Yes it’s that time of year again when wedding invites start to come your way! Nothing beats a wedding to celebrate the coming together of two good friends or relatives!
But what do you buy for the special couple and how much do you spend? We are all faced with this dilemma at some point.
The average wedding in the UK reportedly costs just short of £20,000. This is a significant sum for one day so what’s the right amount to spend on a gift?
With guests spending on average £300 per wedding (research from Morgan Stanley) on outfit, travel, accommodation, drinks and gift – not to mention the Engagement and Hen/Stag parties (which are now often abroad!), weddings are a costly affair!
In years gone by, the etiquette was that you should spend roughly the cost per head of the reception however guests don’t tend to follow this religiously these days.
Everyone will have their own thoughts on this issue however you may think it unfair to spend more on a work colleague who you don’t socialise with than you would on a relative, just because the work colleague spent a fortune on a lavish wedding whereas your close relative pulled in the purse strings and had a more modest affair. It may then be better to assess how much you should spend on how close your relationship is to the bride and groom. (According to research, the average spend in the UK is £40 - £50).
Ok, so you have decided what to spend. Now you have to choose a gift. Some couples (22% according to a survey by First Direct) make it easy for you by having a wedding list. People have different opinions on this, however for couples starting out, it is one way to ensure that they get what they need and the benefit to the guest is that you know your gift will be well received by the bride and groom.
3% of couples now ask for donations to charity instead of presents. Some guests may decide to do both. An idea for those who are keen to be charitable is to choose a fair trade gift. This way the newlyweds have a gift to cherish and the people who made it have a job that gives them a fair wage and good working conditions. Some suggestions from our fair trade range include our recycled aluminium salad bowl, salad servers, photo frame or pickle tray, with prices ranging from £16.99 to £34.99.
Perhaps you are on a tight budget and you may prefer not to make it obvious how much you have spent. In this instance it may be a good idea to give the gift list a miss! (An alternative may be to pool together with a group of friends in order to buy a larger/more expensive gift). You could choose something that is not in High Street shops and that little bit different, but not too expensive. A handcrafted gift perhaps or something unique like our ‘is it wine o’clock yet?’ canvas clock or perhaps our East of India wooden heart clock?
33% of couples now request cash as a gift (First Direct Survey). This may be towards larger value items for their new home or even towards the cost of honeymoon.
Should you decide not to buy from the gift list nor give cash there are many options available to you. A thoughtful gift that’s aligned with the couples interests or a personalised gift will always be well received. As will a gift that the recipient may be unlikely to buy for themselves as it is not a priority item. Do they enjoy entertaining? If so they will love our aluminium cheese platter or heart shaped ceramic cake stand.
You will also need to take account of the couple’s individual financial circumstances and life stage. If they are they young and yet to make their mark on the property ladder, cash towards a deposit on a house may be high on their agenda. Have they been co-habiting for years? – A thoughtful gift to help make their house a home may be appreciated.
Our advice is to do what feels right for you and don’t get too carried away – always have a budget (that’s affordable to you) at the back of your mind!
Whatever you decide, we are sure that most bride and grooms will cherish the memories of their day more than anything and look back fondly remembering those who shared it with them.
Enjoy your day!
Florence and Nicola
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