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teachingmyown
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| Posted: July 14 2007 at 6:08pm | IP Logged
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We are going to a wedding next weekend. The bride is dh's stepsister. She is 19 and I believe the groom is the same age. They had a baby this Spring. I wish I could feel that this is just a pair of kids who put the cart before the horse but are now on the right track, but I am not so sure.
But they are getting married and we pray that they really intend to stay committed for the long haul.
My question is about a gift. I went to Kohl's today and got a pair of large wall plaques, one with a Scripture verse (love is patient, love is kind...) and the other with an inspirational quote. Now that I am home, I am reconsidering.
Is it pointless to give them something like that, especially if I think it would end up in a closet? They didn't register, so I have no idea what they want or need. I want to encourage them, give them something with beauty, but I want to do it in a way that won't turn them off.
Any other gift ideas? I love to give books, but I know that books we have given her over the years have sat on a shelf unopened. 
Thanks for any ideas.
__________________
In Christ,
Molly
wife to Court & mom to ds '91, dd '96, ds '97, dds '99, '01, '03, '06, and dss '07 and 01/20/11
Remembering Today
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Mary K
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| Posted: July 14 2007 at 6:15pm | IP Logged
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I think the plaques are a lovely idea. A young couple with a baby is probably going to be using income towards food, rent, diapers etc. and decorative items are at the end of the list.
God bless,
Mary-NY
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hylabrook1
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| Posted: July 15 2007 at 10:17am | IP Logged
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With them being so young, I assume not having lived on their own (unlike someone who is 35 and has had their own home for years), that they would really appreciate help with getting the mundane things they need for their own home. You know, things like bath towels, dishes. I know it's hard because they haven't registered, so you don't know exactly what they need of want. Could you ask her parents? The plaques you found sound like they're very nice and I agree about them probably not having extra money for house decorations. But I still think I would be sure they don't need some more basic things; these kinds of things might not be exciting, but when you don't have them you really appreciate someone getting them for you.
Just my 2 cents. 
Peace,
Nancy
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sewcrazy
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| Posted: July 15 2007 at 10:28am | IP Logged
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I too think that mundane might be more needed by them at this time. The plaques sound lovely, but might end up not appreciated.
We often give a nice starter tool set to young newly weds. Often people just starting out lack these, and you don't have to worry about getting the right color.
LeeAnn
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teachingmyown
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| Posted: July 15 2007 at 3:02pm | IP Logged
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Thanks for the suggestions. I had my dh call his dad and clarify the new couple's living arrangements after the wedding so we would have an idea of what they might need. It turns out that they will be living with my in-laws. So, really, they won't need anything household related right now.
So, do I go with the plaques? Anything else? Gift certificates, maybe?
__________________
In Christ,
Molly
wife to Court & mom to ds '91, dd '96, ds '97, dds '99, '01, '03, '06, and dss '07 and 01/20/11
Remembering Today
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Betsy
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| Posted: July 15 2007 at 3:57pm | IP Logged
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+JMJ+
Are they Catholic?
If they are I might give them a beautiful Crucifix, Bible or Rosary (you can get the engraved with the wedding date on the back), or Statue of Mary or Sacred Heart of Jesus.
They probably won't appreciate these, but I am always surprised at what people keep out "for decoration" because they got it as a wedding gift, etc. You never know what will be the seed!!!!
Otherwise, if you wanted to be a bit more covert I would have a few Masses said for them...you wouldn't have to even tell them!
Betsy
P.S. Another way to evangelize a bit would be to buy some beautiful books for their new baby. Weight of a Mass comes to mind, but that might not be right...but something from Catholic Mosaic might work.
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Dawnie
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Molly,
Dh and I started out that way, too...I had never lived on my own before we married, and his only experience living on his own was 2 years in a college dorm.
I was really thankful for all the household items we received...there's no way we could have afforded to just buy all that stuff ourselves--the kitchen items, towels, sheets, etc., etc...
One of my favorite gifts was a Better Homes and Gardens cookbook. I didn't really know how to cook and the cookbook had all kinds of recipes and a basics section.
Another thing that would have been VERY useful would have been a book/guide to budgeting. Several years into our marriage, I bought The Catholic Answers Guide to Family Finances. Recently, dh and I have been listening to Dave Ramsey CD's from the Financial Peace University course my in-laws took. We are also reading his book, Financial Peace. Honestly, I think some good guidance concerning managing money would be one of the best gifts you could give a newly married couple, ESPECIALLY a young couple who may not realize how much trouble they can get into by using credit card debt to live outside their means.
It is so hard to know what others will like for decorations...even with religiously themed items, some people like a more traditional style, others like a more modern looking style. You just never know! I didn't even know what I relaly liked for my own house until after I'd lived in it a few years.  Personally, I would much rather do my own decorating, rather than trying to make something someone else bought for me fit into my home.
However, if anyone ever wants to buy me a decorative item, I LOVE Mary statues!!!
That's my long-winded way of saying that, imo, I think something very functional would be a better gift than a decorative item.
I know it's boring and not very personal, but good ol' CASH is ALWAYS appreciated! You're not tied down to spending it at a particular store, like with a gift card.
hth,
Dawn
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Mom to Mary Beth (99), Anna (02), Lucia (04), Clara (06), and Adelaide Victoria (2/28/09)
Visit my blog!Water Into Wine:Vino Per Tutto!
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4Real Forums : Tea and Conversation
Topic: Wedding gift for very young couple
