We are going to a wedding this weekend for friends and I need to buy a gift and I'm looking for ideas. I'm thinking of getting something for or in relation to their honeymoon, and thought I'd come here for possible suggestions!

The friends are not close - the groom is a softball teammate of my S/O - so I'm not as close as with other friends, but I know the bride is absolutely thrilled with her Maui honeymoon. I also know it will be the first time the bride (not sure about the groom) will be flying. Just for information: the couple will be delaying the honeymoon for a few weeks - leaving in September - and I was thinking of giving them a bon voyage gift as well. Suggestions for that would be more than welcome, too!

While the bon voyage gift would be more informal, naturally, I'm kinda stumped on what to give for a wedding gift. What kind of nice gifts, sort of related to their honeymoon, would be appropriate for a wedding? Nice picture frames? (I'm not sure about their home, but they've been living together for 9 years and their kids are ages 6 and 8)

Any other suggestions for wedding gifts? What types of suggestions for a bon voyage gift would you like to get? (First time Hawaii, first time flying, honeymoon)

Thanks!

Do they not have a registry?

Just a comment and you can ignore me (no hurt feelings) but you say these friends are not close...why in the world would you want to get them two gifts???

Get them something from their registry or cash. They will love either one.

While I think you have a cool idea, it may be difficult to pull off, especially since you aren't close friends with them. However, a couple ideas I thought of would be a Fodor's travel guide for Hawaii, luggage (check their registry), or a gift certificate for a restaurant or luau. If you know things they want to do while in Maui (like snorkeling, etc), you could always get a gift certificate for that. Otherwise I'd recommend sticking with their registry or cash.

Wow, thanks for the quick responses!

I would love to do the registry, but they aren't registered anywhere.

As to the idea of two gifts (no offense taken, btw), the bon voyage gift would be smaller. The guidebook might be a good suggestion, as the couple has told me they don't really know all there is to do on Maui.

If they are not registered then cash or a gift card are the best idea (in my opinion). You don't have to worry about them not liking something or if it will go with their decor, etc.

A guide book is a good idea for a bon voyage gift assumming you give it to them soon. If you wait till they are ready to depart then I would assume that they already have a book or have done their own reseach.

I have 2 ideas for you. A CD of Hawaiian music would be enjoyable for them both before and after the trip. I'd recommend something by Israel Kamakawiwo'ole, or the Makaha sons of Ni'ihau, or the Slack Key Masters CDs put out by Dancing Cat records.

Second idea is the book 'Driving and Discovering Maui" which you can see at discoveringhawaii.com

It has great pictures, with very specific info as to exactly where the picture was taken and would be fun to look at before they go to Maui, as well as a great memento afterward. (sorry if that link is appearing twice)

How about a gift certificate to a Maui restaurant like Hula Grill or Mama's FishHouse? You could order it online or call & the honeymooners could pick it up when in Maui.

How about a lei greeting if this is their first time to Hawaii?

How cool!

I checked out the "Driving and Discovering Maui" book on Amazon and it gets very high customer marks there. This looks like a strong possibility for a bon voyage gift.

I hadn't thought of a gift certificate to a Maui restaurant for dinner! That could be a lovely idea and something added with the wedding gift!

Let me understand this. Some one from the mainland can order a lei greeting for folks arriving in Hawaii? Don't tell me. I'm the last person to know this, right? What does one need to know to do this? Flight information, I suppose? The receiving party would need to know they are getting the greeting, right?

Yes, this is the first time either of the couple have been to Hawaii. I remember my first time to there and I guess that's why I kinda want to do a little something special for them.

I googled "lei greeting" and here is one of many hits:
http://www.getleidinhawaii.com/prices.php

Have fun.

-Bill

A friend of mine went to Maui on her honeymoon. For a shower gift, I put together items like the guidebook Maui Revealed, a disposable underwater camera, and picked up a copy of the Road to Hana cd on Ebay.

If she has never flown before get her a set of earplanes as a small gift. They're earplugs to wear specifically for take off and landing. You can buy them at any drug store and they're inexpensive but worth it. I hate flying without them.

Another idea might be to find out what hotel they are staying in and have a fruit basket and/or wine and cheese tray in their room upon arrival. My family did that for us on our honeymoon, and it was a great surprise! Especially after the long flights from the mainland, they will probably be hungry! You should be able to call their hotel and ask for options.

Bill,

You beat me to it. Yes, just google Hawaii Lei Greetings and you will get lots of hits. You would probably have to provide the flight number since there are so many flights to Maui daily. The lei company has a greeter outside the arrival gate with the name of the person on a big piece of cardboard sign.

Lots of hotels sometimes provide fruit basket and/or bottle of champagne if the couple tells them it is their honeymoon (if they are lucky they might get their room upgraded also).

Wine/cheese tray sounds lovely but ONLY if you are sure their room has a small fridge.