News Summary
Bride-to-be Liv Dansky and fiancé Jeffrey Rosenthal forgo traditional wedding gifts, opting for a restaurant gift card registry instead. This choice reflects their culinary passion and desire for experiences over material possessions. Their diverse registry includes gift cards from famous Los Angeles eateries, allowing them to explore the city’s vibrant food scene and create lasting memories. This trend highlights a shift in wedding registries, focusing on unique experiences and personal connections.
Los Angeles — In a trend that reflects shifting priorities among modern couples, bride-to-be Liv Dansky and her fiancé, Jeffrey Rosenthal, have decided to forgo traditional wedding gifts in favor of a restaurant gift card registry. This innovative approach highlights their passion for culinary exploration and offers a way to deepen their connection with Los Angeles, where they currently reside.
Dansky, a recipe developer and food writer originally from Denver, and Rosenthal from Manhattan Beach, met during their time at Washington University in St. Louis. Their early relationship blossomed as they explored local dining options, often on a budget, which helped lay the groundwork for their appreciation of food culture.
Having pursued culinary education at Le Cordon Bleu in London and gained experience in test kitchens for well-known culinary publications such as Food & Wine and Southern Living, Dansky sought a creative way to celebrate their wedding gift-giving. Their decision to create a restaurant gift card registry aligns with their lifestyle of valuing experiences over material possessions.
With the couple moving to Los Angeles before their wedding, Dansky envisioned the gift card registry as a way to become more familiar with the city’s vibrant culinary offerings. Hosting a bridal shower at Mercado La Paloma, featuring catered food from Holbox, set the tone for their wedding celebration and the culinary experience they aimed to curate.
The wedding invitations creatively included a poem requesting gift cards to their favorite restaurants. Their registry comprised gift cards from renowned dining establishments, such as Dan Tana’s, République, Bavel, Pink’s Hot Dogs, and Osteria Mozza. This diverse selection illustrates their love for various cuisines and dining atmospheres.
To help them maximize their dining experiences, Rosenthal’s aunt organized the gift cards into a binder. Each restaurant visit was paired with blank note cards for the couple to document their culinary adventures, encouraging reflection on their explorations and memories made through dining.
In the months following their wedding, Dansky and Rosenthal have ventured to new dining locations around Los Angeles, including Alta Adams and Hatchet Hall, and have even visited Pasadena for the first time. The gift card approach has allowed them to save money compared to typical dining expenses, making it a financially savvy choice while enhancing their culinary journey together.
This trend of opting for gift cards instead of conventional kitchenware presents mutual benefits. Restaurants in Los Angeles gain immediate revenue through the sale of gift certificates, which can also foster repeat customers who wish to return after experiencing the establishment using the gift cards.
Currently, Dansky and Rosenthal are looking forward to indulging in various culinary delights using the remaining gift cards. Anticipated meals include lobster rolls, French dips, and gourmet sandwiches, kept in the spirit of discovering new tastes and local flavors.
Ultimately, Dansky appreciates the diverse accessibility of food in Los Angeles and delights in exploring the different neighborhoods through culinary adventures. Their experience serves as a reflection of how couples today prioritize unique experiences and personal connections over traditional gift-giving, signaling a new direction in wedding registries.
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- The New York Times
- Brides
- Los Angeles Times
- Vogue
- Brides Gift Resources
- Wikipedia: Wedding Registry
- Google Search: Wedding Registry Trends
- Google Scholar: Wedding Registries 2025
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Wedding
- Google News: Wedding Registry Ideas
