Wedding gifts couples will actually use

Two people have agreed to spend their lives together. Buying them a teapot should be the easy part.

If you're looking for something to give alongside an ang bao, or a present for a smaller ROM solemnisation, start with how the couple actually lives. Good glasses, a pair of generous pasta bowls, something for the dinner parties they already like throwing. There's no need to buy for an imaginary future in which they suddenly use formal china.

We've gathered our favourite wedding gifts below, organised by the kind of couple. Things they can enjoy together, without saving them for an occasion quite this expensive.

Wedding gifts made for two

Pairs suit the occasion. There's the auspicious association (好事成双, or “good things come in pairs”) and the practical matter of both people getting a mug.

&klevering Duet Amber Glass, Set of 2. Two curvy amber glasses for tea or coffee, with a warm colour that gives them a little presence on the table. They're called Duet, so the wedding card practically writes itself.

&klevering Duet Amber Teapot. The matching amber-glass teapot. Pair it with the Duet glasses for a complete set for two, or give it on its own if their mug cupboard is already well represented. A good gift for a couple who regularly puts the kettle on.

HKLIVING 70s Ceramics: Tea Cups, Set of 2 - Nova. Generous tea cups with a tactile glaze, inspired by tea ceremonies. For the couple who likes the ritual of making tea almost as much as drinking it.

HKLIVING 70s Ceramics: Van Gogh Coffee Mugs, Set of 2. Two mugs with glazes inspired by Van Gogh. A little colour for the morning coffee, when neither person should be expected to contribute much conversation yet.

HKliving 70s Ceramics: Pasta Bowls, Set of 2. Two shallow bowls in light blue and green. Useful for the elaborate recipe they cook together, and the pasta they make when neither of them can be bothered. A wedding gift should accommodate both.

DOIY Partner In Life Trophy Vase. A trophy-shaped vase that reads “#1 Partner In Life”. Subtle it is not. Add a few stems and give it to the couple who will enjoy displaying their achievement.

For the couple who loves to host

They were inviting people round long before there was a wedding to plan. Give them something that will earn its place at the next dinner.

NouNou Switch Wine Glass Set - Clear. Two wine glasses with two different faces, created for NouNou's tenth anniversary. For a couple who enjoys good wine and is happy for the glasses to look a little less solemn about it.

NouNou Tea Jug - Clear. A heat-resistant glass jug for hot tea, iced tea or water at the table. An easy choice for hosts who will get more use from an everyday jug than another set of wine glasses.

Ichendorf Milano Savannah Jug - Giraffe & Baobab. A handmade glass jug with a giraffe and a baobab tree, designed by Alessandra Baldereschi. The sort of piece you choose because you can already picture it on their table. It also gives guests something to discuss once the wedding photos have been thoroughly covered.

&klevering De La Mer Lobster Platter. A generous, hand-painted platter for a table with plenty on it. The lobster supplies some ceremony, even if dinner arrived in takeaway containers. Between gatherings, it can double as wall art.

For their first home together

Setting up a shared home involves quite a few decisions. A well-chosen gift can settle one of the smaller, more enjoyable ones.

stillgoods Harmony Tray. A round marble tray for the coffee table or bathroom counter, with natural grain that makes each one a little different. It gives the things they leave lying around somewhere deliberate to gather.

Fluid Market Cherry Vase. A bold ceramic cherry that works with a few stems or on its own. For a couple whose shared decorating philosophy has room for a large piece of fruit.

helen b Naked Couple Back Bath Towel. For the couple with a sense of humour: a cotton bath towel with helen b's illustration of a cheeky moment between two lovers, printed on both sides.

TASCHEN The Gourmandʼs Egg: A Collection of Stories and Recipes. Recipes, stories and art about the humble egg. A good start for two people learning to cook for each other.

Worth the splurge

For family, or when the whole group is chipping in.

&Tradition Flowerpot VP9 Portable Table Lamp. Verner Panton's Flowerpot lamp, made small and cordless. It moves from the dining table to the bedside.

DETAIL Slope Bookend. A sculptural steel bookend whose mango wood ball rolls down to hold the books in place. The first shelf they style together deserves it.

Wedding gift etiquette in Singapore

A few things worth knowing before you wrap anything:

• The ang bao usually is the gift at Chinese weddings in Singapore. A present on top is a lovely extra from close friends and family, and a good fit for a smaller ROM solemnisation.
• Pairs are lucky; fours are not. Sets of two suit the occasion. Avoid sets of four, as 四 (four) sounds like the word for death.
• Skip clocks and knives for Chinese couples. Giving a clock (送钟) sounds like attending to someone at the end of their life, and blades are said to cut ties.
• Wrap in red or gold for Chinese couples. All-white or black wrapping is linked with funerals.
• For Malay weddings, cash gifts are common too, and anything alcohol-related is best avoided. The NouNou tea jug is an easy swap for the wine glasses.

Sending a wedding gift

We deliver across Singapore, usually within 1 to 5 working days, and it's free on orders of SGD 100 and above. Send it straight to the couple's home, which beats carrying a teapot around a banquet hall. Want to choose in person? Come by our flagship at New Bahru, 58 Kim Yam Road, or our store at Gardens by the Bay.

Wedding gift questions

Should I give a wedding gift and an ang bao?
At most Chinese weddings in Singapore, the ang bao is the gift, so you don't need to bring anything else. If you're close to the couple, or you'd like to give them something they'll keep, a present on top is a thoughtful extra.

How much should I spend on a wedding gift?
There's no required amount. Spend what feels right for how close you are. Many of the gifts here are under $100, and friends can pool a budget for something bigger the couple has wanted.

What do you get a couple who has everything?
Think of something they wouldn't buy for themselves, like a statement jug, a marble tray or a lamp that moves from room to room. A gift made for two is a nice way to mark the occasion too.

Can you deliver to the couple directly?
Yes, we deliver anywhere in Singapore. Add their address at checkout, and check with the couple first if they're moving after the wedding.

Still deciding? Browse gifts under $100, explore our tableware, or try the gift finder for ideas by personality.