Women at work and their tips, challenges, advice, complaints, and experiences

With June on the horizon, you've probably received invitations from brides-to-be in the office or from your circle of friends and relatives.  Some of you may prefer to simply find out where the bride and groom are registered and pick something of their list of needs and wants; others, however, may be in a pickle if the happy couple has chosen to not register anywhere.

Or perhaps you're in charge of getting a gift together from the whole office.  How on earth does one do that, short of wandering the halls and collecting signatures on a card and cash for the goodies?

If you're looking for something creative for the folks who haven't given you a list or you want to supplement the registry with something fun, maybe this quick list of gift ideas will get your juices flowing.

1. Create a gift card bouquet.  (My parents have done this for me for various holidays and I love it, personally!)  If the couple hasn't registered but you know where the bride loves to shop, pick up a handful of gift cards and make a bouquet of them for her.  This works especially well as an office gift; if each coworker picks up a small denomination gift card and a faux flower, it will create a unique bouquet and the bride and groom can shop til they drop.
2. Did the couple register for small home appliances, such as a Crock Pot?  Supplement the larger gift by adding a copy of your favorite cookbook.  (My personal suggestion is Taste of Home's Slow Cooker Recipes 2007.  It's a magazine-style publication that is chock full of good ideas and easy on the checking account too.)
3. Are the recipients always busy, busy, busy?  You know how tough it can be for a Workerette who is trying to spin lots of plates, so perhaps gift certificates for services would bless the swamped couple and their Dayplanners.  Do they spoil their favorite pooch?  Try getting them gift cards from companies that offer grooming, dogwalking services, or doggy "daycare". 
4. Are they trying to consolidate households?  Rather than buying new "stuff" that they will have to pack and lift anyway, ask them if your hands and back could be put to better use during the moving day!  Even if they are using professional movers, a "welcome home" package might be of assistance.  Call or pop by their favorite restaurants in their new neighborhood for take-out menus and gift cards (so they don't have to worry where those pots and pans are at midnight the first night), grab some tourist brochures or flyers for local events, and slip in coupons and cards for local businesses like dry cleaners, oil and lube facilities or other places they plan to patronize.  Don't forget to get them a tube of SuperGlue for the inevitable broken china!
5. Last but not least, if the couple isn't registered anywhere but you know they enjoy participating in certain activities together, focus on that.  Outdoorsy folks will enjoy taking a wander through REI or another sports-focused store on your nickel; patrons of the arts will enjoy museum or opera tickets; foodies might like to try out a new restaurant by using a gift card you've supplied.  That way, even if they hate the sushi or sleep through the opera, they got to try it together - for "free".

(Bride graphic used by permission, with thanks to Webweaver.nu.)