What are some other thoughtful gift ideas for in-laws?

“One of the very best wedding gifts comes after the wedding: photos. It's often affordable to print and even frame wedding photos to give as a gift,” Kramer suggests. Experiential gifts are also a great option for in laws. Treat them to a gift card for their favorite restaurant, tickets to a broadway show, or a relaxing couple's at a local spa. Or gift them an activity that they can enjoy together, like a wine tasting excursion or cooking class.

What can I give my in-laws on the day of the wedding or the night before?

“It might sound silly or even cheap to say, but a handwritten note can be the best gift,” Kramer says. “If you're having trouble finding the right words, share one way this person taught you about love,” Kramer suggests focusing on their influence in your life and how and the love you share with your partner.

The 20 Best Gifts for In-Laws in 2022

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Shopping for your partner can be tricky, but shopping for their parents? Intimidating! Whether you’re just coming into the family, or you’ve been around for a long time, you always want to make a good impression, so finding the right gift can be a little nerve-wracking. But don’t worry, you just have to know where to start.

First, think about the sentiment you want to convey—do you want the gift to be nostalgic and emotional? Fun or funny? What about creative and personalized? Take a moment to think about the message. Another route is to turn to their hobbies and interests. Do they love to cook, craft or golf? No matter where you’re at in the process, we’re here to help you out. We’ve put together a list of gifts for in-laws of all kinds and price points.

Read on for the best gifts for in-laws.

Uncommon Goods Custom Lake Art Cribbage Board

If their parents think life is better at the lake, they’ll appreciate this etched cherry wood cribbage board, which you can customize with their home or favorite vacation spot (there are over 7,500 lakes to choose from). Corked compartments along the board’s edges store the bronze and aluminum game pieces.

Avonnie Studio Personalized Couple Portrait Mug Set

Personalized enamel mugs are sure to make morning coffee or tea a little bit brighter. Each one has a hand-drawn portrait and name, so you can create a set for them or the whole family. You can even add custom text to the back to commemorate an important date or place.

Mark & Graham Wood and Marble Beveled Cheese Board

A cheese or charcuterie plate never goes out of style, and neither will this hand-crafted marble and acacia wood board. The elegant beveled edges make it look like an heirloom piece and you can have it customized with their initials for a personal touch. They’ll want to use it every time they entertain.

Waterford Elegance Decanter

Waterford Elegance Accent Decanter — Courtesy of Bloomingdales

If you’re looking for a gift that makes an impact, this crystal wine decanter is truly a showstopper. It’s functional as well—the curves add oxygen to their favorite wine, helping it achieve the best possible taste. When they’re not enjoying a glass of vino, it makes a chic centerpiece.

Victrola Innovative Technology Victrola Bluetooth Record Player

This intricate wood victrola looks right out of The Great Gatsby, but despite its old-fashioned looks, it packs a lot of new technology. It can play vinyl records, yes, or it can play music straight from their phones via Bluetooth. It’s beautiful and functional, the best kind of gift.

Cire Trudon Josephine Floral Garden Room Spray

Bergamot, sandalwood, jasmine, and white musk make up the beautiful fragrance in this elegant room spray that will have their home smelling fresh. The gorgeous bottle is designed to look like a vintage perfume bottle, so it can (and should) be left out for people to see.

Mark & Graham Hydrocotton Classic Bathrobe

This luxurious bathrobe will make them feel like they’re at an exclusive spa, even when they’re just relaxing in their own home. It’s made from 100% Turkish Aegean Cotton, which is both super absorbent and quick drying. Choose an embroidered monogram from the 21 design options to make it extra special.

Nambé Skye Tiered Stand

NambÃ© Skye Tiered Stand — Courtesy of Wayfair

This sculptural acacia wood serving stand will quickly become a pivotal piece in their hosting routine. Inspired by the calm landscape of the Isle of Skye in Scotland, the natural curves and wood grain make it the perfect canvas for anything from petit fours to fruit. Be prepared to see it at every holiday.

Harry & David Truffles and Wine Gift Set

Harry And David Truffles And Wine Gift Set — Courtesy of Harry And David

The quickest way to anyone’s heart is food…and wine. So, this tasty gift set is a very safe bet. The duo comes with a box of decadent chocolate truffles and a bottle of their sweet 2015 Beeson Tempranillo dessert wine to pair with them. It’s the ultimate crowd-pleaser.

Minted Custom House Letterpress Portrait Art

Help them commemorate their home in a sweet and sentimental way. This custom gift shows a letterpress line drawing of their house with the address and caption below. You can also pick the ink color and frame to fit their style. It’s beautiful, thoughtful, and something that will be placed on their wall in a place of honor for years to come.

Truff White Truffle Infused Hot Sauce

A blend of agave nectar, chili peppers and white truffle oil make up this cult-favorite sauce. The intense umami flavor and creamy texture make it versatile enough to put on anything from ramen to fried chicken. The stylish glass bottle comes in a special edition white and gold box that looks just as impressive as it tastes.

NYT 36 Hours World Book

If your in-laws love to travel, this book might give them some major wanderlust. Inside they’ll find weekend travel guides to 150 cities across all six continents, including places like Dakar, Beijing, Bogota, and many others. There’s no doubt they’ll be inspired, and maybe that means you and your partner will be treated to a trip.

Artifact Uprising Brass Easel & Calendar

They may have seen most of the snapshots from your wedding, but they haven’t seen them like this. Round up your favorite images and turn them into this paper calendar, which sits on a sleek brass easel. It’s a polished-looking accent piece they’ll be happy to keep out on their desk or console.

Ooni Fyra Pizza Oven

Give your in-laws a way to take pizza night to the next level. This outdoor oven can get up to 932 degrees in just 15 minutes, so they can cook stone-baked 12” pies in 60 seconds. It’s also lightweight and portable so they can take it with them to tailgates, barbecues, or even a picnic.

Matouk Initial Pezzo Throw

This Portuguese cotton blanket is the perfect cozy accent piece for their bed or living room sofa. The herringbone print comes in silver, champagne, and blue, and can be personalized with their initials. They’ll appreciate that it’s also machine washable—a smart choice.

Cuisinart Gelateria Ice Cream Maker

The ice cream fanatics in your second family will find this sweet appliance undeniably cool. It allows them to make two quarts of ice cream, gelato, frozen yogurt, and sorbet in 20 minutes. Offer to be their taste tester for any flavor experiments they might conduct.

FLIKR Fire Personal Concrete Fireplace

What’s more soothing than a roaring fire when it’s getting crisp outside? This tabletop fireplace will allow them to enjoy that cozy sensation anywhere at any time. The cement keeps the base from getting hot, and it burns isopropyl alcohol so they get all of the pretty flames but none of the soot.

Chantal Classic Copper Kettle

If tea is your in-laws' go-to source of caffeine, this posh copper kettle will be they’ll pour over this posh copper tea kettle. The copper-plated stainless steel piece works on all stovetops, including induction, and has a flat bottom for quick boiling. They’ll think of you every time they brew.

Aluratek Touchscreen Digital Photo Frame

Your in-laws can show off a constantly changing and rotating array of their favorite memories (including wedding photos), without ever having to go get prints made. You can even email photos right to the display, so you can add photos from anywhere at any time—it’s a gift that keeps on giving.

The Black Home Matte Black and Gold Luxury Flatware Set

There’s a good chance your in-laws are still using the decades-old flatware set they received at their wedding. So, they’ll probably appreciate you giving their flatware a luxe upgrade with this modern black and gold design. Each set comes with four stainless steel pieces with brushed gold-dipped tops. These are definitely Thanksgiving table-worthy.

What to look for in gifts for your in-laws

Elisabeth Kramer, wedding planner and author of Modern Etiquette Wedding Planner, recommends thinking about the sentiment you’re hoping to express. “A couple should focus on what, ideally, informs all of their wedding planning decisions: How do they want people to feel? Do they want a relative to feel nostalgic, delighted, amused? That answer will help instruct what gift to give,” she says.

FAQ

What are some other thoughtful gift ideas for in-laws?

“One of the very best wedding gifts comes after the wedding: photos. It's often affordable to print and even frame wedding photos to give as a gift,” Kramer suggests.

Experiential gifts are also a great option for in laws. Treat them to a gift card for their favorite restaurant, tickets to a broadway show, or a relaxing couple's at a local spa. Or gift them an activity that they can enjoy together, like a wine tasting excursion or cooking class.
What can I give my in-laws on the day of the wedding or the night before?

“It might sound silly or even cheap to say, but a handwritten note can be the best gift,” Kramer says. “If you're having trouble finding the right words, share one way this person taught you about love,” Kramer suggests focusing on their influence in your life and how and the love you share with your partner.

Meet the Expert

Elisabeth Kramer is a wedding planner in Portland, OR, and author of the book, Modern Etiquette Wedding Planner, which helps brides navigate all parts of the wedding planning process.

Why Trust Brides

Contributing writer Erica Finamore is an expert in the world of entertaining and home decor. She has shared her knowledge and market skills in published pieces at Food Network Magazine, HGTV Magazine, Real Simple, Refinery29, and others.

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