11 Thoughtful Off-Registry Wedding Gifts

Generally speaking, if the bride and groom took the time to make a gift registry, you should give the couple what they ask for. But what if the only items left are dish towels and mixing spoons? If you truly feel like household items don’t fully express your love for the newlyweds, it might be appropriate to think outside the registry. Opt for one of the more creative options below, and you’re sure to make the happy couple smile.

1. GIFTLY GIFT CARD; YOUR CHOICE

After spending a ton of time and money preparing for the big day, the newlyweds will undoubtedly need a little “me” time—and perhaps a cash infusion. Instead of handing the couple an envelope of cash or a check, purchase a gift card from Giftly. You can customize the gift card (with a photo of the couple, their pet, or something else they love) as well as make recommendations for how they can spend it—a spa day or restaurant are smart picks.

Find it: Giftly

2. HERSCHEL ROSWELL NOVEL DUFFLE; $89.99

This roomy weekender from Herschel Supply Co. (which is best known for its trendy backpacks) will take the couple from the wedding night through to the honeymoon. Have it delivered before the big day, and they can pack it full of essentials they’ll need at the venue (a change of clothes, make-up for touch-ups) and then use it to tote their gifts home. Our favorite parts? The Limited Lifetime Warranty and separate shoe compartment.

Find it: Herschel Supply

3. LOCAL GIFT BASKET; YOUR CHOICE

Know the couple has a favorite local bakery, coffee house, or cheese shop? Check to see if they have gift baskets available for purchase. Fill it with the couple’s favorite goodies so they can indulge as they celebrate the end of their wedding diets.

Inspiration: Bklyn Larder; Murray’s Cheese

4. IRVING FARM COFFEE SUBSCRIPTION; $72

If the newlyweds love their morning coffee almost as much as they love each other, a monthly coffee subscription is the gift that keeps on giving. The New York City-based Irving Farm Coffee Roasters work directly with farmers around the globe to source beans that are sustainable as they are delicious. Three shipments of coffee will run you $72, and you can choose whether to have them delivered weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly, depending on the couple’s java addiction.

Find it: Irving Farm Coffee Roasters

5. MOUTH SNACK SUBSCRIPTION; $60 PER MONTH FOR 3 MONTHS

Does the couple prefer noshing to sipping? Have a sack of tasty snacks delivered each month that are sure to satisfy both salty and sweet cravings. The offerings change each month, but a recent delivery included white corn tortilla chips with smoky Peruvian pepper salsa, caraway and garlic dill pickles, black truffle popcorn, Korean BBQ beef jerky, and a peanut butter nougat chocolate bar. Know your friends’ tastes? You can also hone in on a single snack, choosing a popcorn, jerky, pickles, or cookies subscription, to name a few (price varies by subscription).

Find it: Mouth

6. CHATBOOKS CUSTOM PHOTO BOOK; STARTS AT $8 FOR A 30-PAGE PAPERBACK

Gift the couple a beautiful book of photos from their love story. Before the wedding, gather photos of happy moments from throughout their relationship and upload them to the Chatbooks app. Chatbooks automatically arranges photos in chronological order and allows you to edit captions, move photos, and pick the book’s cover. You could also offer to turn the couple’s professional wedding photos into a custom book, or upload photos you took at the wedding to share a few moments they might have missed during their own big day.

Find it: Chatbooks

7. GUESTERLY LOOKBOOK; $99 FOR AN E-GUESTERLY

With a little foresight and planning, you can add a personal touch to the wedding itself. Also created by Chatbooks, a guesterly® is part directory, part scrapbook, part program. Include a welcome letter from the couple, bios about the wedding guests and key players (family members, wedding party), answers to a personalized questionnaire sent to guests, or a schedule of the weekend’s events—it’s up to you (and the lovebirds). Print them out as palm-sized guides wedding guests can carry with them (pricing varies by number of pages) or send as a digital file.

Find it: Guesterly

8. MAPIFUL CUSTOM MAP; STARTS AT $60

Choose a place that’s meaningful to the couple—be it where they live, where they fell in love, or where they’re from—and turn it into a piece of art. Mapiful let’s you customize the location (zoom in or out as much as you like), text, and layout of your sleek black and white map. Plus, it ships for free.

Find it: Mapiful

9. ANNIVERSARY JOURNAL; $85

Help the couple celebrate their marriage, not just the wedding, with a gift that lets them record their memories for years to come. This classic, hard-bound keepsake includes space for the couple to record reflections and aspirations as well as add photos and mementos on their first through 60th anniversaries.

Find it: UncommonGoods

10. MY FAMILY COOKBOOK; $35

The couple that eats together, stays together (someone wise must have said that once, right?). Get them started by gathering recipes from their friends and family members—Mom’s dumplings, Grandpa’s borscht, or maybe the lasagna they shared on their first date—then leave the rest of the pages blank for the couple to fill in together.

Find it: UncommonGoods

11. CUSTOM IDEAL BOOKSHELF PRINT; STARTS AT $110

Is the couple on a first-name basis with Harry (Potter), Anna (Karenina), and Jane (Austen or Eyre, take your pick)? Then there’s a good chance they’ll swoon over an illustrated bookshelf print from the artist Jane Mount. Pick up to 15 of the newlyweds’ favorite books from a list of over 1500 titles that range from The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy to The Sound and the Fury.

Find it: Ideal Bookshelf