Wedding gift ideas

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So, you've come into that period of your life when it seems like a week barely passes without receiving another wedding invitation from a friend. These days, your weekends are filled with nuptials, engagement soirees, bridal showers and bachelorette parties.

Nodding your head? Then you know how quickly the cost of wedding gifts adds up.

I can't blame the bride for dreaming big and adding a $300 crystal serving bowl to her registry. As much as we'd love to make her happy, that price tag isn't reasonable for all of us.

If the registry is a bit out of your price range, consider getting creative with your gift giving. Think about things that are special to the engaged couple, and scour the Internet for inspiration. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

-- Does the bride have relatively inexpensive baking sheets or other flat bakeware on her registry? Buy that, and then personalize the gift! Find cookie cutters in shapes that have sentimental meanings to the couple. Maybe a seashell to represent their beach engagement or a music note for the high school band class where they met. Line the bakeware with pretty paper and then attach the cookie cutters, tying a tag onto each one that explains the symbolism. (Check out Sur La Table at SouthPark mall. The store has a stash of cookie cutters in various shapes.)

-- Consider a themed gift basket, possibly a date-night basket. You might include a movie, a nice bottle of wine or recipes for a romantic dinner. For an outdoorsy couple, stuff a picnic basket full of hiking trail maps, sunscreen, water bottles and trail mix.

-- Is the couple moving into a new home? Create a survival kit by filling a tool box full of stuff they'll need around the house: tape, wood glue, a level, nails in all sizes and anything else that might come in handy. If you're feeling extra creative, make tags to tie to each item with cute-but-cheesy phrases. A bottle of glue might have a tag that reads, "Create a bond that will last a lifetime."

-- One last simple, cheap and sweet gift idea: When you receive the wedding invitation, cut it into strips and curl each one around a pencil. Then, stuff the strips into a clear glass ornament. They'll remember your thoughtfulness each time they decorate their Christmas tree.

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