Friend: So, what would you like for a wedding present?
Me: Well, we registered at JCPenneys.
Friend: But registered stuff is so boring! What do you really want?

Okay, I confess: Towels and cutting boards and tupperware don't exactly match up to the romance of the day, and they do a darned poor job of expressing the depth of a good friendship. I know when I've been invited to weddings in the past, I've been loathe to buy such mundane items.

This is not to say that we don't want the stuff we registered! Gosh darn it, we wouldn't have put it on the list if we didn't want it! But for those of you who feel that cookie sheets and lamps don't really say what you want them to, here are a few other ideas:

Stuff on the JCPenneys List That Isn't Boring:
If you look closely at the list, there are a number of things in there that aren't at all boring. There are three candleholders that we thought were exceptionally striking (and if they've already been bought, we probably wouldn't object to an extra or two). I took a good look around me a few months ago and realized that, consciously or not, I've started collecting clocks. So there's a beautiful green marble clock on our list. And there are a number of "fun" appliances: Of course we don't really need a waffle iron or an ice cream maker, but they'd sure be great to have!

If the idea of practical gifts doesn't bother you, but you'd rather get something that we really need, rather than something we just thought would be okay, by all means, pick out a few items and ask one of us to prioritize them for you.

Oh, and as long as you're looking at that list: The flatware we registered (Oneida Autumn Glow) is available in five-piece sets at the Williamsburg Pottery's Oneida outlet -- and if single pieces are available, we really need about five extra teaspoons. Matt's note for guys: She means the smaller regular spoons, not five extra measuring teaspoons

Other Stuff
Okay, you looked over the list and nothing on it seems to strike a chord within your heart. Well, here are some other things that would be great gifts:

• Coming back from a vacation to a dirty house is the pits, and besides not being the world's greatest housekeepers, we're definitely going to be short on house-cleaning time during the week or so before the wedding. So you could hire a maid service to come in during the week we'll be on our honeymoon to come in and clean up for us! (If you wanted it to be a surprise, my parents or Chuck and Anita Turnitsa can arrange to get a key for the service.)
• For out-of-town friends that we don't get to see nearly often enough: pick a weekend (at least 2 months after the wedding) and invite us to out for a visit.
• For in-town friends that we don't get to see nearly often enough: a date for a home-cooked meal at your place, or an activity that we could do with you.
• Tickets to... a museum, a movie, or a show in the area (includes Norfolk/VA Beach and Richmond for weekend trips) (Note: These could be combined with the previous item)
• Gift certificates for two to a nice restaurant.
• Potted plants or flowers, along with directions for care (my thumb is more brown than green) and perhaps a note explaining their significance.

Of course, what we'd really like from you is for you to come to the wedding and have a good time. If we get to hug you in the receiving line and trade a few memories and laughs, then we will consider ourselves well gifted.

But as I said, I've had that conversation at the top several times now, and I don't think it's going to go away anytime soon. So for those of you trying to come up with something tangible, yet different: take the ideas above, and run.