I have VERY little money right now, and a good friend is getting married.

Any ideas?

 I just did a shower gift for my friend, 43 and getting married for the first time. I bought a walgreens reusable bag and filled it with cleaning supplies. She is moving into his apt. It would be good for a shower but maybe not for a wedding. Im always bad with these things. Babs

If you live close by, you could make her up a really nice book of service coupons for things you could do. Things like house cleaning, lawn mowing, pet watching, any special services you do personally like painting or sewing/mending, and services you can think of that they migt need, etc. Tie it with ribbons and wrap it nicely, etc. Its' a HUGE value because many of the services are expensive, and will be appreciated by newlyweds. Plus, it's a personal touch showing you really thought of them.

Some couples don't want picture frames b/c it is such a popular gift but my DH and I used every frame given to us for our wedding photos, honeymoon photos and now, family and baby photos. Frames can be inexpensive and look beautiful. Mabye pair it with an inexpensive candle.

We also got some wonderful bottles of wine. You can get a nice bottle for around $7-$10. Pair it with 2 wine glasses from the dollar store and a gift for less than $10. Or a bottle of champagne would be nice to "toast" the new home.

Is your friend close by? 

One thing I did was help out with things at the wedding/reception.  It could save her money and you'd be remembered too for helping out.

If she's not close by... I would say find a poem or write one and frame it. 

For one friend I made an Italian dinner gift basket; the basket was a stainless steel collander (wal-mart was cheapest) with a red and white towel laid in it.  I then added a jar of sauce, some pasta (if you have a jar at home, you can move the pasta to the jar and tie some ribbon on it to make it pretty), a couple of non-scented candles, a decadent chocolate bar for dessert... you get the idea.  I think I put this together for about $10-12. If you have more money, you can add a very nice but inexpensive bottle of wine (think Trader Joe's for this) and still keep the total price well under $20.  Box it up, wrap it, and add a note about having a romantic dinner at home just the two of them after the rush and flurry of the wedding and/or honeymoon is over.

Another thing I did, and I've noticed that no one else ever seems to do this, was to frame their wedding invitation.  A frame by its lonesome isn't too expensive and the invitations normally have a design on them so you don't have to have a mat.  Just pop it in a box and wrap it pretty when you're all done.

 a small crate Iput in two kitchen towel two oven mitts , spices from the dollar store and wood spoons

And may I add that this is exactly why I registerred but never told people about it unless they asked?  I didn't want my guests to feel obligated to buy us something and if they did want to purchase something, I wanted them to buy something they felt was appropriate and would fit in their budget.  We got some really cool gifts, too!!!  I even got custom-made christian jewelry that has our wedding date on it and a reference to a verse in the Song of Solomon about 2 becoming 1 -- really just a thoughtful gift!

Just use your imagination and they will know you care.  You are there to celebrate with them and that is the most important thing!

sunshinetreva:

Just use your imagination and they will know you care.  You are there to celebrate with them and that is the most important thing!

I agree... and if you cant do a wedding present, see if you can save up for 1st year anniversary gift... that would also mean alot to them.