This week the Honeybee and I will celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary. All things considered, our wedding day was a very frugal affair — but that didn’t affect our celebration by any means.
And while we were married in May, it turns out that June is the most popular month for weddings — which means there are probably a lot of you out there who are struggling to find a perfect gift right now.
The good news is, after 25 years of marriage — and the benefit of hindsight — I’m going to share with you seven modest, yet enduring, wedding gifts we received and still enjoy today. Yes, 25 years later!
I realize that these gifts aren’t guaranteed to satisfy everyone, but hopefully they’ll give you some ideas you can build on.
Here they are, in no particular order:
Sauce Pan
Like any good Italian, I make pasta for dinner on a regular basis — and for 25 years I’ve been cooking my spaghetti sauce in the 16-quart stainless-steel aluminum-clad sauce pan that my Uncle Anthony and Aunt Evelyn gave us. They’ve both since passed away, but I still think about them every time I cook with it.
Bed Sheets
We still use the 500-thread count bed sheets that my friend Dee gave us as spare bedding for those times when guests stay overnight. Dee, too, is no longer here, but she was a fantastic lady who knew how to pick a truly practical wedding gift.
Hand-painted Porcelain Platter
Before she became a stay-at-home mom, the Honeybee worked as a bankruptcy paralegal. Her boss and friend, Naomi, gave us a gorgeous custom-made hand-painted porcelain serving platter that we still use to this day. Best of all, the platter was personalized with our wedding date on the underside — which comes in really handy every time I forget which day my anniversary is on. Okay … that’s a joke. Well, maybe there’s a tiny grain of truth there. Maybe.
Customized Shadow Box
My friends, Kyle and Annie, also took the personalized route: a shadow box filled with our wedding invitation and a few other mementos. What a great gift! It’s been on display in our home for 25 years, and I never get tired of looking at it.
Steak Knives
A good set of knives is one of those items that everybody needs, but tend to get pushed down on the priority list after you get married; thanks to our friends, Bill and Glenda, we have a beautiful set that we still use today.
Hand-crafted Wooden Rocker
This one arguably stretches the definition of “modest,” but the very handsome handcrafted rocking chair my sister and brother-in-law gave us has provided a lot of bang for the buck over the years. The rocker was personally signed and numbered by a guy named Clyde Otto, the craftsman who built it. Trust me: Clyde knows how to make a comfy chair.
Casserole Dish
We received a 2.5-quart CorningWare casserole dish from my friends, Javier and Chaiya. Yes, it’s rather unassuming; but its utility is unmatched — and greatly appreciated. I can’t begin to count the number of meals that have been served from that dish over the years — although there are a few I cooked that I’d like to forget.
So there you have it. I think the most important take away here is that a wedding gift doesn’t have to have a high price tag — or even be clever — to make it special or memorable. It really doesn’t.
Oh … and I know what you’re thinking: The traditional gift for a 25th wedding anniversary is silver.
Of course, rules are meant to be broken; so the Honeybee is getting Maui instead.
Photo Credit: torbakhopper
You use a 16-quart saucepan? Holy cow!
Yep, Carrie! And by the time I toss in all of the meat, that sauce pan is at least two-thirds full … and sometimes a lot more!
Hi there and happy anniversary, I like to share my wedding memories with you that I also received one of the gifts in my wedding which is still near to me. My sister gifted me a personalized bracelet which is very close to me and this idea was suggested by her friend when she was searching for gift ideas.
Did he mention that he’s Italian?
Yes! I love this list. We didn’t register for china or anything particularly expensive. We also didn’t live together beforehand, so we were basically starting from scratch. While it’s only been three years, one of my absolute favorite gifts costs less than $40 (Bed, Bath and Beyond always has 20% off). It’s a casserole dish in a hot/cold carrier. I use it for almost every family gathering, and it does double duty of regular dinners when I’m not using the transporter.
Happy Anniversary!
Thank you, Penny.
By the way, the Honeybee tells me that those BB&B coupons have an expiration date, but the one by our house accepts them anyway. Not sure if that applies everywhere, but it is worth a try.
Every BB&B I have ever patronized has accepted the coupons, no matter how long ago they expired.
And if you had to replace that CorningWare dish today, you might think the famous glassware would make a pretty good hedge against inflation.
I’m with Penny. I loved this article! It’s nice to know you still have so many wedding gifts that you are making good use of after 25 years. It’s also nice that you remember those who gave them to you.
Thank you, Sharon.
Happy anniversary Len!
Thanks, Carmen!
One of our favorite gifts was a set of large coffee mugs. They are used nearly every day, and still going strong. I love giving (and receiving) practical gifts. Thanks for the list, Len!
My pleasure, Arlinda!
Happy Anniversary. Maui is a good choice.
As we didn’t register, most of the gifts we got became yard sale fodder. Still use the tea kettle though. (One of four.)
Thank you, Olvia!
Seems like most people’s long-lasting gifts are related to food and drink, doesn’t it?
we didn’t register for any fancy china or silverware either. we just weren’t the ‘fancy, elegant dinner party’ kind of people. but two of the best, and still well-used, gifts we received as wedding presents 35 yrs. ago is a set of nesting stainless steel bowls from my cousin and a sears brand waffle iron (that gets used at least once a week) from long time friends of my in-laws. i’m sure neither one was over $15-20.
Wow! Thirty-five years later and you’re still using that waffle iron?! Amazing! What brand is it?
See, folks: More food-related items!
len, happy anniversary! and guess what? five years later these are still my very favorite and practical wedding presents used frequently.
Thanks, Michelle! 😉
Four plain white large pasta/salad bowls from Mike and Virginia. Still using them. Happy Anniversary blessings.
Thank you, CO2.
Happy Anniversary, Len! One gift we still use after 40+ years of marriage, is a small, smooth rock (about 6 across and 4 high in the middle) that is painted like a ladybug. A fellow teacher of my mother gave it to us. It makes the best doorstop, and conversation starter, ever!
Thank you, Paula! Isn’t it amazing how the simplest thoughtful gifts end up being the ones you use and/or cherish the most?
After 25 years Maui is a lot better than sterling silver as Honeybee will not have to polish it for the next 25 years. Good choice!
Ha ha … good point, Karen.
Happy anniversary! We celebrate 18 years of wedded bliss this week. One of our favorite presents has been a patio set that has stood the test of time.
Wow! That is a quality patio set to last 18 years, Amie. And thank you.
Happy anniversary Len and Honeybee!
Thank you, Kate!
Congratulations on your anniversary.
Your aunt and uncle were wise gift givers.
Maui is an excellent gift. When we get old, we’ll have photos to trigger wonderful memories. Happy memories are the gifts we give ourselves that last a lifetime.
Well said, Bill. And thank you.
I was expecting you to include “MRE’s.” “Which I still have in the bunker!”
😆 That made me LOL, Frank. Good one!
44 years later and we are still using lots of things from my bridal shower, including bath towels. We received so many towels that we couldnt use them all at once! I kid you not!
Oh … I believe it, MaryAnn.
Len–Congratulations on your 25th with the HoneyBee. My wife and I are also going to Maui for our 25th anniversary this year. We have never been to Hawaii before. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and wisdom.
Thank you so much, Ken. Congrats to you too!
Ie’ve been to Maui eight or nine times; I think it is the perfect medium between the crowds on Oahu and the quietness of Kauai.