Clothes, cash, or gold? How to pick the perfect wedding gift

It’s that time of the year again. The time of chilly breeze, pithas, a stolen holiday and of course, weddings! 

Weddings are a merry time, but for those who have been invited, this special occasion may bring a happy case of confusion: what to gift the new couple? 

Fret not, for we have done our homework for you and found the answer. We have asked couples from all across the country about their best and worst wedding gifts, and the answer just might help you make your decision.

Clothes? Really?

Don’t get me wrong. Clothes are a good gift and very useful, but the issue with clothes is that they’re a hit or miss. Meaning it will either be the perfect gift or the most annoying one. There are too many variables to count when it comes to clothes. From colour, size, design and style and of course, personal choice. All these variables make sartorial gifts a risky choice. 

Take Sumaiya Pervin, for example. She got married four years ago, and still she remembers the one gift that she has not touched ever since. “It’s a saree. It’s not that it was a bad gift, it’s just that this type and style of saree is not my cup of tea. I just don’t want to wear it, you know?” she said. 

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Appliances or décor?

Home appliances and decorating instruments are usually a good gift according to newlyweds. “The best gift I received at my wedding was a cabinet. And personally, I think furniture is a fantastic gift for new couples. They are trying to build a new abode, and they will need to buy those anyway. This way, they get a little help in the form of a gift,” said Shahed Hasan, an engineer who has recently welcomed a baby girl. 

On the other hand, while the frequent choice of crockery as gifts can cause a conundrum, they are very useful. “After my marriage, I realised that I owned very few crockery and utensils apart from my melamine plate. So, the dinner set was a lifesaver. We can laugh at it all we want, but crockery is super useful for new couples,” observed Mohim Zobayer.    

Decorating pieces, however, is another story. They are rarely considered a useful gift and often left to gather dust. More than half of the couples we interviewed said that decorating items were the least useful gift. 

Shanjida Rimi was sharing a similar experience. “I got a wind chime, and I still have not figured out where to put it because it just does not go with our decorations”.  

Kashfia Kaba, a student who lives abroad, said, “There were a lot of decorating items in my wedding gifts, like plastic plants and wall decor made of clay. I could not use any of them.” 

Gold is forever but can’t go wrong with cash

The one gift that everyone agrees is the most useful is either gold or cash. And for good reasons. Iftakher Mahmud Ziad, a private university teacher, explained from his personal experience. “Whatever gift you are giving, there is a chance that it may not be as much appreciated as you hope. But if you give them cash, they can buy exactly what they want and need. Besides, starting a new family is quite expensive. The cash becomes very handy at such times”. 

Sumaiya shared the same view. “The gold earrings I received have become my go-to jewellery,” she elaborated. 

Besides, with cash and gold, there is no risk of there being more than one can use. These are valuable assets that can really help the newlywed venture into their new journey. Similarly, aside from cash, a trip as a gift is usually well received. 

“My elder brother paid for my honeymoon. It was very much appreciated”, recalled one Masudur Rahman.  

Make it personal

Keeping their usefulness and values aside, the only thing that can truly elevate a gift above all others is that personal touch that only comes from bonding. And gifts with personal touches are not just appreciated, they are remembered with reverence. 

“We said no gifts, but of course, many people brought gifts. Someone gifted me five books. I still have not figured out who it was. But it was a very special gift, unique from all the others,” said Nashrat Ahmed Anchal. 

Masudur Rahman recalls a personal gift with fondness. “It was a Polaroid camera. A colleague sent it to me with a small handwritten note. It was a symbol of her affection for me, and it meant a lot”. 

Our intention was not to belittle any gifts. Gifts are noble gestures, and it is the gesture that counts, not the material itself. That being said, we really hope our exploration in search of the perfect gift has been useful for you in deciding what to gift at the next wedding you are invited to. The greatest gift will always be love and blessings.