Second Wedding Present Ideas

Don’t feel constrained by it being a second wedding. Lots of nice wedding gifts are not about “need”. For example, I think you could gift a crystal decanter for a second wedding just as easily as you could gift a crystal decanter for a first wedding!

If they live in a small apartment or something like that, gift cards are great. But if she is a long-time friend and they live in a spacious house, I think you might as well get them an elegant gift. These days second weddings are not considered any less “elegant” in spirit (regardless of the very fun and relaxed party they are doing).

In a similar situation, we did 2 gift certificates to a place they like to travel to regularly. One was for a nice dinner and the other was for an ice cream place.

why does it matter if it's her second marriage? Come on.

Why not do something special that you know they will like? Something outside the box. Maybe they are the outdoorsy type? If so, find a package for zip-lining or something like that with a food package so they can have lunch or dinner afterwards?

Maybe a hot air balloon ride?
Maybe a private chef for the evening (you can get these on Groupon or even on places like Nextdoor)??

if they like beer? A beer of the month club membership.
If they like wine? A wine of the month club membership.

There are so many options out there! Do you know this friend WELL??

why not get them a gift card to a nice restaurant near their home? that would be nice.

A good bottle of champagne and a card?

Gift certificate for a couple's spa treatment or massage, or a gift certificate to their favorite restaurant. If you know the area where they live and their interests, maybe a gift certificate to a class such as a cooking class, or an evening at one of those classes where you paint or create pottery while enjoying a glass of wine. If they're active and enjoy the beach, then maybe a dinner cruise around the harbor gift certificate.

Less expensive options could be a beautiful new picture frame for their new wedding photos. If they already have a home, maybe something new for the home that will remind them of their wedding, such as nice new skewers for their grill, or two new wine glasses that are unbreakable so they can enjoy a glass of wine around their fire pit or on their patio.

Or, if you take a particularly good photo at the ceremony or afterwards (or if you know someone who took a great photo), have the photo produced on glass (Fractureme.com is a good site) for their new home and new lives together.

Tickets to an event or a hot air balloon ride, wine festival or something like that.

A nice bottle of wine, or (depending on your budget) tickets to a show/event, concert, theater, comedy club, ball game, etc.

Just because it's a second marriage doesn't mean it can't be celebrated...congratulations to them for finding love again!

A gift card to a great restaurant
A spa package for two
a hot air balloon ride
a stunning plant that you say something like "may this plant grow and flourish like your love and life"

1st, 2nd or 5th wedding, celebrate it. don't judge, sounds like what you are doing.

I would get them a gift card to a great restaurant, someplace they would like to go but didn't want to spend that kind of money.

A gift card for a hot air balloon ride near them.
Is there something they love to do together? Some friends of ours just got married, both 2nd marriage for both of them. They love to gamble. We got them a grand hotel room at the casino they like to go to along with chips to start their weekend fun!

Take pictures and put together a wedding book for them afterwards. Have everything ready beforehand (book, materials, etc.) If you get it at Hallmark, the couple can add pages and continue your idea.

A friend of mine received a gift for a meal out to a really cool restaurant (kind of eccentric) that had a B&B attached (so they could make a weekend getaway out of it if they wanted).

That kind of thing would be really nice.

Or if you want to go a bit more simpler, a nice bottle of champagne or wine (or with a frame) kind of idea would be great also :)

ETA: JC makes a good point. When I've gone to second weddings, and actually, all the weddings I've gone to recently (especially 'casual' type weddings such as the one you're describing), the bride/groom have specifically let close friends and family know they would like checks. They have a little basket or box just for that purpose set up. That way, they can pool the money for a trip, or whatever they want. Maybe before you go ahead with your idea, check around and see if there's something like that?

without knowing what they like, it would have to be a very generic present that isn't tied to 'second wedding', right? bottle of wine, hand painted margarita glasses, tote bag with a clever saying, tea towels, gourmet coffee and candy, his-n-her throw pillows, cupcake subscription from local gourmet baker, coffee table cookbook, that sort of thing.
khairete
S.

Hi J.,
Congrats to your friend! I gave a pearl necklace to someone who got married. You could ask your friend on what that person likes.
Good luck
张燕怡

I always write a check for weddings. Can’t go wrong with that and they can’t do what they want with it.

I always get a gift for a person depending on what s/he likes. What do they like to do together as a couple?

If they are pet people- Make a donation to a rescue in their names

If they eat out---A restaurant gift card

If they like to decorate their home - Do a monogrammed/personalized FLOWER VASE, COUCH PILLOW or PLAQUE with their names and wedding date in the colors of their living space OR Maybe a plaque with a picture of a bonfire in the background with their names and date....If they decorate more casual

I'd go for an "experience" sort of gift - something they might be more likely to do if they had a little nudge from you. For example, a museum (art, sculpture, science, historical), an aquarium or a botanical garden membership (so they can visit anytime at the drop of a hat, and enjoy discounts at special programs, the gift shop, the café, etc.). If they live near water, try a whale watch or a river cruise. Around here, there's a section with a ton of restaurants, and they have 1 or 2 "restaurant week" programs during the year, in which you buy a fixed price ticket and then have options about a main course at one place, dessert at another, etc. There are also a lot of farm-to-table restaurants popping up everywhere, merging local growers and regional cuisine/wines. Those can be mini-adventures.

If they enjoy movies together, look for a film series in their area (try colleges too), or get movie tickets from a theater (or even AAA) and package with gift certificate for popcorn/snacks and maybe a pub-style dinner nearby (whatever they like). You could package it in one of those popcorn containers or even get an empty one from the theater, then jazz it up with cellophane and ribbon.

Are they outdoorsy? How about a canoe trip or kayak rental, guided or otherwise, or a membership to a nature area or network of them, with new lightweight backpacks & stainless steel water bottles. You can get those printed at some camping places - their first names, their initials and wedding date, whatever you want.

Do they love wine? How about a wine tasting subscription? When we were in the Napa./Sonoma area, we found wine stores that sold wines from local vineyards, and which would engrave a wine bottle (your choice of any wine you like) with the couple's names and wedding date, then ship it to them. It makes a nice first anniversary gift.

I'm sure you can think of other things along these lines - go with their interests and less on an item for their house since they are well-equipped now.

I didn't go through the other's answers, so someone may have already mentioned this, but I'd do an experience gift or a membership to somewhere. Local museum, local theater, etc. Your couple sounds pretty laid back so even a gift certificate to a restaurant they enjoy would likely be appreciated.

Everyone needs a nice set of towels... a special Christmas decoration or ornament to celebrate their wedding...
LBC

In my culture we always give money. Second or not ( not sure why that matters actually) in fact usually 2nd marriages are longer lasting.. since people tend not to make the same mistakes twice!
all have stuff they gathered... but everyone can always use some money. And if you are not sure what they have or need or they are not registered.. money is best!

One guest at my wedding gave us a cute basket of candles that went along with a poem. Google "candle poem for wedding" and you should find it. It's a cute little poem that you could easily type up on nice paper and you buy the candles to match. It's fun for several years!

For my boss's second marriage we got her a date night basket and filled it with 2 bottles of wine, wine glasses, popcorn, and sexy lingerie plus other stuff I can't remember but she loved it. Money and gift cards are always an option.

I'd go with the 'experience' ideas (gifts for activities they can do together) or perhaps a photo album with pictures of your friend from childhood on (minus the 1st hubby, if possible) and space for her to add more photos herself. I know physical albums are kind of 20th century, but that's when you two grew up, and there is something nice about the physical thing.

Money. I know some people think that is not personal enough but it really is a good gift. Related story: a good friend of mine was recently married (not second marriage, but both of them were established with their own homes that needed to be combined). When we wanted to have a shower for her, she replied that only if it was a reverse shower and everyone was required to come empty handed and took something home! They already had more stuff than they knew what to do with!

If you really don't want to do money, if you know them well enough to get them an experience (eg, tickets to a concert you know they would like, etc), then you could do that. But you really can't go wrong with $.

How about a gift card or Groupon voucher for a couples massage? A picnic basket with glasses, plates, a tablecloth and some goodies like wine so they can go out on a weekend and celebrate? A movie theater gift certificate, or certificate to their favorite restaurant? Or how about a nice picture of them, framed, so they can hang it in their home? Maybe a voucher for a wine tasting and meal at their local winery?

Gift card for a nice restaurant or theatre show?

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Gift card for a nice restaurant or theatre show?