Woohoo asked:
I started a new job at a company recently. As it happens, my boss is getting married in a couple of weeks’ time and has invited everyone in his team to his wedding reception which includes dinner. I am planning to go (with my spouse) but since I don’t know my boss that well, what would be an appropriate wedding present for him? BTW, he’s English while his fiancee is Japanese.
I started a new job at a company recently. As it happens, my boss is getting married in a couple of weeks’ time and has invited everyone in his team to his wedding reception which includes dinner. I am planning to go (with my spouse) but since I don’t know my boss that well, what would be an appropriate wedding present for him? BTW, he’s English while his fiancee is Japanese.
If I were you, I would talk to your coworkers about it. You might be able to set up a joint gift with some of them, and since they know him better than you, they could pick something appropriate out.
Find out if your boss and his fiance have registered for gifts anywhere. If they haven’t, suggest they do so people know what to get for them.
Do they have a registry? Check weddingchannel.com to see if they are registered and buy them something in the appropriate price range. If they don’t have a registry you can buy something for their home, like a vase from tiffany or a high end salad bowl or something along those lines.
If you know their names, you may want to see if you can get your hands on their wedding registry. Since most places have online registry checking you should run the gambit and see if they are registered at any of them. The big 4 of wedding registries is as follows:
Bed bath and Beyond
Target
Linens and Things
Amazon.com
You can be reasonably sure that they are registered at one of those. If they aren’t, you could always do money and a card, as that’s a pretty safe gift.
I can be terrible at choosing presents. Chipping in for a present from the whole team might be a good idea, then the pressure is off you to choose something.
Otherwise my standard choice of wedding present for people I don’t know well is a nice picture frame. Something plain and simple to try and please all tastes.
Cool coffee/tea cups filled with candy. Matching of course. And a big soft cuddle blanket. See if you can’t get to know each of their interests and then get cups according to their likes. There is also taking them to dinner and not getting them anything. You boss may have everything he wants. This might be a good thing (to take them to dinner. This is something I’d do.) Japanese people eat a lot. Look for a steak japanese. That way, everyone would have fun. Make sure if he has any kids to get them a little something. I am sure they’d be happy with a stick of gum.
If they have a wedding registry go off that.
Don’t get them something too elaborate or too cheap. Too elaborate equals you do not need a raise. But too cheap means you’re cheap.
See if you’re co-workers are doing a group gift. If not then find out if he is registered, you can check on your own at the different stores or you can just ask (some people register in different kinds of places like travel agencies or a store they particularly like). If you are uncomfortable just giving a check in a card then pick out something nice for their home (like a vase or crystal, especially if you don’t know their taste) from a store that has a good return policy (you should get a gift receipt anyway). You could also just go the gift certificate route (like an American Express – that way they can get what they want or need from anywhere they like or take it on the honeymoon with them – we did that and they came in pretty handy). Just make it generic and don’t slant it towards their heritage – you don’t know how they will feel about that.
Perhaps one of those lovely wooden boxes containing a variety of tea. I have seen these put out by Bigelow but don’t know where to find them.
Maybe a nice photo album to save their beautiful wedding pictures in.
thanks for asking
You’re really good man. You’ve got excellent talent.