The Best Wedding Gifts in 2022: The New York Times Guide
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Engagement rings, dresses, dress codes, venues and menus — there are plenty of things to stress over when planning a wedding. Gifts should, hopefully, not be among them. (Opening gifts, though, may be another story.) But whether you’re a couple putting together a registry or a guest shopping for newlyweds, it never hurts to have a little inspiration.
Experts have already told The New York Times what wedding gifts they’d suggest for foodies, new parents, people who have enough stuff and those who want to be more socially conscious. The opinions in this article were solicited from authorities of a different sort — namely, 108 couples whose weddings were featured in The New York Times, each of whom were asked in an email to share the best wedding gift they received and why they loved it.
Read on for a selection of those gifts as well as for gift-giving tips and trends that we observed in the couples’ responses. Among those takeaways: Personalizing certain items (whiskey glasses, cutting boards, even Monopoly editions) can make them more special; chipping in on a group gift can be just as meaningful as giving one on your own; and the thought behind a gift, as the adage suggests, can matter as much to recipients as the gift itself.
Don’t Be Afraid to Go Off Registry
Registries are always a good way to get a sense of what newlyweds desire, but 55 couples told us that the best gift they had received was not from their registry. One of those couples, Bridgette Summers, 34, and Andrew Wicks 33, received a handmade marbles game modeled after an heirloom version that belonged to her maternal great-grandfather. “We were totally surprised and incredibly grateful,” the couple said. “It wasn’t something we even thought was possible.”
The handmade Chinese teapot ($62) and teas given to Sarah Santucci and Kevin Zhang, both 28, were something the couple said they never would have thought to ask for. “The tea ceremony is a whole sensory experience that forces the participants to slow down and savor,” the couple said. “When we make it, we not only appreciate the taste, but the smells, the texture of the pottery and even the cleanup and carefully putting the set away.”
China Sets Beyond the Basic
China is seemingly as desirable as ever, with several couples naming sets bought from their registries as their favorite wedding gift.
For something a bit simpler, Caitlin Thompson, 36, and Richard Thompson, 39, suggested Juliska’s white four-piece Berry & Thread set ($156) that they had been given. The pieces, they said, “are incredibly well made, wash and stack well and are much more practical than a formal china set that might only be used on holidays or special occasions.”
Colorful, Mix-and-Match Glasses
Two couples said their favorite gifts had come from Estelle Colored Glass, a Black-owned business.
Chelsea Crowder-Luke, 30, and Emerson Luke, 35, also received a set of six of the brand’s stemmed wine glasses, which come in colors including blush pink, cobalt blue and mint green. They described the pieces as “heirloom-worthy glassware” and said the glasses were particularly fun to use at dinner parties.
Air Fryers Are Seemingly Foolproof
The air fryer came up more than any other kitchen appliance, with five couples naming it as the best gift they’d received. (Three of them had included air fryers on their registries; two had not.)
Newlyweds Like Pizza …
Two couples — Olivia Barket and Cory Yeffet, both 29, and Jacob Rowton and Morgan Wolfe, both 26 — named the Ooni Karu 12 Multi-Fuel Pizza Oven ($399), which they each had registered for, as their favorite gift.
“This gift gave us a new hobby to do as a couple,” Mr. Rowton and Ms. Wolfe said. Ms. Barket and Mr. Yeffet agreed, saying the oven is “a fun way to bring people together.”
For a couple who enjoys pizza and lives in (or likes to visit) New York, Emily Maretsky, 34, and Isaiah Bryant, 36, suggest tickets to one of Scott’s Pizza Tours in the city (prices vary). A tour was not on their registry, but they loved it. “It was so unexpected and fun,” Ms. Maretsky said.
… and Caffeine
An appliance almost as popular as the air fryer: the espresso machine. “This wedding gift has transformed our morning — putting smiles on our faces, connecting conversations over coffee and providing a daily boost of energy,” said Lindsay Martuscello, 33, and Jason Martuscello, 34, of the Breville Barista Pro ($850) that someone had bought from their registry.
Two less expensive machines from De’Longhi were also recommended. Jennifer Valdes-Skogen, 37, and Brian Skogen, 41, suggested their 15-Bar Pump Espresso & Cappuccino Machine ($200), while Blake Song, 27, and Bailey Kinsolving, 28, recommended their Dedica Deluxe Espresso Machine ($380).
Coffee drinkers may appreciate subscriptions to Trade and MistoBox (prices vary for both), gifts that Ryan Watzel, 35, and Matthew Sipe, 32, didn’t register for but called “very practical.”
Hobbies Provide Inspiration
Several newlyweds said the best gifts they’d received were items from their registries that appealed to favorite pastimes.
Of their Yeti Hopper M20 Soft Backpack Cooler ($325), Elizabeth Conway, 36, and Kyle Manley, 35, said they “can think of very few excursions where we haven’t put it on our backs or loaded it in the car.”
A Specific Linens Brand Kept Coming Up
Items from Brooklinen, a brand that our colleagues at Wirecutter have reviewed a lot, were mentioned more than those from any other line of linens.
Memorialize the Invitation
Many couples put lots of thought and time into designing their wedding invitation, and a handful of newlyweds said their favorite gifts acknowledged that creativity.
Heather Hwalek, 35, and Taylor Washburn, 41, said such a gift could be as simple as the “lovely framed set of our wedding invitation and high-resolution photo” that they had received. For a more functional option, Mosheh Oinounou, 40, and Alexandra Sall, 33, recommended Current Home’s acrylic tray ($250), which showcases an invitation. “We will cherish it for years,” they said.
Particularly unique was the stone tile imprinted with the invitation of Candace Tucker, 36, and Iam Tucker, 39. “We absolutely loved our wedding invitations, and this was a way to commemorate and display that day in an elegant way in our home,” Mr. Tucker said of the custom tile from Artstones by Heavenly Delights (price upon request).
Airbnb Gift Cards as Alternatives to Honeymoon Funds
For a gift that’s a little more personal than a donation to a honeymoon fund, consider an Airbnb gift card, which can be put to use on a post-wedding trip or a subsequent couples’ getaway. “We were able to use Airbnb gift cards on our honeymoon and future travel together,” said Jamie Drucker, 35, and Scott Huber, 36.
Adam Dalva and Alana Salguero, both 36, said their gift card “immediately gave us something exciting and new to look forward to after the wedding, and let us talk about the future and how we’d want to spend it together.”
Jack Kramer and Geordon Wollner contributed research.