Wedding gifts can be difficult to plan for, and it’s easy to run out of ideas – especially when all your friends seem to be getting married at once. Creating a memorable gift doesn’t have to be expensive. After all, you can take something you’d usually give, such as a bottle of wine, and make it memorable, so that it can be enjoyed long after the special day has come and gone.

1.  Message in a bottle

A great gift can be made out of colourful bottles.  Decorate them with ribbons and paint and label them “first anniversary” or any other milestone that’s important to you. Then ask the wedding guests to write down tips, advice, or a memory of the couple, slip them into the bottle, and cork it, to be opened on the first anniversary.

 2.  Milestone wine basket

Fill a basket with bottles of wine or champagne and label them with your choice of “firsts”, be it first anniversary, fight, Valentine’s Day, Christmas, New Year’s Eve, or Dinner Party together. Add a tag to the basket which reads:

“A basket of wine for a special pair – wrapped in all different colours for you both to share. We hope that you are both always as happy as today.  Please share this wine just the way that we say.”

• Wedding Night

After a wedding day that was surely great,
You can open this for a late night date
Your friends and family all came to share
The best day of your life for the perfect pair
You are in our hearts and you shine with light
This champagne is meant for your wedding night!

• Honeymoon

Forget the planning, forget the cake
You’re off on adventures for goodness sake
This time is for you to relax
And enjoy your new partner to the max
You can wait for midnight or start at noon
This wine is meant for your honeymoon!

• First fight
  

You’re angry and mad and tempers flare
You need it to end right then and there
Open this bottle and make amends
And see how quickly the argument ends
Toast each other and make up with a kiss
The very best way to settle all this!

• First dinner party

Set out the china, crystal, flatware
Scatter some flowers here and there
Open your home and invite all your friends
Laugh and enjoy until the night ends
Once the guests leave and it’s just you two
Share this wine while the dishes you do!

• First anniversary
  

Been married a year – where did the time go?
No longer newlyweds, now you are pros!
Hope the days found you in good health and good spirit.
Keep saying I love you – one always needs to hear it!
Now toast this first date, as you elegantly dine
This is your first anniversary bottle of wine!

• First girl’s night

Friends are like a good glass of wine,
You just want to spend more time.
Put on your mascara, hairspray your curls.
There’s just nothing like a night out with the girls

• First Christmas Eve
  

The Tree, the lights, decorations and more
Family, friends, and gifts galore
Awaiting Santa’s arrival from the chimney above
A holiday filled with laughter and love!
So open this bottle and enjoy the night
it’s a Christmas Eve gift that will surely delight.

• First New Years
  

On January 1st,
While sharing some kisses…
Drink this bottle,
To toast the New Year
As Mr. and Mrs.

• First Valentine’s Day

Roses are red and violets are blue
This Valentine’s Day will be special for you
Whether you get flowers or chocolate or even some bling
This wine can be enjoyed with almost anything!
Be sure to share with (Groom) a hug and a kiss
For many more Valentines of pure bliss!

Pay careful attention to the names of the wines, such as the “Angry Wife” for the first fight, or “red Heart” for Valentine’s Day which adds a special touch to the gift. Click here to get ready-made tags

3.  A basket of Candles

A basket of candles that come in a pair
in all different colours, for you two to share
The white ones burn first; they are wrapped in white lace
To celebrate your first married night in your new chosen place.

The green pair is taller, and also much thinner;
Burn with the first company you have over for dinner.
The dark blue candles are for after your first fight;
Use them to burn while making up all night.
Pink candles set the mood and pave the way
for your first married Valentine’s Day.

Now, when your first year of marriage is through,
the cream anniversary pair, will light for you two.
Red candles aflame, both your futures are bright;
celebrate promotions you’ve worked toward with all of your
might. By this time we hope, maybe, just maybe
you can light the purple ones, on the birth of your baby.

And just when you thought you’d put these away,
take the light blue ones out for your fifth anniversary day.
Now just one more pair left – for the big “two five” –
the anniversary pair that will keep your love alive.
Congratulations (Bride and Groom) on the start of your forever.

May the two of you always be happy together.
And burn these candles just the way we said,
but please don’t forget: blow them out before bed!

You will need two of each coloured candle:

• White
• Green
• Navy blue
• Pink
• Cream
• Red
• Purple
• Light blue
• Silver (although the poem doesn’t mention silver directly, it symbolizes 25 years of marriage).

Apart from the colour, you have free creative reign over what the candles will look like. You can fill the basket with candles of all shapes, sizes, and scents. Print the poem on beautiful stationery so the bride can keep it long after their wedding day.

Share your great wedding gift ideas with us!

Main image attributed to Occasions.