The one-stop guide to buying wedding gifts in the UK
Thankfully, we’re here to help you negotiate the minefield of buying an appropriate wedding gift, with ideas to suit all budgets and inspiration for all the different types of newlyweds in your life.
Weddings in the UK
In the UK, weddings are big business. A recent report stated that couples in the UK can expect to spend over £30,000 on a wedding with all the trimmings, with the average cost of a UK wedding in 2018 reaching an astonishing £32,273. This leaves rather a large hole in the bride and groom’s pockets, even if it that cost does include the following:
- Venue reservation
- Honeymoon expenses
- Food
- The engagement ring
- Alcohol
- Photography
- The wedding dress and tuxedo
In recent years, it’s become more acceptable to buck the trend for a traditional white wedding and opt for something more reflective of the couple themselves. This can range from small changes, such as hosting the wedding abroad, to bigger ones, like having a themed extravaganza. However, though undoubtedly individual, this all comes at an extra cost in addition to the already exorbitant price of holding a wedding.
In the past, it was customary for the bride's parents to cover the cost of the nuptials. Though some couples will still ask their parents to help out should they find the cost of their wedding too large, this now happens less often, and the happy couple are usually the ones burdened with the expense. In order to help them lighten their load, a great wedding gift is essential, providing them with necessary items or nice extras that will help them get their newly married lives off to a happy start whilst they work on getting back on their feet financially.
Useful wedding gift ideas
It’s more than likely that the happy couple will be starting their married lives off with some debt left over from the day of their nuptials. As a result, gifting them things that they’re actually going to need when they don’t have the funds to buy them themselves can be an incredibly thoughtful thing to do. However, finding something that is actually useful for them depends on how long they had been living together, if at all, before they got married.
If the new Mr and Mrs are moving in together for the first time following their vows, then there’s a long list of things they’re going to need, from the essential to the mundane. When considering what wedding gift they’ll get the most use out of, consider the things you’ve needed the most after a house move. Electrical items, window coverings and cookware are all incredibly essential yet expensive items. Buying things such as these can really help newlyweds, allowing them to settle into their new lives with as few headaches as possible. To help direct your search, the items below could prove very helpful.
Unique wedding gift ideas for the happy couple
Of course, if the couple have already been living together for quite some time, there’s less of a chance that the gift you buy them will actually be useful and a higher chance that they already own something similar. To avoid purchasing something they already have at home, you may want to find a unique wedding gift that will stand out from the pile of other gifts they receive. Of course, there’s nothing more unique than an eternity rose for them to display at home. Not only does it make for a beautiful centrepiece in any room, but it’s also a visual reminder of the love between them.
If the idea of getting them a gift that highlights their romantic love is appealing but you would still prefer something even more personal, then a personalised gift is probably the right choice for you. Whether you’ve been to one wedding or one hundred weddings, every newly wedded couple will be different and will want their wedding to be individual, just like them. As a result, personalised wedding gifts are highly popular, as they add a touch of individuality and ensure the couple know that you put in significant effort to find a gift that would suit them down to the ground. There is a wide variety of wedding gifts that you can have personalised, including jewellery such as cufflinks, bracelets and necklaces.
And there’s much more to choose from, too. If you already have a wedding gift in mind but want to make it even more special for the happy couple, then consider getting it personalised: It’ll add an extra considerate touch that they’ll really appreciate.
If personalisation isn’t creative enough for you, then you’re probably looking for a gift that will really stand out from the crowd. A creative wedding gift is perfect if the newlyweds are quite artistic or like to do and have things that are a little different from everyone else.One option would be to get the song lyrics of their first dance printed and framed for them to put up at home. You could also get the sound waves of the song printed and framed, which is a bit more unusual but just as sweet. If you like the idea of sourcing artwork for their home, then you can also buy personalised portraits of the happy couple or a watercolour painting of their home or wedding venue.
Wedding gift etiquette in the UK
Of course, giving a wedding gift isn’t as simple as just finding a gift that’s right for the couple you have in mind. In the UK, there is a certain wedding gift etiquette, and it’s crucial you are aware of it before you even think about taking out your bank card.
If your invite is for the evening do only, then it’s up to you whether or not to give a gift. However, know that the newlyweds will have a list of guests and the gifts each one gave so that they can remember who to write thank you cards to. If your name has a blank space where the gift should be, they’re unlikely to be impressed.
If the bride and groom specify ‘no gifts’, this doesn’t mean you can get away with not getting a gift. You should get them a gift anyway, even if it’s slightly smaller than what you would have otherwise bought.
If they’ve specified that they would like you to buy something from a gift registry or to make a donation to a charity of their choice, then you should do so. 39% of people said they thought it was bad manners to specify a gift, but the remaining 61% indicated they preferred being given some direction to make sure they bought a gift the new Mr and Mrs would actually want. Consider that the bride and groom will have already had enough stress without having to deal with getting rid of gifts they don’t want or need. If there’s a gift registry, take advantage of it!
Of course, one of the biggest questions when it comes to buying a wedding gift is how much you should spend on it. This becomes even more of a concern if you have to pay for travel expenses and hotel-stays, and especially so if you have to go abroad. However, having to pay for things like travel and accommodations doesn’t mean you don’t have to get a gift. In fact, the general rule of thumb is that you should spend what you think your food and drink would have cost the bride and groom. In most cases, this is around £40–60. A poll suggested that most people consider this bracket to be the most appropriate amount of money to spend overall:
- Less than £20: 9%
- £20-39: 20%
- £40-59: 41%
- £60-99: 18%
- £100+: 12%
Gifting money has typically been seen as a little crass, but it’s really quite an old-fashioned approach. If the couple are older, then gifting them money – unless they have asked for it – is probably unnecessary, as the assumption is that they are already quite settled financially.
If, however, the couple have asked for money specifically – perhaps so that they can put it towards a honeymoon or buying or modifying their home – then you should give money if you can. This is especially true if you’re close in relation to the newlyweds, as parents in particular are expected to give gifts that will help them along.
Great wedding gifts to give your children
If you’re a parent with a child who is soon to be married, then it’s generally expected that you will give a gift that reflects how close you are in relation to them, as well as that you want to set them up for a prosperous and happy future. If you’re financially able, this should probably include a cash gift, which is likely to go towards home renovations, mortgages or a honeymoon.
It’s highly common for the parents of the bride to pay for her wedding dress, so this is also something you could offer to do. If she already has her dress, then what about the shoes, or perhaps paying for the services of a makeup artist or a hairdresser? If you’re the parents of the groom instead, you could offer to pay for certain aspects of the festivities, such as the DJ or the band, the transportation or the bill for the alcohol. If you’re unsure about what to get or what to pay for, let the bride and groom know of your intentions and ask where you can help them out.
Earlier in the article, we mentioned just how expensive weddings can be, which means helping out with the cost of the wedding day can be a godsend for the future Mr and Mrs. As with parents, it’s common for siblings to gift money after the wedding or to offer to pay for a part of the day. If you’re older than your sibling, you’ll probably find this easier to do. You could offer to pay for everyone’s champagne to toast with or maybe even the cost of the wedding cake.However, if you’re younger than your brother or sister, you may not be able to make such a large financial contribution.
Wedding gift ideas for brides
Keeping in mind good wedding etiquette is just one aspect that will ensure the happy couple enjoy a special wedding day, but it’s also important to be thoughtful in advance. Of course, no one knows this better than the groom, who will want to make sure he helps keep his future wife happy and stress-free in the run-up to the big day.
- Earrings - your future wife will want her wedding dress to be the focus of everyone’s attention, and a necklace would only detract from that. If you would like to buy her some jewellery to mark her special day, then earrings are the ideal choice. Rose petal jewellery in particular is an ideal choice and available in a range of colours and styles, so you can match the shade of the real rose petals to her bouquet.
Flowers - let her know she’s in your thoughts by arranging for a bouquet of flowers to be delivered to her either the evening before your wedding or the morning of, when she’s getting ready. Alternatively, you could buy her an eternity rose dipped in either gold or silver, meaning she’ll have an eternal symbol of your love, gifted to her on the morning of your special day.- Perfume - buy her her signature scent. There’s nothing more heartwarming than knowing the person you’re going to marry knows all the little things about you, including what scent you use day in and day out.
- A dance - it costs nothing but your time to organise a surprise choreographed dance by you and your groomsmen. Obviously, it depends on your bride’s personal tastes, but this could be a great way to show her how much you enjoy making her smile.
- A wedding slideshow - put together a slideshow of photographs and videos of the both of you throughout the years, with funny stories to accompany each, when you give your speech at the wedding.
- Breakfast - does your bride love pancakes in the morning or a special drink from a certain coffee chain? Get her perfect breakfast delivered and get the day off to the best start possible.
This old English rhyme names the four good-luck and prosperity objects that a bride should carry or wear on her wedding day:
These items are often gifted on the wedding day at the final moment by female relatives as tokens of love and good wishes.
Should you get wedding gifts for your guests?
With all this gift-giving, it’s fair to wonder whether or not the wedding guests should receive gifts, too. After all, they are buying wedding gifts themselves, buying new outfits, paying for travel expenses, hotels and possibly childcare, and sometimes even booking holiday time to attend the festivities. For those in the wedding party, such as bridesmaids and groomsmen, there are even more expenses, planning and time involved.
- Cufflinks - the groom and all his men are likely to need cufflinks on the special day anyway, so this gift combines ticking an item off the list with getting him a personalised present.
- Alcohol - just like the groom, the best man will have his fair share of stress to deal with in the run-up to the big day. Ease his nerves with a personalised bottle of his favourite tipple. For many higher-end drinks, you can buy gift boxes that often come with glassware or edibles.
Aftershave - in all the mad rush of the wedding, how everyone is going to smell on the big day is likely to be something that gets forgotten about. A nice bottle of aftershave will make sure he smells great all day long and also makes for a pretty sweet gift.- Hobby set - if your best man loves settling down to a game of poker, then some gold-dipped poker cards could be just the way to elevate his skills. If he likes to be a little more active, then encourage him to improve on his swing with a playable 24 karat gold-dipped golf ball and tee. He’s sure to be impressed!
- Jewellery - the bride and maid of honour are undoubtedly close, meaning the bride will know exactly what type of jewellery her chief bridesmaid loves. You could gift her a personalised initial bracelet or a necklace that will look perfect with the neckline of her bridesmaid dress on the big day. A glazed real rose pendant would definitely do the trick.
- Luxury skincare - with all that rushing back and forth to help the bride and groom get everything sorted for their big day, the maid of honour could be feeling a little worse for wear. Make sure she looks and feels her best at every opportunity with some luxury skincare that will have her looking radiant late into the night on the day of the wedding.
- Afternoon tea - let the maid of honour know how much you appreciate her by taking her out for a bit of R&R. Not only will this serve as a moment of peace from all the wedding planning for both the bride and the maid, but it will also allow the two of you to catch up and talk about something other than the nuptials.
The most important thing you can do, though, is to communicate. Keep talking and sharing your interests. He will always care, and so should you!
The best wedding gifts of all time
If, after all this wondering and worrying about gifts for everyone involved or aware of the wedding, you still haven’t found something that feels quite right, then perhaps it’s time to turn to history for inspiration. Historically, wedding gifts usually came in the form of land, animals and money, all of which was essential for the newlyweds to set up their lives together. If you would like to take some cues from this era of history, then you could gift the Mr and Mrs-to-be a star. You could also sponsor an animal on their behalf or make a donation to a local animal shelter.
