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Getting The Wedding Gift List Right

Anastasia

The wedding gift list or marriage gifts list is difficult to get right. You know what you want, but you also know what you can expect your family and friends to spend. Getting the perfect balance is difficult but essential!

It’s funny, but when you start planning your own wedding you’ll be surprised by how often you need to think about your guests more than yourself. After all, your wedding day is supposed to be about you!

Unfortunately, the truth is that you need to strike a balance between reminding everyone how important your wedding day is to you and allowing them to think they are also important. If they don’t you may not have any guests!

Fortunately, you have this guide to help you create the perfect gift list that will keep all your wedding guests happy.

Consider The Budget

When creating a wedding gift list you need to consider how much money your average guest will have, or want, to spend on your wedding gift. 

Of course, you’ll want to put an array of items on your list ranging from low value to extremely high value. But, if the majority of your guests are likely to spend less than 20 pounds you need to make sure there are plenty of things that they could buy at this range.

If you don’t, you’ll end up with a lot of duplicates or items, not on your gift list that you don’t really want!

Ask For Money

As more couples are living together before having a wedding ceremony it can be harder to create a useful wedding gift list. After all, you’ll already have many of the essential items that usually appear on a gift list.

That’s the reason many couples are requesting money instead. Any funds given can be used to help fund the wedding or the honeymoon. 

However, if you’re going to do this as your gift list it’s a good idea to create a poem or short piece of prose that explains why you feel this is better than a traditional wedding gift list. This will help people to understand what you’re doing, why, and even to opt out of it.

If it helps you can ask people to give vouchers instead of money or even make your gift list the honeymoon account, with people paying money directly to the honeymoon.

At the other end of the scale, if you really don’t think you need anything on your wedding gift list, you can always ask your guests to make a donation to charity instead. 

This is a noble gesture and one that removes stress from your guests, they can give any amount they want and not have to worry about whether you like the gift or not!

Add These Essentials to Your Wedding Gift List

Of course, there are several essential items that you need to put on your wedding gift list, even if you’ve already set up home together. These are items that can always be used or simply kept for the future.

Consider adding the following to your wedding gift list:

Cutlery

A good set of cutlery will help to ensure you’re prepared for any dinner party or even your daily meals. 

This can often seem like a boring addition to a wedding gift list but it is something that many couples purchase cheap versions of. Your wedding gives you the opportunity to get a high-quality set.

Coffee Machine

Who doesn’t like waking up to a nice cup of coffee? Instead of having to put the kettle on, use your wedding day to get you and your partner a nice coffee maker. 

Granted, it’s probably not the most exciting item on your wedding gift list, but it is one of the most practical and something you’ll use every day.

That means every morning you’ll think about your wedding. All you need to do is make sure you specify the exact coffee maker you want on your gift list and then you’ll have a smile on your face every morning.

Bath Towels

Bath towels are another uninspired gift list choice but a practical one. Again, most couples will have either mismatched towels or cheaper ones than they would really like. Your wedding gift list gives you an opportunity to rectify this issue.

It’s tempting to put a bright color on the gift list but you need to consider the future. Neutral, or even pastel colored towels will go with most styles of decoration; ensuring your wedding bath towels will be used for years to come.

If you want to add a little extra class, consider requesting wedding towels with your initials on them.

Home Decoration Items

I’m sure you’ve been into plenty of home décor shops and wished you could purchase a specific item. Whether it’s a 20ft tall gorilla or a crystal vase, you’ll be glad to know these are great items to put on the wedding gift list.

Because you love the items you’ll be really grateful when someone buys them for you to celebrate your wedding. In turn, the wedding guest will be happy because they know how much you appreciate their gift.

It’s the perfect example of a wedding gift list really working.

Photo Frames

Another great essential for a wedding gift list is photo frames. You can specify which frames you want on your wedding gift list or you can leave it up to people’s imaginations. 

Photo frames can be a lot of fun but they are also the perfect way to display your wedding photos, ensuring every visitor to your house is reminded of your wedding day and how special you are to each other.

Garden Bits

At first, you may think giving garden bits is a little boring but these are actually great additions to your wedding gift list.

We’re not talking about garden spades or forks, it is about garden ornaments and plants, even a small tree or two. These can be quickly planted and will provide a constant reminder of your special wedding day.

The great thing about garden plants is that they should survive for years, they’ll become a symbol of your wedding and your marriage. If you haven’t got any on your wedding gift list then you need to add some now!

If you’re feeling brave you can always add that extra special something onto your gift list, such as a hot tub. It doesn’t mean you’re going to get one but you can live in hope. 

Creche

Because people are getting married later and often live together before the wedding, it is becoming increasingly common for couples to have their own children at the wedding ceremony. However, this can affect the ability for everyone to let their hair down and enjoy themselves. 

Therefore, a great gift idea is to get a babysitter, or create a crèche where the youngest children can be looked after and the parents can relax. This gift may not seem directly relevant to you but it will allow you to enjoy the company of your friends properly.

Of course, you can always set this up yourself and ask parents to contribute towards it as their gift to the wedding.

Final Thoughts

It is important that the items on your wedding gift list are not just for you. There should be plenty of gifts that are good for you and your husband.

It’s also a good idea to order thank-you stationery when you are making your wedding plans. This and your gift list will help to ensure all your wedding guests are properly thanked for choosing gifts from your gift list. Your appreciation will be noted.

Finally, don’t forget that this is your wedding gift list, it’s important to put what you want on there, even if it isn’t a conventional wedding gift. You need to take a few moments to consider what it is that will make your life easier, those sorts of items must be on your gift list.

If you only get married once you’re only going to have one wedding gift list, make the most of it!

Also, have a look at these 33 wedding gift ideas for any budget.

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