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AdvertisementI Do! Now Give Me Presents!It’s the morning after a smashing wedding. There are half empty bottles of champagne littered about the reception hall and cake frosting smeared on the tables. The bride and groom are bleary-eyed, weary after an evening of dancing and making friendly small talk with long lost relatives. The only thing that can perk the couple up, aside from a strong cup of coffee, is the mound of gifts just begging to be ripped open and catalogued. Do you really want to be the guest who handed over a set of crystal candlesticks that will get thrown in a cupboard and brought out only during the holidays? Do you really want to be the person who abused the open bar at the reception, then gave nothing but a set of oven-mitts? Really, do you? No. We didn’t think so either. It’s definitely wedding season and with that in mind, we have a whole list of desirable present options for those tricky couples who consider themselves too hip to register at The Bay. Don’t fret; we’ve got you covered, even if your budget only covers the cost of a dish towel. For the Culinary CoupleYou know the type: they’re the two lovebirds always hosting intimate dinner parties in their perfectly decorated apartment. Their walls may be beige, but their taste in food is vibrant and colourful. They’ll host wine and food pairing events and wow Christmas guests with a Turducken (a turkey stuffed with a duck, stuffed with a chicken, for those of you more comfortable with a cheeseburger and fries). They insist on making everything from scratch and coo and awe over totally frivolous and unnecessary kitchen appliances. For this couple, in the warm summer months, we suggest you give them the gift of homemade, cool, sugary goodness, a.k.a. an ice cream maker. These babies start at just over $100 and climb all the way up to just under $300. Just think, next time you pop by their place for a snack, you’ll be treated to a delicious homemade ice cream sundae and every year, on their anniversary, they can toast their wedded bliss with a bowl of cool dessert. Too rich for your blood and the couple’s waistline? Fear not... there are plenty of cheap prezzies for culinary duos. There are espresso spoons, meat tenderizers, milk frothers and even shrimp peelers that won’t set you back more than twenty bucks. You might also consider pairing a little kitchen accessory with a few tasty treats they could serve as appetizers at their next dinner party. Gourmet olives and savoury tapenades can be packaged up nicely and won’t set you back much. For the amateur movie reviewersThis couple hosts an Academy Awards viewing party every year, goes to the movies every Friday night and ravages the review section of their local paper. If you’ve got money to burn, why not consider helping them bring the big screen home by creating a home theatre? But, if that isn’t a possibility for you, there are other options. Appeal to their Oscar-loving nature by making your own gift pack of Academy-nominated flicks Include a smattering of tantalizing junk food to go with their new movies so they can enjoy a perfect, romantic night at home. For the couple who spends all their time in the backyardThese two had their wedding on their immaculately manicured lawn and take great pride in their foliage, barbequing skills and patio furniture. For gift givers with a generous budget, you can always opt to make a splash by slapping a big red ribbon on a gleaming new barbecue grill. A more inexpensive option would be to help them light up their prized possession – their backyard. A recently married couple was once overheard saying their favourite wedding gift was a string of mini lights for their garden, shaped to look like pink flamingos. (Hey, there’s no accounting for taste.) There are, of course, classier options including Victorian-style and stainless steel lamps. For the couple that already has everythingWe’re in the age of the gadget, meaning most of their wedding snaps will be in digital format. Help them display a slew of their favourites with a digital photo frame. Splurge and welcome the pair to a world of romantic luxury with opulent silk sheets. Encourage the couple’s adventurous side by giving them a handful of Lonely Planet travel guides and pair them with two classy passport holders. If all else fails, we hear an envelope full of cash always goes over well too. Happy shopping! |
