Pamper

• Planning a wedding can stress out even the calmest couples, so a gift that helps them relax is a treat for when they need quiet time together. A gift certificate to a nice restaurant is great for a night when they're too tired to cook. Send them to a day spa--men enjoy massages and facials as much as women do--or stock them up with a good supply of champagne that they can sip on their back porch. Premier chocolates always draw raves from recipients. A gift basket of scented candles, essential oils, lush towels and relaxing music can turn the couple's bathroom into a relaxing aromatherapy center.
  
  

Personalize

• Adding a couple's initials, names or photos to a gift will make it a one-of-a-kind present. One item that's popular is photo quilts, where pictures of the couple from throughout their lives are scanned onto the material. A similar idea is documenting the couple's family tree (it can be presented in a frame or stitched into a tree pattern on a blanket) to commemorate the union of their families. Putting a treasured photo of them in a nice frame they can hang in their foyer or bedroom always makes for cherished gift. Another nice touch is personalizing an object that will be posted outside of their home for their neighbors to see. Suggestions include a mailbox with their married names printed on it, or a plaque to hang by their front door that includes their names and wedding date. Socially conscious couples will appreciate it if you make a donation in their name to their favorite charity.
  
  

Experience

• Give couples an experience to help them remember when they first began their life together. Buy the bride and groom a pair of tickets to a concert by their favorite performer or to a local sporting event. Couples who live in major cities like New York or Seattle can be sent on a nighttime cruise around the city to take in a different view of their hometown. People who love to fly will be thrilled with the gift of a hot air balloon ride at sunset or a spin in a helicopter. Activities related to animals are good for adventuresome pairs. Arrange for them to spend a day horseback riding or swimming with dolphins. It will be both fun and memorable.