It’s officially upon us… wedding season! While many of you may already be dancing your way through receptions and rehearsal dinners, for George and me, our flurry of wedding activities begins this weekend. We’re kicking things off with a trip to a friend’s wedding in West Virginia, followed by two more in September… and finally, our own wedding in December. When it comes to weddings, one of the trickiest parts can be figuring out the the perfect wedding gift, especially when there’s no registry. But here’s a unique idea that I’ve come to love, hear me out: wedding gift books.
Why Books Make the Perfect Wedding Gift
Let’s face it—going off-registry can be intimidating. Without a wishlist to guide you, the options can feel overwhelming. But it’s also a great opportunity to give a gift that’s personal, meaningful, and creative. That’s where wedding gift books come in.
Books are a beautiful way to mark the beginning of a couple’s journey together. They can inspire, entertain, educate and serve as long-lasting keepsakes. Bonus tip? I like to tuck a little cash inside the boo. It’s thoughtful, practical and gives the people what they really want… CASH!
My Favorite Wedding Gift Book Ideas
Maybe your friends are adventurous newlyweds or homebodies building a nest, here are a few wedding gift book ideas that have been a hit:
- Travel Phrasebooks for Honeymooners
If the couple is going somewhere exotic on their honeymoon, a phrase or guide book is a helpful and entertaining choice. For our friends who were going to France on their honeymoon, we got them a Dirty French phrase book stuffed with cash. I hope they stunned the French with their knowledge and dirty-word skills. - Romantic Anthologies (But Skip the Advice Books)
I think marriage help or marriage advice books are way too personal to give at a wedding. Those types of books may even send the wrong message to the happy couple. But a book of other people’s love letters? Well, that just sounds divine. - Skill-Based or Hobby Books for Creative Couples
Have the bride and groom expressed interest in learning a new skill or do they have a collective hobby? Now would be a great time to give a book on canning, gardening, or homemaking skills– if your couple is into that sort of thing. I particularly like Canning for a New Generation: Bold, Fresh Flavors for the Modern Pantry. It’s filled with hi-res pictures and makes canning look surprisingly hip. - Classic Fiction for the Book-Loving Couple
Does your couple like fiction? Classic love stories like this illustrated Bronte Sisters collection would be fitting. Personally, I would prefer a few lovely classic novels to start a personal library in our home together. I’ve been wanting this Lord of the Rings box set for over a year and would love to receive it as a wedding gift. Hint, Hint!
Do you have any tips about wedding gift giving? Have you ever given a book as a wedding gift? I love the idea because it’s both giving something they can hold in their hands, but also giving the couple an experience.
Let me know in the comments!
Lovely selection of wedding gift books (the ‘Dirty Italian’ stuffed with cash made me laugh!). We once gave our friends all of Jamie Oliver’s cooking books as they had just started learning how to cook and had just discovered Jamie (they lived in the US). Visiting them a year later, I was delighted to see the books well used and covered with food stains! Great post 🙂
I’m so glad I entertained you!
Ooh! I like that classic novels boxed set! It’s very pretty!
cookbooks with money inside or a bottle of $$$ wine that would otherwise seem frivolous if you were buying it on your own.
YES. Can I just have a wedding registry for wine and books?
These all sound like great gifts. On a less romantic note, I’m going to a wedding next weekend of two good friends and when I saw them last night neither of them could shut up about how the woman is half way through the third of the Fifty Shades books. He was complaining he hasn’t seen his fiancee since she picked the books up and she was complaining she doesn’t even like the books but can’t put them down. Anyway, I’m considering giving them some *good* erotic fiction as a tongue-in-cheek wedding present… I’ve just got to be sure they don’t open it in front of their grandparents!
I love that! Definitely a personal and cheeky touch!
I love these ideas. Hopefully, if/when I get married someone thinks these are good ideas too haha.That first photo is so sweet! Because of this great post (and all the others of course) I’ve nominated you for the “One Lovely Blog” award http://megsays.wordpress.com/2012/08/03/one-lovely-blog-award/ have a happy Friday!
Thank you, Meg!
My husband and I registered for a few books (cookbooks, gardening books, and a few of our favorites that we put on the other one’s assigned reading list–I asked my husband to read Rebecca [one of my favorites] and he asked me to read 100 Years of Solitude [one of his favorites]) when we got married. Other people picked up on the theme and gave us art books or poetry books.
Thanks for stopping by my blog. You have a clever blog. Best wishes with it.
My husbands daughter opted for a beautiful rustic setting for their wedding just over a week ago. I picked out for them a photo album that I found online made out of wood and had their names inscribed on the front and some money too. Have not heard from them so not sure if it was a dud..or not…lol!
Roberta, that sounds like a beautiful gift!
I thought so too…and thought it would be perfect for the photos with the barn setting background and all..
would it be ok to give a humorous book like, “They’re Just Guidelines
A Single Person’s Guide to Marriage Rules” by C. Grubbs?
Hi Pat! I’ve never heard of that book, but I think as long as it isn’t snarky, it’d be a great gift! Thanks for reading.