Some 2.5 million couples plan weddings this year as their friends and relatives search anxiously for special, suitable gifts.
Etiquette and manners expert Marjabelle Y. Stewart, author of 17 books on subjects such as wedding planning, says today's brides are more mature, independent and pragmatic.For them, she suggests avoiding gifts such as art or ceramics that depend on personal taste and focusing instead on classic, usable items.
Her top suggestions this year include high-quality kitchen appliances, limited edition wine, a three-day bed-and-breakfast getaway, crystal stemware, monogrammed champagne bucket, silver photo frame, or a universal gift certificate such as the American Express Gift Cheque, which lets recipients make their own gift selection.
Stewart suggests personalizing gifts with a specially written message or poem.