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I like doing personal gifts, so it is hard to say. I would just think about who they are as a couple and things they like to do. If they are wine lovers you could do a bottle and label them 1-5 for each of their anniversaries during the first 5 years. If they are foodies you could give them a gift sertificate to a favorite restaraunt, if they are into a particular sport, you could do soemthing related to that.
Money!!!!! I know it sounds bad, but everyone likes money and most people are really set on getting people actual GIFTS. If they don't have a registry, its really HARD to get people stuff-- you don't quite know what they would use, or what would look good in their house. I used to give gifts for weddings, but I wrote my first "wedding check" out over the summer. I felt a little awkward giving them a check, but they loved it.
Their registry was all picked over, and I was going to end up getting them odds & ends. Plus, now that I'm engaged, I realized that they get a discount on their registry after the wedding. So I figured, instead of me giving them a gift that is worth $130 full price, plus $20 shipping, let me just give them cash. That way, they could actually get about $170 worth off their registry, by simply going into the store by them, and getting their wedding discount on everything. They really appreciated it and I'm going to do that from now on!
If you'd really prefer to get a gift that isn't on their registry, I'd pick something wedding related- like maybe a couples massage, or a really nice photo album for all of their wedding pictures. Engraved maybe. But that's still tough to pick something that others like.
I personally tend toward personal gifts (if we're talking just gifts, not wedding presents) too, but I try to keep it really relevant to the two of them as a pair. How about a board game/wii game if they're that type? A gift certificate for their favorite restaurant might also be appreciated. If they're newlyweds, could you look to the registry for something they wanted and didn't receive?
I tend to gift "togetherness" gifts for newlyweds, so theatre tickets or anything that could provide them with an opportunity to spend some quality, newlywed time together with no stress would be ideal. :)
Good luck!
While I know that everyone loves to receive $$ for their wedding, it is nice to also give those close to you a small, personal gift, whether from on their registry or not.
Some of my favorites include...
Personalized plates from laplates.com
Monogrammed fluffy robes (so many companies sell them)
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial" size="3">When giving a gift I try to think, “ What is something they need and will get a lot of use out of yet I can still make it special??” I found the answer in one of two gifts. Everyone needs towels, so get really nice ones that are embroidered or embossed with their initials. They look so elegant in any bathroom. All new couples and anyone really love to see their name or initials on their new things.</font><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial" size="3">If you really want to go big, get them really soft Egyptian cotton sheets and have their initials embroidered on the sheets. Again everyone needs sheets but how many of us splurge on ourselves. So give a gift that they would love but probably wouldn’t indulge in for themselves. They will use and love everyday! Bingo, best gift solution. The best resource I have found for this is on line at </font><font face="Arial" size="3" color="#800080">http://www.elegantlinenspc.com/</font><font face="Arial" size="3">. They have a real store in Las Vegas so if you need help or a real person you can also call direct. </font>
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i agree with BeachBrideT! many gifters insist on giving something personal and creative but i tend to believe that if it was something they really wanted, they would have registered for it. as a compromise, maybe you could give a cash/check gift along with something small off of the registry? that way the bulk of the gift you provide is a practical one but there still is a sentimental aspect of it that they apreciate.
i know we all want to get gifts that people will be able to keep and see and use often, and our wonderful friends and family were no different. unfortunately, we live in a tiny apartment and don't have the space for it all! i hate to think that people spent all this money/time/effort on a gift for us just to become clutter in a storage closet but really, we just don't have the space or need for it. :T
on the other hand, i honestly don't find money gifts any less appreciated or thoughtful. everytime i see or think of our loved ones that gifted us money, i am reminded of how generous and thoughtful they are! plus, all that money is going towards bigger things that we can't quite afford now (and couldn't register for!), like a down payment for a new house and i love the thought that they've contributed towards us building a new home together.
If you don't feel comfortable just giving money, a gift card to a nice local restaurant would probably be appreciated. Lots of people don't want to spend that kind of money on themselves in this economy, and a guaranteed date night would be a treat.
I think you are talking about gifting for the holidays, as opposed to the wedding itself, MsUsUk?
Some of my favorite couple holiday gifts (to receive!) have been an ice cream maker and cookbook, a really nice picnic blanket and picnic basket, and a subscription to a wine-of-the-month-club, like Fruit Forward.
I also like receiving board games and video games that we can play together.
We have been giving Wine making classes as wedding gifts lately. I live in Chicago & there is this great little place on the South side that teaches you all aspects of wine, then you get to make your own blend.
It takes a couple of trips down there & a couple of months to get the goods, but it was worth it! We did it & ended up with 2 full cases of wine. How memorable!
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I'm sorry, I should have made it a bit more clear, but you're right Hannah, I was speaking about holiday gifts. I guess I'm really talkign about my future brother in law and his wife, I'm spending the holidays with them and my FH is stumped for a gift. The wedding was a year ago and I don't think we're able to find their registry again (If only there were a Bed Bath and Beyond in England!).
I'll def. check out all your suggestions, thank you so much and keep 'em coming! <3
I totally agree with BeachBrideT. To add a little bite of personal touch you can give them a gift certificate plus a nice photo album full of memories. I don't think so you are going to look shallow but a practical person 
I have to agree with MONEY as well. It helps so much paying off those extra after wedding related bills
I love getting gift cards to restaurants. It's experiential and may not be as awkward as giving money. Nothing beats a great meal and it's fun to splurge on a meal once in a while.
i like to give personalized gifts as well. if they like wine, it's an easy thing to personalize! a tag that says something like: for your second anniversary, for a lazy weekend, etc.
scroll down to the way bottom to see my wine gifts.
http://www.weddingbee.com/2007/09/21/hee-won-and-peters-wedding/
I LOVE the wine idea! So cute!
In order to give something personal, you better know the couple really well! I think the towels and the nice sheets are great ideas, but unless you know the decorating styles of the couple, it may be hard (especially if they're personalized). One thing you can do is give cash with the idea of a gift....for example the embroidered towels.
I also really like the idea of a gift certificate to a nice restaurant, so the couple can have a date night. That's something they'll both be able to appreciate!
One thing I would love is the wine making class, like mentionbien1 brought up, or a cooking class! Anything that the two of them can do together would be much appreciated, I'm sure! And when in doubt, money is always a great option.
Since they may still be reeling a bit financially from the wedding, how about gift cards for places/experiences that fit their interests. Do they have a new house? Get them a Home Depot gift card Are they foodies? How about gift certificates to a fav local diner? There are gift cards for anything/everything these days, so the possiblities are endless. Also, since their registry is still posted, you could get them something from it.
What about a give certificate for something like a couples massage or tickets to a private wine tasting at a local vineyard? Or a huge stock pot loaded with boxes of good pasta, nice tomato sauce, a bottle of red wine, and an italian cook book? Or a gift card for a dinner at a fancy restaurant? My DH and I always enjoy gifts of "experiences" that we can share together but might not have splurged on for ourselves. How about tickets to a theater show, a book of movie coupons, or tickets to a sporting event or theme park? Good luck!
Like previous posters have said, anything that lets them do something relaxing together as a couple is really nice. A gift certificate for a couples cooking class or theater tickets. I got my brother and SIL travel books this year, one about bike trails in Wisconsin (for day/weekend trips) and the Rough Guide to New Zealand (for a big vacation they're planning to take in the summer). I know they received a subscription to Cooking Light a few years ago and loved it. They tried new recipes from the magazine all the time.
redenvelope.com has some great gallery frames that hang from a top bar. It looks like they may be sold out of (or horrors discontinued?!) their smaller one, but they still have a hallway gallery frame set that's longer or the large one. I've always loved these frames and after I showed them to my mom once, she decided that was the perfect wedding gift. She has given a couple sets of them as wedding gifts and she opens the back of some of the frames and sticks a $20 bill here and there. One couple sent a thank you note for the frame and then a month or so later sent another one for the money they discovered in it! :) I recently did the same thing for a friend's wedding and she sent a note that they almost have it filled with wedding pictures. p.s. I bought one for myself and it's almost full as well!
Here's the large frame:
And the hallway frame:
http://gifts.redenvelope.com/frames/hallgalleryframeset-25385203?viewpos=12&trackingpgroup=rccat&tile=LeftPod&catid=rccat
p.s. I got an email today that they have 10% off all orders today as well!
http://www.redenvelope.com/default.aspx?ref=RDRDRE08DEC19ATC83
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I didn't read all the other posts, so maybe this is just a repeat, but now that we're married, we've instituted date night, and we try to come up with fun things to do every Thursday. One thing that usually makes the list - a nice dinner, so maybe gift certificates to a cool eatery would be something. I love food, so I'm partial!
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How about a handmade ceramic plate with a favorite saying? www.takemehomeware.com has some really cute ceramic plates that can be customized with your (or your recipient's) favorite word:
I love these suggestions of gift cards. When we moved into our new house, everyone gave us Home Depot/Lowe's gift cards and it was amazing! I don't really understand why there seems to be a reluctance to give gift cards. I think I'm going to get most people gift cards this year, especially to restaurants. I got several to Applebee's and O'Charley's and Panera for my birthday which was awesome! I feel guilty for going to Panera for lunch instead of brown bagging it to work, so it was to have five guilt free trips to Panera. And the O'Charley's cards went to date night, which we've been reluctant to have. Gift cards all the way!!! :)
I love these gurglepots!! they are too cute! and they gurgle when you pour the water out~
http://www.delight.com/GurglePot-Lovely-Koi-Pitcher
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Gift cards are great. I am unpacking all my gifts right now and realize that I don't have a toilet brush but I have about seventeen crystal serving dishes. Just think how many toilet brushes that could buy!
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I'm looking to get a few of my freshly married friends and relatives a nice gift for them as a couple, what do you guys suggest?