From: eab@msc.edu (Edward Bertsch)
Subject: FOLLOW-UP: Wedding gift suggestions wanted
Organization: Minnesota Supercomputer Center, Minneapolis, MN
Date: Thu, 27 Aug 1992 22:41:33 GMT


Thanks to everyone who helped with suggestions and stories about
gifts they have given, have received, or thought would be good.
 
I more or less stuck with my original decision, and bought the
couple revereware stainless steel pots and pans with copper
bottoms, however instead of buying the 10 piece set
at Target for $99 I decided to buy two 8 piece sets at
Sam's Wholesale Club for $49 each.  They will have two of each
of the pans in the set, but I find that this is not at all
awkward when cooking, and more often than not necessary, for
example, to have two saucepans.
 
I bought the stuff today, dropped it off to be gift wrapped,
and will pick it up tomorrow after getting final alterations
made to my tuxedo (I'm in the wedding party) and before going
to practice at the Cathedral and to the groom's dinner later
tomorrow evening.
 
Of the suggestions I received, from people on the net as well
as 'in the world' one of the more popular ideas was to get
the couple a nice picnic basket filled with a table cloth,
napkins, a corkscrew, salt and pepper shakers, et cetera.  This
was an excellent suggestion, but I believe to get the quality
of items I wanted would have exceeded my budget of $200.
 
Another excellent suggestion was an oversized blanket,
electric if it applied to the area where it would be
used.
 
A very interesting, elaborate, and sentimental suggestion was
to purchase two 'Standing Liberty' 100% silver U.S. 'coins'
minted in the year the wedding occurs and give them to the
couple, and to purchase two identical coins and save them
to be given in 25 years on their anniversary.  I like this
idea, and have done something similar (I gave a friend a
100 year old penny on his wedding, in addition to other gifts).

As for pans, specific brands were mentioned: Farberware,
Cuisenart, Le Crueset and Calphalon, t-fal.

Other suggestions:

        KitchenAid K5 or other professional quality mixer

        An IOU for a weekend at a hotel on their 1 year
        anniversary.  The person who suggested this
        brought up the possible snag of divorce in this
        (and other) gifts that involve events in the
        future.

        A set of 11 video cassettes with 100 min each of
        Charlie Chaplin movies.  (about $200)
 
        Good knives and a block, or just a really good
        pair of knives to build on.

        Cuisinart
 
        A gas grille (didn't apply to my friends since they
        live in manhattan)

        A bed tray for breakfast in bed
 
        A sex fantasy book
 
        A t-shirt for two!
 
        Gift certificates (since they can rarely be
        purchased for less than face value, I definately
        recommend CASH)
 
        Hot air balloon ride

        Rafting weekend

        China, crystal, silverware, lace tablecloth
 
        A door knocker or plaque which says
        Mary and John Doe
        est. 1992
 
or
 
        The Does   
        est. 1992
 

        an oversized pot for spaghetti, stew, etc.

        tools - hammer, pliers, drills, etc.

        hint: coordinate with other wedding guests to avoid overlap

        hedge clippers, weed wacker, lawn mower, snow blower, etc..

        Henckels or other _really_ know knives.  I don't have a clue
        in this area, personally.
        my idea of a good knife is a ginsu.  :-)

        champagne glasses or candlesticks (waterford, or other good stuff)

        queen size, king size, or hollywood sized bed

        stereo cabinet

        expensive patterned sheets

        nice vase

        wok

        another hint: check their gift registry (check if they have one!)

        high quality camping gear (REI, Eddie Bauer, etc.) such as fully
        stocked day hiking packs (with compass, water bottle, and other
        gadgets and tools that you can pick out in the store)

        MONEY - this is definately the gift that many newlyweds need,
        is portable if they are going to be moving soon, doesn't require 
        a receipt to be returned, and is guaranteed to get them exactly
        what they want.

        hint: don't get teflon pans.  Several people have mentioned that
        they hate them.

        a safe (roughly the size of a large microwave standing on end)
        these can be had in the $100 area, and are very useful for storage
        of valueable and irreplaceable paperwork, photographs, jewelry,
        firearms and ammo, cash...  As an owner of a safe, I can personally
        recommend this as a gift that goes on giving and will last for
        a LONG time.


        Knives: Chicago cutlery or Wusthof   

        Breadmakers



thanks for the suggestions everyone, and I hope this is useful
information (the summary)




--

Edward A. Bertsch (eab@msc.edu)   Minnesota Supercomputer Center, Inc.
Operations/User Services          1200 Washington Avenue South
(612) 626-1888 work               Minneapolis, Minnesota  55415
(612) 645-0168 voice mail         [DISCLAIMER: MY OPINIONS; NOT MSCI'S]

      ___________________________________________________
      Dump the Republocrats:      vote Libertarian in '92
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potatoe
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