The perfect gift list
Published: 01 Jul 2012 - in
organising and planning
Compiling a gift list should be one of the most pleasurable parts of your wedding preparations. Thanks to the new gift list service on hitched.co.uk it’s never been easier to create one – or for your guests to use it.
A wedding gift list is one tradition that is still going strong. Setting one up is the perfect way to let friends and family know exactly what you’d love to own as a married couple – and avoids people choosing presents that they like, rather than the things you actually want.
To make life even easier, hitched.co.uk has created its own wedding Gift List service letting you, and then your guests, choose from a wide range of high street retailers with an option to buy everything online, avoiding hours traipsing through department stores.
What to choose?
Choose from big names like John Lewis, House of Fraser, Debenhams and Marks & Spencer, among many others, and you can include a variety of stores in your list.
There are over 30,000 different items to choose from, so if you’re hoping for a full dinner service, for example, you’ll find everyone from Wedgwood and Royal Doulton to designer collaborations with Vera Wang, as well as mats, table linen and even dining chairs and tables to put it all on.
Toasters are still the traditional back-up gift from relatives, but if you’d prefer a super-stylish fridge-freezer, or you want to wave goodbye to washing-up with a dishwasher, they’re an option too. Or, why not choose smaller items including cushions, rugs, photo frames, bed linen, clocks, ornaments and even art to complete and personalise your home.
Because many couples marry after setting up home together - collecting the usual kitchenware along the way – there are plenty of other tempting choices. Why not upgrade your gadgets for example; keen travellers could pick a sleek digital camera, film buffs might ask for a home cinema system and there’s even the option of a satnav to avoid arguments on the road.
Adding gifts to your hitched.co.uk wedding gift list is easy and can be done by the simple click of a button.
Spread the word
Once you’ve gone on your virtual shopping spree, it’s easy to email the list directly from the hitched.co.uk site to guests, or print personalised cards to include with the invitations. And it’s just as straightforward for your guests to pick the perfect present, either buying it online to send directly to you, or having it posted to their own address to bring along on the big day. A traditional present table can make for a fun and colourful display at any wedding reception.
For guests who’d rather shop in person than on the internet, the list still lets them choose their favourite and buy it in store before making sure the online list is updated when they get home.
Best of all? If you sign up for a gift list before October 2012, you’ll automatically be entered into a prize draw where you’ll have the chance of winning an extra present from hitched.co.uk worth at least £50.
Images courtesy of Debenhams
Six of the best: Tips for creating the perfect wedding gift list on hitched.co.uk
Tip 1:
Don’t be embarrassed – people would rather buy gifts they’re sure you’ll like. Remember, if you’re too shy to give suggestions you could end up with a lot of towels, duplicate presents or vases you can’t stand.
Tip 2:
Don’t get carried away – everyone’s budget is different, so include plenty of choice in a range of price brackets, with options for around £10 as well as £100 and anything inbetween. Although it’s fine to ask people to contribute to larger gifts, some guests will still want to choose one specific present.
Tip 3:
Do have fun – some guests will want to buy something quirky and unique rather than practical, so consider everything from gadgets you’ve always wanted to decorative home ware with a personal twist. Just be sure you’ll really use a crème brûlée blowtorch, or have space in the house for a chandelier, before you list it.
Tip 4:
Don’t make your list too short – people who’ve left it to the last minute will still want a choice, otherwise they’ll pick something random in a panic. As a general rule, have around two-thirds as many gifts as you have guests.
Tip 5:
Do it early – the list should be set up by the time the invitations go out, preferably around three months before. Give yourself around a month to set it up if possible, so you’re not rushing or getting stressed about what to choose.
Tip 6:
Don’t forget to include your partner in the decision process – after all, the gifts are for the two of you. Start with lists of what you’d both like and compromise from there.
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