Lifestyle

New Ideas for Wedding Gifts

New Ideas for Wedding Gifts

Dwellings (Sunday Grant Photography)

Twists on the Traditional: Handpicked Gifts for Newlyweds

By Leah Shapiro

Just because your gift comes in a box doesn’t mean you can’t think outside of one. When it comes to shopping locally for a wedding present (or creating a gift registry), there is no shortage of innovation and craftsmanship in our region. Today, variations on classic items and customizable creations are all the rage.

For the fiancés, one of the items to check off on your to-do list is the gift registry. “When a couple registers with me, they can rest assured that I will be taking care of everything. We do special orders, custom orders, and everything goes on our website for easy viewing,” says Jessica Johnson, assistant manager and bridal registry consultant at New Morning Gallery (newmorninggallerync.com) in Biltmore Village. In addition to fulfilling their kitchen needs, Jessica says couples are also turning to home décor, adding lighting and furniture pieces to their registry. “A few items that have been popular lately are whimsical yard art pieces and larger furniture items.”

Furniture and home décor reigns supreme at Dwellings (dwellingsinspired.com) in Biltmore Village. “The tricky aspect of home décor as a gift is that it is so personal, and so tailored to the specific home and style of the client, that the client really needs to be involved in the selection process, but that is also what makes it such a special gift,” says Tanya Triber, design and sales associate at Dwellings, where employees can set up a wish list. “Because we have a small, tightly knit team of design and sales associates, we get to know our clients really well and can help craft a solution that’s tailored to the couple’s needs.”

New Ideas for Wedding Gifts

Lexington Glassworks

Glass, pottery, silver, and linen are traditional go-to wedding gifts. Among the many reasons to buy local and handmade is the aspect of personalization. A monogramed stamp or engraved wedding message can be an extra special touch. From wine decanters to silver leaf bowls, Lexington Glassworks (lexingtonglassworks.com) in downtown Asheville helps take the guesswork out of shopping for functional gifts. “We can make just about anything customizable, whether it’s the color, a small engraved message, or a monogramed stamp of the couple’s initials,” says Geoff Koslow, co-owner with Billy Guilford. “We’ve even had people come in and watch their special vase or bowl being made.”

Folks looking to create a custom registry of tableware and pottery can contact The Village Potters (thevillagepotters.com) in the River Arts District for a consultation. “We are creating pieces that will be used every day, not just put away in the cabinet for special occasions,” says Lori Theriault, one of the seven ceramic artists in the shared creative community. While all the potters encourage gift selections, Lori and Sarah Wells Roland offer a unique registry option where they sit down with the couple. “We get to know our couples and help them design work that reflects their tastes and values, and the pieces become theirs in that design,” says Lori.

Beth and Rob Mangum, of Mangum Pottery (mangumpottery.com) in Weaverville, build clients a custom webpage with all the items they selected. “A big part of that is for the couples to begin to establish their style and motifs,” says Rob. “It’s fun to watch them pick through our shelves picking out the glazes they like and pieces they want. Usually that is place settings of plates, bowls, and serving pieces, but often people register for decorative vases or sculptures.”

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