Maybe one of those slate cheeseboards with initial(s)?

https://www.brooklynslate.com/collections/engraving

I thought about that, Mtn-- I got one for one of my other nieces. This family doesn't eat cheese-- but they do enjoy a charcuterie so maybe a wooden board (though I don't like them as much as the slate when personalized).

I like this path.. something for entertaining/family movie and game nights.

a chracuterie without cheese! heresy

they do have wood and marble ones

Never bought from them but Mark and Graham have a lot of personalized stuff

I hear you lol.. so maybe a tray would work better (especially with a child and a puppy). I haven't been pleased with the quality from Mark and Graham but my experience has been with leather goods.

FWIW and in case anyone else is interested: I loved the custom engraving from Brooklyn Slate. They did a super job and turned it around very quickly for me.

Those are nice pork and ham

I really like the idea of a wedding bowl.. the turnaround time is 3 wks but she does have an option to rush. I have seen similar at some of our local art shows, maybe I can get something faster locally. Thank you for the idea, Porkandham!

That said, they do not yet have a place to display pottery/china/etc but I am sure that will come at some point.

I saw this several years ago at a local amish furniture store, and got one of the wedding crocks for our DS and DDIL, as a housegift soon after they married. They love it. I don’t recall the turnaround time, so it may not work for you.

bujnopottery.com

Some lovely ideas. I will be the outlier here and say that I don't care for things that are "overly"personalized ie. full names, dates, etc. Monograms are lovely though. I thought these would be a neat gift if you know your audience (which you apparently do.) Although they are personalized, they don't scream it to me, but rather look like art. Just a thought.

Star charts of important dates

I would agree, @nekotish. i have seen too many 50th anniversary trinkets at garage sales and auctions to go that route. As a collector of pottery, I gravitate to that made in the USA, and wish someone would surprise me with one of these.

I like mtnrdredux_gw idea of a monogrammed cheese board. here's a ready-to-go, modern version, from Crate & Barrel. One if they're sharing the same last initial, or two for their first names? At only $49, it's a great price for a "small gift before the big gift".

One other idea: when I bought my first house, my agent gave me this self-inking address stamp, with the price of the customization included. It came with instructions on how to design the customized part online, and the code to pay for it (since it was already prepaid). When it arrived, I just popped it into the stamper. This way you don't have to worry about a time constraint on customization, they can do it later and it allows them to choose their own design. (there are so many! They don't even have to do an address, there are other styles too.)

Lots of great suggestions - you could even include a popcorn bowl for their son.

We were married closer to Christmas, so we actually had an ornament shower. I love seeing them every year when I decorate the tree.

Something like this- I’m sure there are tons of styles. https://www.etsy.com/listing/1095806196/family-christmas-ornament-our-first?click_key=d43b97d76f83098844fd9799506e999ec5942498%3A1095806196&click_sum=d63f6d8d&ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=1st+christmas+family&ref=sr_gallery-1-9&pro=1

Or fancy with just the year- i love my Tiffany Christmas star from 1995.

I really like all of these ideas. I'm impressed!. I do like the slate with the monogram and I also like the wood from crate and barrel.. Well I like them all. Thinking back to last year when I wanted a housewarming gift and I got a really nice cheeseboard - it was really nice but I think I like these better.

What would she think about a pasta-making machine? (the fully automated, electric ones $200-$250ish?). A few young couples I know each have one and they have great fun inviting each other over and making pasta. I'm thinking it could be a fun thing for the 7-year-old to participate in too.

You might want to reconsider a cheese board? My son and DIL received about fifteen of them- some initialed, some not; some marble, some slate, some wooden- and that was about seven years ago! I think the idea, although lovely, is overdone.

Adding: they received them for engagement, showers, and wedding gifts.

Deleted my comment - sorry

17 years ago, we eloped at the county courthouse. We spent one day at local Seagrove North Carolina and picked a piece of pottery as our gift to ourselves. We didn't have a reception (in the military, too far away from family). Still have the pottery and it kicked off a lifetime collection.

We received matching sterling cups with our names and wedding date engraved on them. Never used. Carried them for 17 years and recently gave them away. Not useful.

My in-laws let us select an Amish quilt from their local makers (they live in rural Lancaster Co PA.) We have it today very well worn. Very useful.

Money! Every time in a handmade card or something like it.

Thinking of utility, one of the best gifts we got for a housewarming years ago was a pasta bowl set with serving bowl. Almost everyone eats pasta and this is the ideal way to serve it (and a lot of other things)

When I google i see a lot of tacky ones, and a nice one from PB but used!

You could get something like these and a larger bowl from the same line

You could put it in a basket with fancy pasta, a can of marzano, wedge of aged parm, a basil plant, and the Hazan recipe. This brand is gift-worthy:

https://www.rustichella.it/durum-wheat-classic-pasta/classic-long-pasta/?lang=en

I would get a gift for the seven year old! Get him something special to mark the occasion. His parents are being or will be showered with presents 😎. I would get him a new video game or a subscription to a game service if he plays online, or a great book if thats what he likes, or an itunes gc for downloading movies he can watch during the inevitable excruciatingly boring errands he will be on with jis parents while they prepare for the reception. His parents won’t notice the absence of a gift they aren’t expecting and he will be delighted and love you forever.

Thanks for all the ideas.. I have been losing power off and on the last hour so going to try to get this in before power goes down again!

I am torn. I like the wedding bowls and personalized items-- but I don't really think they "fit" them.

Also, this is a pre-wedding gift.. something to mark the start of their new combined family (though they have all been living together since a few months after the pandemic started). While the marriage is between my niece and her fiancé-- he has loved my great nephew as his own and has really stepped up to the role of "dad". I don't know what that means in terms of gifts lol.. but I guess it is what I want to mark and celebrate now.. the actual wedding gift will come with all the others when they have their reception in the spring. But then again, the actual wedding date is now.

I have decided against pottery. For her first marriage I took her to a well-known local pottery shop and she selected her gifts-- it was a fun day that we shared and while there was no surprise, it was a great day and she loves the pieces she chose. But.. since I gave her pottery for her first wedding, I am feeling a little icky about giving the same for her second marriage. Two different people.. two very different relationships and dynamics.. but I feel icky and a little superstitious.

I like the idea of a pasta maker-- though I am pretty sure they'd want a hand cranked one (am I crazy? I prefer hand cranked) and I love those beautiful pasta bowls packaged just as Mtn suggests with all the fixings for a wonderful family meal. It would definitely be something they would all enjoy together..

I am going to give it some more thought.. thank you for sharing so many ideas.

KSWL, that is brilliant!

One of the things my niece mentioned when we were last together is how much she enjoyed when I used to take her to the ballet.. and cirque du soleil ... and other such events. They are a musical family and also love broadway shows. Maybe I could get them tickets to a show they would all like. Not a traditional wedding gift.. but there's time for that. It would be a great family experience.

My own niece did not want objects when she got married, as she does not collect anything.

For someone like her, the best gift would be luxurious towels or his & hers luxurious bathrobes. Even if they have other towels, these wear out and need to be replaces fairly often.

You may or may not have time to personalize towels or bathrobes.

Quilts are nice also, and when my nephew got married, I told my first cousin that he and his bride would love the quilt that she had made that had cowboys and broncos on it, and so she gave that to them. Later, my cousin told me that she got the best thank you note from the bride that she had ever received. Obviously, my nephew is a cowboy.

An 18” table top lazy susan would be nice. Maybe a nice wood one with a slight lip. Those come in handy for many things. Could be used in a vanity area, kitchen , dining room or just for entertaining.

Or, I like the tickets idea.

Stay in your lane and wait for the reception just like everyone else. They have planned a private event, help them keep it.

Thank you, Lars and JT and everyone else I didn't thank individually!

I do not intend to give money or a traditional wedding gift now-- that will come later. I wanted to do something in October to recognize either the wedding date.. or the joining of a new family. I am leaning more to the family gift. I love the idea of an experience for them to share -- unfortunately the family-friendly events are limited for the remainder of the year unless I send them to NYC which increases the cost of the gift very quickly. There are a number of shows they want to see coming coming here to Hershey next year so I'll consider that as a Christmas gift. I will keep looking though.. I really like the idea.

I will definitely do a Christmas ornament-- but that will also be a Christmas gift.

The reason for the ceremony at the courthouse is not related to wanting privacy, Arcy-- but I can see how that would be the case for some other couples. A lot has changed for them this year and they opted, somewhat last minute, to legally marry this year.

I love your idea of celebrating them coming together as a family. Do they have a solo stove for their yard? I am thinking solo stove, smores kit, enameled mugs, maybe engraved, cocoa mix…….. Or maybe a custom cornhole board, but that may take too long.

That's a great idea, Localeater-- but yes, they have one. It is definitely the direction I am thinking though.

So many great ideas- just saw this and thought it was cute.

https://www.uncommongoods.com/product/personalized-hearts-four-across-game

Love the solo stove idea! They make mini tabletop smore kits as well.

You know me...is there a local gardens or something that you could give a . family membership? Maybe a membership to something that would be fun for the seven year old? An aquarium? A zoo? And then a gift certificate for a restaurant nearby? (Any chance they are near me? A Longwood membership and dinner in Kennett Square would be a great family gift.)

Jojoco, our minds are melded this morning. I was also looking for a good membership/subscription! I discovered last night that I was too late to purchase Hershey Theatre Broadway subscriptions but given this is a FAMILY gift, I think I am set on a generous Hershey Megalopolis gift card (not the real name) gift card that can be used at the Hershey Theatre, Hersheypark, Hersheypark Dark Nights (Halloween park), Candylane (Christmas park), and many of the event venues, attractions and even local restaurants. BTW if you haven't been to Hershey Theatre, it is lovely.. and provides a broad range of entertainment from Broadway shows, ballet to music concerts. I've seen everything from Buddy Guy to the Russian Ballet there.

The other option is the Franklin Institute which they have also enjoyed... but I like the variety of options with Hershey and it is in our backyard.

We are close enough to you for me to have bought Longwood memberships (In the past) for my parents.. but much as *I* love it, I think Hershey is a better fit for their family. Thanks!!

I just need to think of a creative way to package it.. I am thinking chocolate of course but maybe some items from some of the shows.. and some mittens for the wintery Candylane.

My niece's husband has done professional photography on the side for years. A new family with puppy sounds like the ideal situation to reserve a family photo shoot. Do you know a photographer who does this kind of thing at your preferred site? Autumn shoots are the best!!!

Stay in your lane and wait for the reception just like everyone else. They have planned a private event, help them keep it.

Another post written out of ignorance.

It's actually proper and traditional to send the gifts to the bride's home before or after the wedding. Bringing gifts to the wedding or reception adds an additional burden to the couple who then have to lug everything home after the reception.

Party_music also a great idea but they have had a few photo shoots over the last few months.. and will have one at the courthouse. Thank you!

Someone turns bellicose on a gift thread? SMH

@mtnrdredux_gw Consider the source!

it's just another one of her "Hit and Run" comments. I do believe that she notches her bedpost with each one.

I was scurrying to post before a meeting. I know a Hershey gift card may seem strange but really, the number of properties and venues owned by Hershey is wild.. Hershey Gardens, the Spa at Hershey, ZooAmerica, Hershey Arena (Hershey Bears hockey), Hershey Stadium (rock concerts) a number of restaurants in the area as well as the theater and amusement park. The whole town is geared towards family entertainment. I am surprised I never thought of this before. It was sparked by their love of Broadway and wanting to initiate their son to the theater but there are so many different things to do throughout the year and as his/their interests change. I feel good about this gift.. and given that there are 4 Broadway shows coming up that my niece has said they want to see, I think they will ALL be pleased.

And I think it will be fun to package.. ideas welcome!

pffft .. i don't expect anything more or less. I don't let it ruffle my feathers unless it is false information or it hurts someone. *I* know my role and relationships with my family-- a snide remark isn't going to make me question or doubt myself.

I would get a big bag of Hersheys’s kisses personalized for them, put them in a big lidded glass jar, tied w a French ribbon. Then tie a smaller ribbon holding a card w gift card inside. Voila Voila!

Years ago one our favorite gifts to give were beautiful wood crafted kaleidoscopes with colored glass inside.

An elegant apothecary jar would be perfect. They are always available for a song at Marshalls or TJ Maxx. May I suggest you sign it "With hugs and kisses, Funky"

Why did i think you used to be able to personalize the little paper tail? cant find that.

Mtn, you did used to be able to have the tails customized!... and they used to have much nicer Hersheys gifts. Now you can get stickers for the bottom of kisses or wrappers for the bars and some pretty junky souvenirs. I know the spa will put together a nice little gift package -- but doesn't seem to be many other options.

I think it is a jar filled with kisses.. not as exciting as i wanted but it will do the job.