When it comes to wedding gifts, it’s not just the thought that counts. The money counts, too. The average wedding guest will spend $127 on a gift for a family member, according to a 2016 American Express spending survey, and $99 on a gift for a friend. You’re wasting your money by giving gifts that brides and grooms don’t want and won’t use.
The safe course, is to just stick with the couple’s gift registry. “The key is giving a good wedding gift is pretty simple: Get the couple what they want and what they have asked for,” says Sarah Trotter of Lasting Impressions Weddings of Minnetonka, Minn. Nothing on the registry you like or can afford? Then give cash, says Trotter.

The 1,803 adults surveyed by American Express concur: 37% prefer gifts from a registry, followed by cash (31%) and gift cards (13%) Just 5% want a gift that’s not on the registry (And if you insist on going off-registry, at least include a gift receipt.)

Here’s a look at seven of the worst types of wedding gifts to give, based on feedback from wedding experts and wedding participants. Consider yourself warned.

Pets

For Jim and Pam’s wedding on the hit TV show “The Office,” colleague Dwight Schrute gave the couple turtle boiling pots and turtle bibs to go along with live turtles (which, thankfully, escaped). But, thankfully, that’s a sitcom.

Although pets might look cute and cuddly, pets do not make a good wedding gift. Newlyweds do not need to cover the financial obligations that go along with having a new pet – getting a pet should be a personal choice

Anything Matching

Stay away from gifts that are branded his-and-her or his-and-his or her-and-hers. “Couples have started their life together at their wedding ceremony, but it does not need to be represented on matching shirts or bedding,” says Trotter.

Not every couple thinks that it is cute to look exactly like their partner. Attire choices should be made exclusively by the couple. If you really want to give the gift of fashion, consider getting them a gift certificate.

No Monograms

Unless you know exactly what kind of monogram that the wedding couple intends to use (if any), then do yourself a favor and DO NOT buy them a monogrammed pillow.

Exercise Equipment

Hint much? Don’t gift exercise equipment for a number of reasons, wedding planners say, but above all, you don’t want your gift to be misconstrued.

An alternative? “Check the couple’s registry to see if they have food-related or kitchen items on their registry,” says Patires. “If so, you can put together a healthy, nutritious gift basket by choosing a few items from their gift registry.

Home Décor

Buying furniture as a fifty has several risks associated with it. The item may not physically fit in the couples living room, and it may not appeal to their aesthetic. Stick with the registry on this one – you may find furniture that they actually want.