15 Good Luck Wedding Gifts for the Bride and Groom
15 Good Luck Wedding Gifts for the Bride and Groom
15 Good Luck Wedding Gifts for the Bride and Groom
When a couple first gets engaged, chances are they haven't even registered for gifts yet. But if you still want to send them a little something to say "congratulations," consider choosing a personal gift that will bring them good luck rather than risk buying a dishware set or kitchenware item you're not sure they'll need or like. These wedding gift ideas hold a little more meaning and will set the pair up for good fortune for years to come.
Traditions that say certain gifts can bring newlyweds good luck in their marriage go back hundreds of years and come from different cultures around the world. Not only will they bring good luck, but a lot of these gifts will also be incredibly useful to the bride- and groom-to-be. You can get these items for any occasion as well, whether it's for the engagement party, bridal shower, wedding, or a housewarming gift.
When thinking of a gift that will give the couple luck, think of historically and spiritually lucky symbols, like the horseshoe, which is the universal symbol for good luck. This item is especially popular in Irish weddings, where brides are given a charm or bracelet with the horseshoe to wear down the aisle. In other cultures, horseshoes are given as gifts because they ward off evil spirits. The "luckiest" horseshoes are cast from iron to form the perfect marriage of fire and earth. For something a bit more modern and stylish, gift the couple a Herend Horseshoe Paperweight ($335, scullyandscully.com). Not only will it help them organize their wedding contracts in the months leading up to their nuptials, but it's also something they can use long after the big day.
Read on to learn a little bit about how the traditions began and get good luck wedding gift inspiration.
Wishbone
It's said that ancient Romans were the first to use the wishbone as good luck. Two people would break a turkey's wish bone apart, and whoever had the longer piece would be the luckiest. But we think the bride that ends up with this personal, thoughtful wedding gift is the true lucky one.
Shop Now: Zoe Chico 14K "Itty Bitty" Wishbone Bracelet, $195, zoechicco.com.
Love Spoon
A love spoon is actually just a wooden spoon that's decoratively carved. A Welsh tradition, men would carve these spoons and give them to their loved ones as a romantic gesture. Since the spoon was one of the most important utensils in the kitchen (and still is!) it is said to bless the new home with a large family to cook for. Rather than handcrafting a spoon yourself, you can always buy a uniquely designed wooden spoon for the couple.
Shop Now: Sur La Table "Walnut" Spoon, 14'', $17.50, surlatable.com.
Plants
Plants as a whole are the universal icon for new beginnings, so they are a great gift to give a couple that's about to start their lives together. If you want to get even more specific, feng shui practices say that bamboo is the luckiest plant to have in your home; bamboo is said to bring peace and energy to the household, along with health, love, and luck. Not to mention it requires almost no upkeep and can liven up any room.
Shop Now: Brussel's Bonsai Fence Bamboo in Oval Glass Container, $36, homedepot.com.
Jordan Almonds
While most brides and grooms actually give Jordan almonds to their guests as a favor, it can also work the other way around. These candies are seen most at Italian and Greek weddings, where the sugarcoating around the almond is the hope that the couple's life will be sweeter than before. Normally shared in odd numbers, the most common practice is giving out five to represent the five wedding wishes: fertility, health, wealth, happiness, and longevity.
Shop Now: White Jordan Almonds, from $8, nuts.com.
Wedding Egg
Persian and Slavic cultures believe that gifting the new couple an egg will bless them with fertility. Many cultures, like Ukranian, Moroccan, and Mexican, decorate the wedding egg. We know: You probably don't want to give your best friends a carton of eggs, but you could always give them a thematic gift like this egg crate.
Shop Now: Crate & Barrel "Farmhouse" Ceramic Egg Crate, $19.95, crateandbarrel.com.
Evil Eye
The evil eye, a curse that is believed in many cultures, is a malicious glare that can cause misfortune. The belief is that the only way to repel this is to wear some sort of charm with eye-like symbols. Brides and grooms are given this charm on their wedding day to protect them from back luck. Though it has meaning, evil eye jewelry is also very popular and makes for a great gift.
Shop Now: Chan Luu "Nano Evil" Necklace in Green, $125, chanluu.com.
Silver Sixpence
You know the saying "Something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue?" The original rhyme had one last part: "and a silver sixpence in her shoe." The tradition started in Britain, when the father of the bride would place a sixpence coin in his daughter's shoe as a way to wish her prosperity, love, and happiness in her marriage. Though the sixpence isn't used anymore and the tradition is not as popular, you can always wish the bride good luck by giving her this adorable card.
Shop Now: LittleIndieStudio Personalized Lucky Sixpence Wedding Card, $5.26, etsy.com.
Peonies
Did you know peonies promise longevity for a marriage? Gift the bride a print of a peony vase to bring the couple luck.
Shop Now: Minted "Peonies in a Vase" Limited Edition Art, from $27, minted.com.
Candlesticks
In traditional folklore, candlesticks were given to the newlyweds to ensure that a home will never be without light.
Shop Now: Jungalow Green Candleholder Set, $115, jungalow.com.
Salt and Pepper
To make sure the bride and groom are never without food, traditional folklore says they should be gifted salt and pepper. Many also believe that the gift of salt and pepper will give flavor to their new life together.
Shop Now: Martha Stewart Collection Acrylic Two-Piece Salt Shaker & Pepper Mill Set, $28.99, macys.com.
Bell
A bell has purpose before the big day and after. Bells ward off evil spirits and can prevent the bride and groom from stumbling or making a mistake on their wedding day. After the wedding, they can remind the couple of the bells that rang on their big day and the vows they made to each other.
Shop Now: Ballard Designs Vintage Bell, from $29, ballarddesigns.com.
Spirits
Ever wonder why there's a toast during the wedding reception? Alcohol is said to bless the new married couple's union with happiness and good health. Take this gesture one step further by gifting a nice bottle of booze, like this tasty red.
Shop Now: Cakebread Cabernet Sauvignon 2017, $89.99, wine.com.
Jade
According to the practice of feng shui, Jade has been known to bring good luck—gift your favorite couple with a gorgeous throw pillow inspired by the gemstone.
Shop Now: Marie Burgos Design "Jade" Pillow, $119, marieburgosdesign.com.
Wedding Blanket
In many cultures, wedding blankets are considered to be good luck, like the Handira in Morocco. It's a traditional and symbolic textile—some are marketed specifically towards those getting married, like this gorgeous handmade option.
Shop Now: Soukie Modern Vintage Moroccan Wedding Blanket, $550, soukiemodern.com.
These personalized good luck charms are guaranteed to delight the happy couple.