If you’re a bride or groom-to-be and wondering why you should create a wedding gift list, then let me reassure you that giving your guests a set list of gifts to choose from is one surefire way to reduce your (and their) stress levels. Trust me, I’ve been to eight weddings over the past couple of summers, and I already have five weddings in the diary for next year (including my own) – so I understand the challenge that comes with finding a personal, unique gift. Especially if you’re shopping for a couple who appear to already ‘have it all’.
A wedding gift list makes it infinitely easier for your guests to pick something they know you’ll actually want and love – safe in the knowledge that they’re not buying you something that six other guests have also bought you (I mean, seriously, what will you do with six large serving platters?) And when the stats say 99% of guests will turn up to a wedding with a gift regardless of whether you have a list or not, wouldn’t you prefer to have a say?
Still not convinced you need a wedding gift list? Whether you’re looking to upgrade or replace your mismatched homewares or would like to ask for contributions towards your honeymoon fund, here, then, is why we think you should get one….
1. It’s a really fun activity to do with your partner
Creating your dream wedding gift list is basically like window shopping with a bottomless pot of money. Always dreamed of owning your own Le Creuset cast iron pot? What about a giant Jo Malone candle? Well, now you can.
My partner and I went along to the showroom at The Wedding Present Company earlier this year and it was honestly one of the most fun parts of the wedding planning process so far.
We walked around the two-story showroom in Chelsea – which is arranged like the rooms in a house – scanning the barcodes on everything we liked the look of. From Soho Home champagne coupes to Bordallo Pinheiro Cabbage serving bowls, the showroom is bursting with inspiration and way more fun than just scrolling through hundreds of products online (especially if you’re like me, and you like to touch everything).
Plus, there’s free-flowing Nyetimber as you browse. Need we say more?
2. You won’t end up with duplicates
No one wants to unwind after their wedding celebrations by unwrapping the exact same vase bought by every single extended family member. By curating your own wedding gift list, you can avoid the risk of ending up with multiples of the same wedding present or things you simply don’t want or need.
Think of creating your own gift list like having a personalised shopping spree, where you get to curate a list of exactly what you want and how much of each item you fancy.
3. It’s a convenient way for your guests to gift you something you actually love
From kitchen gadgets to luxurious tableware, The Wedding Present Company has a real mixture of big-name must-haves and unique independent brands you might not have come across before, so you’ll easily fall in love with some really unique pieces.
And if you’re thinking, ‘well, we already have wine glasses’, remember this is an opportunity to refresh your home not just with things you might need, but with long-lasting, high-quality items you really love. So even if you already have the basics for your life together, you can upgrade your current collection of homewares with wedding gifts to celebrate your marriage.
Plus, if you fall in love with something that The Wedding Present Company don’t currently stock, you can add up to 10 custom products from any UK-based supplier to your list.
4. It’s way less stressful for your guests
Honestly, we’ve all been there, dressed up in our new wedding guest outfit, balancing a clutch handbag under one arm and a present in the other. And there really is nothing worse than sitting in a church or registry office with a huge present squished on your knees. Talk about ruining the photos.
But by having an online wedding gift list, guests simply choose what they’d like to gift you and then you can keep track of the presents your guests are buying, place orders and arrange delivery. Simple and efficient. (And they won’t even need to worry about wrapping it up).
5. Easy for abroad wedding
Wedding gift lists are particularly useful for any couples who are getting married abroad. We’re mainly thinking about the practical reasons here – since transporting bulky or delicate gifts can be a challenge (not to mention the fact that they take up valuable suitcase space, and no one wants to pay for excess baggage at the airport).
Creating a gift list not only eliminates the need for guests to pack a present, but it also minimises potential stress for your guests. Especially since they’ll already have the added stress of travel arrangements, hotels, car hire and travel insurance for an abroad wedding. This way, guests can tick ‘buy wedding present’ off their list ahead of time and focus on just enjoying the celebration instead.
6. They’re free
Yes, you read that right. Creating a wedding gift list with The Wedding Present Company is a free service. You don’t have to pay for an appointment to visit the showroom, and they’ll store gifts for free for up to three months after your last present has been received at the warehouse. They also offer free deliveries to mainland UK (provided the value of presents bought from the list is over £2000), at a time that suits you.
One thing to note, however, is that if any of your guests choose to donate money to a honeymoon fund or an art fund, there is a 2% handling fee.
7. You can mix products, honeymoon funds and charity donations, all on one list
Some guests just prefer to give cash. And that’s ok. But asking for money can be pretty awkward. What’s great about curating a wedding list is that you can add specific funds – for example, a honeymoon fund, art fund or charity fund – to your list. So if you are all sorted at home, then guests can contribute towards your dream trip away instead.
8. There’s an option for group gifting
If you’re not quite sure how much money your guests will spend on a gift, then it’s wise to have a wide range of gifts (that still pass the ‘thank you’ test – for example, can you imagine writing a thank you note to your Aunt and Uncle for a cheese grater? If not, leave it off).
Most wedding gift lists will have the option for your guests to contribute towards a ‘group gift’. So if there are a couple of seriously high ticket price items that you’d love to put on your gift list – for example, an expensive piece of furniture like a coffee table – then your guests can choose to chip in towards it.
I’ve added the group gifting feature to a couple of the larger items on our list just because it takes the pressure off guests to quickly buy something before all the cheaper options are taken.
9. It’s ok if you change your mind
When you set up your gift list, you can choose to make it fixed or flexible. I opted for the flexible option so that my partner and I could choose exactly when to order our presents.
With a fixed list, items are ordered as guests make their selections, guaranteeing prompt delivery. But if you opt for a flexible list then you’ll be able to switch and swap your gifts before you confirm your order.
So, if you’ve changed your mind, or only part of a set has been bought, there is a little wriggle room to make swaps, even when your list has closed. Then, after your wedding, you’re able to review every item bought by your guests and decide if you would like to change anything. They really have thought of everything.
10. Streamlined thank yous
It can be hard to remember who bought what – especially if you’ve got a large guest list – but if you choose to create a list with The Wedding Present Company, there’s a seamless thank you list feature on the online portal. You just log in and you can see exactly who’s bought what, plus all the information you’ll need to make sure your thank yous arrive safely.
There’s even space for the guests to add a little note, and a tick box to remind you who you’ve thanked. It’s so easy to track any gifts you receive and then write specific, thoughtful thank-you notes. Something ‘future me’ will most definitely be thanking ‘past me’ for!
With almost 30 years of experience, The Wedding Present Company is the go-to gift list for a truly bespoke and tailored experience. Create your own wedding gift list with The Wedding Present Company here.
Related Article: Our Co-Founder’s Favourite Wedding Presents
