Wedding presents for an established couple?

I don't think they really wanted anything but it became apparent that people were going to buy "a little something" anyway and they would have ended up with a whole load of stuff they they didn't need or even particularly like - a printed plaque, a furry cushion, etc. People like to give.......

Might be in a minority of one here, but if an established couple have enough money, can afford holidays, and most especially have no kids, I don't think they should expect any presents. Merely attending a wedding can often be quite expensive for many people, what with travel, accommodation, often drinks, maybe having to buy an outfit, etc.

A lot of guests had to travel quite a distance to my dd's wedding 18 months ago - she and my SiL had just bought a slightly bigger house, had a small baby, and were by no means flush, but the invitations still said, 'No presents, just presence.'
Ditto for her cousin's wedding the year before at the same venue.
Some people did give something anyway, esp. close family, cash or vouchers, but it was quite clear that nothing was expected.

Just to say thanks for all the suggestions. It was all very helpful. They have decided to support two teenagers who need help to further their careers (small local charity) and to honeymoon in Florida and have asked for contributions to buy Universal tickets so they can ride Harry Potter again and again!

How about pinning money on them while they are dancing at their reception á la Greek! Help pay for the honeymoon.........

The thing that really infuriates me is those wretched scams of plastic bags pretending to be going to charities, whereas in fact they are getting free donations which thy sell in Eastern Europe and I suspect none of the money goes to the named charity.

a friend of mine married, for the third time, to a widower. they had two house-worth of stuff so really needed nothing. they were give theatre vouchers, which they loved, a crossing on Eurostar,etc. It was that sort of thing that engaged their imaginations. Good luck!

As a garden designer (retired), I would suggest something for the garden, if they have one. Something memorable, like a mature ornamental cherry blossom tree. These can be bought for around £150-£200. That way, you don't have to wait for about 10 years before it's large enough to enjoy and appreciate. If the garden is small, I would recommend the Cheal's Weeping. While the blossoms only last for around 2/3 weeks, their fleeting beauty is a joy to see in the spring.

How about some matching outdoor containers,a rose arch (which can also be used for clematis) or a sun dial?

Good luck!

If they have a nice big garden how about a small tree say a magnolia or something like that.

I have bought several gift vouchers for different restaurants for one present, the receivers were able to try different places and found some new regular haunts. The receivers tend to go out for lunch most days so the value of each voucher was £15 to £20 and there was £100 in total.

I think vouchers for theatre, afternoon tea, restaurant etc are the best idea.
Not quite the same - but my partner bought his sister and bil a voucher for a meal in at a restaurant in one of Londons iconic buildings. They have plenty of money so could have afforded it themselves, but loved it!

Why not just give them the money and let them do with it as they choose?

Neversaydie There is one called Charity Watch UK.

Re the charities there is a website where you can check what %of funds raised goes directly to the cause .I can't remember what it's called
I have volunteered for Oxfam in the past and all my discarded stuff goes to them as they are ok .Their marketing campaigns are very clever and effective which suggests they have highly creative and possibly well paid marketing staff (based in London/Oxford neither of them cheap places to live )
While I agree to some extent about huge salaries of CEOs it is true that you do tend to have to compete to get the best people.And charities do need the best people . I have encountered charity workers (shop managers in the main) whom I would regard as incompetent compared with staff I used to manage -they were paid on average £10,00 a year less .Fine if you are doing it as a second income /post retirement job (I know one such person who is very good) but your pool of applicants will tend to be smaller. Volunteers may not be properly managed and tend to be disillusioned and leave .Shops dont maximise profits . People who work for charities still have to pay their mortgages etc and cannot necessarily afford to be altruistic about it

A voucher for afternoon tea somewhere. It need not be expensive as garden centres often ' do' a lovely afternoon tea.

How about this for a different present? I just bought a mattress cover called 'Rejuvopeidic' (google it) and it is so soft and comfortable on these cold nights. I would recommend them to anyone. It is like sleeping on cottonwool.

I think vouchers are always a good bet... And can be adjusted to the means of the giver. Even vouchers for good old M & S, B & Q, a local hotel/ restaurant, garden centre.

When a cousin who had worked for a relief organisation got married to her long-term partner, they needed and wanted nothing for their home, so I went to the Save the Children Wishlist and, on their behalf, donated some goats which would make money and milk for an African family.

A lovely plant for the garden ?

It must have been the male. Ever practical.

Sorry for sidetracking a bit with this one and thanks for all the suggestions. Theatre tickets met with quite a positive response and the idea of dinner at friends houses. I was chatting with them a few minutes ago and one of them (guess which one) thought that guests might like to buy a roll of insulation for the loft!

Department store, or some other stores', gift vouchers?

Starting a new thread on charities.
Now to answer the OP, we knew a couple getting married and both had been married before, so they already had two toasters etc. they asked for no expensive gifts.
I gave them a lovey framed picture of the beautiful old church they married in and they loved it.

I supported Sight Savers for many years but switched that cash to Mary's Meals. After a post on GN (THATBAGS I think) I checked out their audited books and that confirmed that 97% of income goes directly to their school feeding projects. They operate with a small staff and rely heavily on volunteers in the field.
Several years ago a few of us pooled resources and bought a crate of decent wine for the couple who had everything!

Maybe so, but our feeling was that asking once should be enough!

Elrel that was unusual then, but perhaps you didn't respond early, and the Christmas post can be slow.It's all done by computer, so if you hadn't sent early enough and they hadn't received a cheque, the computer would have sent out again.Just the way things are done now.