When Ali Busacca and Dan Belmont wed last summer, they skipped a traditional gift registry. They asked guests who wished to give a gift for cash that the couple could someday use to buy a house. "Dan and I lived together for six years before getting married. If we needed something, we purchased it," says Busacca. They were also preparing to move from a 660-square-foot New York City apartment to an even smaller one in London, leaving little room for more stuff. Plus, they prefer traveling, dining out and enjoying time with friends to acquiring things.
As you choose gifts for couples who are tying the knot this wedding season, consider that many millennials already have the housewares they need (the average age of a bride is 29, and the average groom is 31, according to a survey from wedding site TheKnot.com). They're also transient, and they desire experiences more than sheet sets or fine china. Popular items on Zola, a registry website that allows couples to ask for cash and experiences as well as physical stuff, include gift cards for stays booked through home-sharing service Airbnb, subscriptions to monthly wine club Winc, and meal-kit deliveries from Blue Apron.
If a couple is honeymooning at a resort, see if you can pay for a dinner, excursion or other activity, suggests Kristen Maxwell Cooper, executive editor of XO Group Inc./The Knot.com. At www.honeyfund.com/giftcard, you can buy a gift card redeemable with partners including Delta Air Lines, Hotels.com, Uber, and other travel outfits, restaurants and retailers. Want to boost the couple's investments? Stockpile.com offers gift cards that recipients can use to buy shares of stock. And plain old cash or a check is always an acceptable gift.
From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance
Be a smarter, better informed investor.
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
-
Small Businesses Are Racing to Use AIThe Kiplinger Letter Spurred on by competitive pressures, small businesses are racing to adopt AI. A recent snapshot shows the technology’s day-to-day uses.
-
The Me-First Rule of Retirement SpendingFollow the 'Me-First" rule and you won't have to worry about running out of money when the stock market goes south.
-
21 Last-Minute Gifts for Grandparents Day 2025 to Give Right NowHoliday Tips Last-minute gifting is never easy. But here are some ideas to celebrate Grandparents Day.
-
Texas Sales Tax-Free Weekend 2025Tax Holiday Here's what you needed to know about the Texas sales tax holiday.
-
Alabama Tax-Free Weekend 2025Tax Holiday Here’s everything you need to know about the 2025 back-to-school Alabama sales tax holiday.
-
Amazon Resale: Where Amazon Prime Returns Become Your Online BargainsFeature Amazon Resale products may have some imperfections, but that often leads to wildly discounted prices.
-
Best States to Buy Chocolate Candy Tax-FreeState Taxes There’s something spooky this Halloween, and it’s not just the ghouls. Find out if your state’s sales tax takes a bite out of sweet savings.
-
Florida Back-to-School Tax-Free Holiday 2025Sales Taxes The new tax-free holiday in Florida brought month-long savings on computers, clothing and other school supplies.
-
Roth IRA Contribution Limits for 2025Roth IRAs Roth IRAs allow you to fund your retirement with after-tax dollars while you're working, and then withdraw those contributions and earnings tax-free when you retire. Here's a look at 2025 limits and income-based phaseouts.
-
Four Tips for Renting Out Your Home on Airbnbreal estate Here's what you should know before listing your home on Airbnb.
