Prepare to start shopping for affordable wedding presents — chances are you’ll be attending more nuptials this year than usual.
The COVID-19 outbreak disrupted countless plans in 2020, from concerts and marathons to graduations and weddings. While limiting gatherings was essential to slow the virus, it left many Americans dealing with disappointment, loss and sadness.
Couples who planned to marry in 2020 faced a few options. They could press ahead and trim their guest lists, marry in 2020 and postpone the reception to 2021, or delay the entire celebration until the following year.
A survey by The Knot found nearly 32% of couples who married delayed their receptions, and 15% postponed their whole weddings to 2021. Add those rescheduled receptions to the weddings already set for this year, and you may discover you’ve got a full calendar of ceremonies to attend.
15 Budget-Friendly Wedding Gift Ideas
Seeing loved ones and celebrating new marriages is wonderful, but your bank account might not be thrilled about footing the bill for numerous wedding gifts. If you want to save by giving handmade or upcycled presents, consider one of these wedding gift suggestions.
Here are 15 heartfelt, wallet-friendly wedding present ideas that don’t skimp on meaning.
1. Custom Jigsaw Puzzles
Puzzles enjoyed a comeback during the pandemic as a non-screen pastime for individuals and families — they make a cozy gift for a newlywed pair.
If the couple enjoys puzzling, commission a custom jigsaw featuring a photo from their engagement shoot (or their pandemic ceremony if they had one), or an image from a favorite trip. Shutterfly offers several layouts, from single-photo designs to collages, perfect for an activity they can do together.
2. Hand-Painted Plant Pots
Many people picked up gardening during lockdown. If your friends have expanded their collection of succulents or houseplants, gift them a hand-decorated pot to showcase their greenery.
Follow the guidance at Fine Gardening to ensure the pots look polished and unique.
3. Scrabble Tile Name Frame
Repurpose old Scrabble tiles to craft a distinctive art piece for the couple. You can search Etsy if you’d rather buy one than make it, but it’s a straightforward and inexpensive DIY project with big charm.
Scout thrift stores for vintage Scrabble sets (or raid a family member’s game stash). Use a shadow-box frame and affix the couple’s names to a cardboard backing. Add their wedding date in calligraphy, or embellish with small heart or floral stickers.
4. Custom Recipe Book
A personalized cookbook is, as Savvy Eats puts it, “one of the best gifts you’ll ever give.”
Rather than only including your go-to dishes, collect favorite recipes from the couple’s family and friends. Have contributors type their recipes and a short note, then assemble them into a meaningful keepsake.
With more people cooking at home these days, your gift will inspire the newlyweds to try new meals together. If your budget allows, add a small kitchen item like baking sheets, potholders or matching aprons.
5. Wooden Photo Display
A shabby-chic photo hanger makes a charming and affordable gift.
While Heels in the Mud doesn’t list every step, the project is simple — bring a picture of the idea to your local hardware store if you need help. The concept uses a stained 2×4, a wire stretched across, and decorative clips to hold photos.
Customize it further by painting the couple’s names and wedding date on one of the boards.
6. Message Plates
Believe it or not, Sharpies work wonders for customizing ceramic plates. Try the “giving plate” concept from Orthodox Mom.
You can design plates to be used as reusable platters for sharing treats during holidays, or decorate a few with the couple’s favorite recipes.
7. Photo Coasters
The photo coasters project is easier than it appears and very economical. Allow sufficient drying time for the sealer over images adhered to tile coasters.
Use crisp photos of the couple or printed maps of meaningful locations for a pretty and practical present.
8. Hand-Painted Song Lyrics
If you know the couple’s first-dance song and your handwriting is neat, a lyric-painted canvas like the one shown at Swiish makes a striking, sentimental gift.
It’s the sort of piece many people would proudly display in their home.
9. DIY Welcome Mat
Whether the newlyweds have lived together for a while or are just moving in, a handmade welcome mat is a fun and useful gift.
Follow the step-by-step instructions at Curbly to create a colorful, customized doormat.
10. Milestone Wine Collection
Put together a curated wine set for celebrating life’s milestones, complete with personalized tags.
Take cues from Just Measuring Up and create labels for events like the couple’s first snowfall, first Valentine’s Day and first anniversary. Use printable tags or design your own, attach them to bottle necks and arrange the wines in a basket.
11. Wedding Cross-Stitch
Cross-stitch became a popular hobby during lockdown. If you’ve learned the craft, stitch a unique piece to commemorate the wedding — for any couple configuration.
Find patterns at The Spruce Crafts, or design a custom motif celebrating the couple.
12. Map Wall Art
Travel may still be limited for some, so bring a sense of adventure into the couple’s home with map-themed art.
This DIY from Delightfully Noted highlights three spots — where they met, where they wed and where they live. Source an inexpensive map and frame, then assemble a memorable keepsake that’s both thoughtful and budget-friendly.
13. Painted Wine Glasses
Registry wine glasses are common, but you can elevate the idea by creating hand-painted glasses for a personalized, memorable present.
Eat, Drink and Save Money offers tutorials using chalkboard paint as well as gloss enamel or glass-markers to achieve different looks.
14. DIY String Heart
String art is approachable for beginners. A heart-shaped string piece is a unique gift that complements many décor styles.
Learn how to craft your own at Green Wedding Shoes. Because string art allows infinite pattern variations, your creation will be one-of-a-kind.
15. Artistic Pillow Covers
Create playful pillow covers for their couch using plain cases as a base. You can embroider a message (extra points if you embroider well) or paint designs using a tutorial like the one from Brit + Co.
This inexpensive craft needs minimal supplies you likely already own, and results in a fun, cherished wedding gift.
Whether you have one wedding or a dozen on the calendar, you can keep costs low and delight the couple with a handmade present. Which project will you tackle first?
Jordan Ellis is a contributor to Savinly.
For more budget-friendly ideas, also consider checking out cheap wedding food ideas.
