I love to give gifts, and I think the best/most consistent formula for a gift someone will really love is something they’ll use, but wouldn’t splurge on for themselves— so if they enjoy coffee, a nice french press or Chemex along with a good bean subscription, or even a Moka pot and milk frother for espresso drinks at home— this formula works for most occasions, and relies on knowing the person/couple. Some good standbys that I get often are:
a good set of bathrobes; bathrobes make getting out of the shower much nicer, but many people wouldn’t get a really good robe for themselves; try Oddbird, Brooklinen, or LL Bean (which you can have monogrammed with a couples new initials)
a good vinyl player (if they collect vinyl), or a good set of speakers if they already have a quality turntable but poor speakers,
a subscription or service— for my girlfriends I usually buy a facial or a massage that they can schedule whenever, for a couple, maybe a theater subscription, a museum membership, or a couple’s massage— these are things people really enjoy but might not do for themselves, especially in the first year of marriage.
I tend to avoid overly customized gifts; if it isn’t something someone wants it may accidentally go unused and is impossible to return or regift.
