How to Buy a Wedding Gift for Someone You Don't Know

Your wife's long-lost cousin? Your co-worker's son? No matter. With just the tiniest bit of effort you can settle on the right way to mark their union.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Bridal Registries
• Wedding Albums
• Wedding Gifts
• Cookware
• Fine China

1. Find out whether there's a registry. If there is and you're comfortable choosing off the list, you're golden. If there's nothing in your price range or the good stuff's already gone, at least you've learned a little about the couple's tastes.
2. Ask people in the know: her boss, his best friend and so on. Get an idea about the couple's interests and shop for a gift certificate to match. Are they big on hiking? Try EMS or REI.
3. Get them a gift certificate to a store with something for everyone, if you can't pin down their interests.
4. Take yourself to the mall or shop online, if you really want to pick out a gift yourself. Make sure it's returnable, though. No one needs extra items that don't fit their taste lurking around the house.
5. Avoid regifting that clunky glass vase or clashing colored ceramic pitcher; save those for the white elephant gift exchange or your spring garage sale.
6. Give the gift of money if you're in a pinch for time or you want to be certain they'll make use of your gift.