DH also got them a grill. Everything else we wrapped and sent in a big box. It was a hit.

For the shower, (a different person) ....I got Italian Dessing spices and Indonesian cinnamon. I wrapped the dressing mix with oil and champagne vinegar, and the cinnamon with those stencils you use for cappuccino and Mr and Mrs mugs she was registered for.

I already sent this bride her big gifts but wanted to bring something fun along with the spices. I got her a Kate spade ring dish that is very cute. I put that and card in a Ted Baker tote bag (on sale for $33 at Nordstrom with free shipping). I love these Ted Baker bags as gift bags! Great for Mother's Day too ... several colors and some patterns.. see site etc.

Here is the bag, it's a lovely very pale pink.

I had a question about the other box for her. I have a ribbon with flowers that I got years ago, I think on Godiva, and kept in my ribbon collection. It reminds me a lot of th flowers she has on her wedding invite, so I put it on the package. It has some gold and pale peach that pick so up the paper exactly, but the main ribbon is a contrasting deep pink. See below

I could, I think, change out the ribbon for one that is very close to the paper, peach and gold. Should I?

Gorgeous! As long as you have the peach......

Any chance you could pull the flowers off the bright pink ribbon and use them with the peach colored ribbon? I think that would be the perfect combination. Otherwise, I would stick with the peach ribbon.

Mtn: could not agree more about the cost of glassybaby: crazy! Understand that most of these couples don't register for china/crystal, etc. I think those days are over? Unfortunately? Fortunately? I'm not sure.

You guys always have the best gift ideas-saving this thread.

I love that peach Ribbon, Mtn.

Love the Tom Ford bags.. they aren't on sale now but I am going to remember them for the future.. I now have two nieces and one nephew who will be getting married in the next year!

You are right, Funky I can't believe it. I bought a black one first, because the bride had registered for a lot of b/w and gray and her shower invite was those colors so I thought she might like something a little different/sophisticated. It came and I really liked it, but then I got the wedding invite, which is very floral and feminine. So i kept the blk tote for me (well, if i have to ... ) and ordered the pale pink. It seems right after me they took them off sale! The pansy ones are soooo pretty for mother's day.

Fun, yes, I did mean to keep the flower and just change out the ribbon. It was the right choice; it really matches the invite!

BTW the paper is from Home Goods; they really have super cute wrapping paper, and it is also a very nice quality to work with... it looks like paper but feels almost like a very thin vinyl.

I love that paper and the ribbon and flowers are perfect for it. Glad your kids enjoyed the outdoor party box and new grill. It was fun reading all the ideas here, as usual.

Love that pink Ted Baker bag!