“What should I get?” is often our first thought. But here readers and staffers suggest, in their own words, what to do, plus extra ideas for you.

For Weddings

“Right after my neighbor’s wedding, I developed the photos I took and made a mini album. The next morning, I gave the newlyweds the first pictures of their nuptials. One picture caught the bride and groom hand in hand on the beach. They loved it.”
— Marcia Blackwell, 44, Long Branch, New Jersey

Frame the wedding invitation and give it to the bride and groom after their honeymoon.

Pack up a small cooler of Champagne and leftover wedding cake so the happy couple can enjoy what they probably missed the night before.

For Births

“The journal I received at my baby shower meant the world to me. Each guest wrote two pieces of advice: one to me on being my son’s mother and another to my son on having me as a mother. It was a hilarious and touching gift to me (and my son!).”
— Rebecca Sample Gerstung, 33, Chicago

Gather some newspapers with the baby’s birth date on them, as well as some current magazines from the month he was born, and put them in an archive box as a time capsule for when he gets older.

A new mom hardly has time to shower. Drop by before you start your day and watch the baby while mom cleans up — 15 minutes is all she needs.

For Graduations

“When I give a gift to a graduate, I include a ‘To Whom It May Concern’ letter — a recommendation the grad can use when needing a reference.”
— Robyn Spizman, 54, Atlanta

Give the big-shot grad something he can really use and order a pack of custom-engraved pencils at www.mileskimball.com (search for “Pencils”; from $5). Choose something funny, like “J. Smith: Overachiever for Hire” or “I’m a Pretty Big Deal.”

Dig up one of your graduate’s grammar-school report cards and include it inside a card. It will be fun — for all of you — to see how far she has come. (Plus, she can see if critiques like “Talks out of turn” still apply.)

Call the local pizzeria or burger joint in the high school graduate’s new college town and prepay a tab or buy a gift card. No more cereal for dinner.