Wedding gift question

kamagong

kamagong

Gold Member
Joined
Jan 13, 2001
Messages
10,941
One of my good friends is getting married this summer. As a knifeknut, my first instinct was to get him and his fiancee a set of kitchen knives. They requested an eight-piece set by Wusthof-Trident. The question is, should I get them the set that they want, or a different one that I know is better and not as overpriced?
 
If you get them what you want, then make sure the knife set gets off of their bridal registry. If not, you may give them what you think is the best, but someone else may give them what they want...which one would you return?

You could always give them a Spyderco serrated and Santuko, both of which they won't get in the Wusthof and are great in the kitchen. I'll bet that one or both will pick up the spyderco serrated more often than any other knife in the kitchen.
 
I used to like Wustof and Henckles but Japanese kitchen knives have won me over. Ive been using Tojiro DP Pettys and Gyotos and I love them.
 
If you get something besides what they requested, they might not appreciate it. So, either educate them on the options, or get 'em what they want.
 
It's a shame that surprising friends with gifts isn't as fun or accepted as it use to be. As a good friend, shouldn't you/we be able/trusted to pick out something nice for our friends? Don't they trust us? Or, is it that most givers these days are too lazy/busy to take the trouble and prefer a list of "approved" gifts?

It is a shame, but the bottom line is that if it's not the set they want, they might indeed return it, or worse, give it away ot let it sit. Educating them sounds like a good idea. Or as Brownshoe said, give them a few quality extras instead that will most likely get used more often. After all, experience is the best teacher.
 
I think if they have hinted strongly at what they would like you should just get them that item or items. It takes all the guess work out of it. You probably don't know all the reasons for their choice. It may be that another family member has those knives and they already know they like them or something.

Why give them something different? Then you set yourself up for disappointment when they return what you got them and you set them up for disappointment when they open something up and it is not what they asked you for. Even if you do think something else is better they may not.
 
I think I'll just get them something else. I don't want to waste good money on something that I consider an inferior product with an obvious design defect. I'm talking about the forged bolster that goes all the way down to the edge. I also don't want to tell them that there is another set that is better than the one they chose. I don't want to come across as arrogant and patronizing. For all I know they may have chosen the set based on aesthetic reasons.
 
I guess some would consider it a good idea to have a "register" so as to not recieve 23 sets of dishes for your wedding gifts. I consider it pretty stupid. It isnt really a gift if they request it, IMO. If they are asking for only certain items, they might as well just have the prices of the items on the register, so they can go and buy them theirselves. I guess I find it very strange for someone to go shopping and pick out their own gifts. :confused:
 
Well, my guess is they have only said what they would like to certain few closer friends as most do. Also, if it were me buying for one of my friends and I didn't want to get them what they wanted I'd just give them money and let them buy whatever. They'll get plenty of material possessions so money is usually just as welcome.
 
Rat Finkenstein said:
I guess some would consider it a good idea to have a "register" so as to not recieve 23 sets of dishes for your wedding gifts. I consider it pretty stupid. It isnt really a gift if they request it, IMO. If they are asking for only certain items, they might as well just have the prices of the items on the register, so they can go and buy them theirselves. I guess I find it very strange for someone to go shopping and pick out their own gifts. :confused:
Click to expand...

Registers do have the prices of items on it.

My friends did sign up with a wedding registry. It was pretty good. There were only about 35 items on it total. I've seen some registries where it looked like the bride and groom included everything from the store's home furnishings department.
 
kamagong said:
I think I'll just get them something else. I don't want to waste good money on something that I consider an inferior product with an obvious design defect. I'm talking about the forged bolster that goes all the way down to the edge. I also don't want to tell them that there is another set that is better than the one they chose. I don't want to come across as arrogant and patronizing. For all I know they may have chosen the set based on aesthetic reasons.
Click to expand...


Hmm a bolster down to the edge means it will be harder to sharpen, but a defect?

Alot of women worry about "slipping" and cutting themselves, so a large "protective" looking gaurd/bolster meets their psychological needs. and it can be sharpened just up til a tenth of an inch of the gard w/o difficulty. (of coures in most on bolstered knives, the drop down blade is the gaurd).

Wustoff may not be "the best" and it is a little expensive, but it's not "cutco" by any strech. having a lot of experaince w/ wedding gifts, it is in your best intrests to give them what the want.

It is a lot more painful to see your gift given away to others, or returned if they don't like it.
 
I usually don't give a gift on the registery. Everyone else will do that. I usually get something that's extra.

A nice carving set is a favorite wedding gift for me to give. But, then again, I like the pagentry of carving at the table.

A set of fine chop sticks is another. Everyone always comments, "Wow. We never thought about having 'good' chop sticks. That's great!" (But, then again, many Americans aren't familiar with chop sticks that you don't have to break apart before using :( )

A set of crystal martini glasses and a very classy shaker are another item that will class up the newlywed's new home.

A really good cork screw is a good wedding gift. Not one of these fancy gimic things that abound these days, but just a really good stainless-steel cork screw that will last a lifetime. They are a pleasure to use and the bride and groom will think of you with each bottle they enjoy for the rest of their lives.

If you want to go practical, get them a really nice, heavy-duty, 3-wire, 100-foot extension cord on a really good reel thing. They'll use it for years and years and years and thank you each time.





You need to be a bit careful giving knives for wedding gifts. In some cultures, especially some Asian cultures, knives at weddings, even as gifts, are seen as bad luck or a sign of malice. In the case immediately in question, where the bride and groom registered for a knife set, it's clearly ok. But, it's just something to keep in mind in other cases.
 
Gollnick,

I really like the chopsticks idea since my friends are Asian-American. I don't think it'll be much of an issue for the groom since he's 5th generation. It'll probably be more of an issue for the bride since I think she's only 2nd generation.

I also like the other ideas as well. Any tips as to where to get those items?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top