MoneyMagpie Editor and financial expert Vicky Parry shares some favourite wedding gifts to inspire you this summer – and some are quite unusual…
Wedding gifts used to be easy, because the happy couple would receive items that would set up their first home together after moving out from the family home.
But these days, most people leave home long before they are married, and have already bought most things they need.
Wedding gifts can be a tricky dance, too. How much should you spend? What if someone else gets the same as you? Will they even like or use it? Going for something a little unusual is a great idea, and there’s a range of options in every budget.
Kitchen wedding gifts
If you want to stick in a more traditional style of gift, look for things the happy couple might want, rather than things they need. Gone are the days of the traditional toaster or dinner plate set!
For avid bakers, opt for kitchen gadgets that add style to their home, such as the gorgeous blue and white Laura Ashley stand mixer – which comes in two sizes and so suits two different budgets. The smaller 4.5L stand (RRP £169.99) is made from plastic, which makes it super light to move around the kitchen, while the 6L (RRP £329.99) is die-cast iron designed to stay on the counter to look good every day.
For the serious chefs, consider thinking outside the box with a Tormek T-1 Kitchen Knife Sharpener, the first at-home professional level sharpener which would pair well with a Zwilling knife set for a lifelong gift. Or, consider something for the outside chef, from bespoke BBQ branding tools from Etsy to a Jamie Oliver Pizza Oven.
For the non-chefs who have yet to get on the airfryer wagon, consider the Daewoo AI Airfryer that uses cameras to determine your food and the exact cooking time. Perfect for busy couples! And they can store leftovers in ceramic Hokan bowls, a sustainable alternative to Tupperware and clingfilm, as you can put them in the fridge, freezer, oven, and microwave.
Want to get something that you know they wouldn’t buy themselves but would love? How about an Inoviva Slushy Machine? Let them indulge in frozen slushies on demand, with up to nine servings a batch AND alcohol recipes available, it’s great for couples who love to host parties.
Wedding gifts for the home
Home gifts are ideal for couples who love their cosy atmosphere. You could give them the gift of scent with Woodwick Candles, or treat them to a NEOM wellbeing kit which includes a pillow mist, candle, and hand balm.
Lamps are a good bet for most couples as a wedding gift, because there is always a dark corner that could do with some illumination. You could go retro-cool with a Lutris battery-operated lamp, which is safe for outdoor use too. Or, choose your favourite (or silliest!) photo of the couple and design your own lampshade from Custtom to give them a memory they’ll treasure every time they turn it on.
For the green-fingered, a long-lasting reminder of their nuptials is a perfect wedding gift. Trees hold a lot of symbolism of love and longevity, and can grow along with their marriage. If you can’t attend the wedding in person, you can send trees by post with companies like Tree2MyDoor.
An affordable wedding gift for everyone is Bird and Blend Wedding Tea, from just £3.50. Or, if you want to give the gift of tea all year around, sign them up to the Tea Subscription! Pair with some cute mugs printed with custom photos or designs from Vistaprint and they’ll have cosy memories together for years to come, every time they sip from your mugs.
Tech lover wedding gifts
Tech lovers can be hard to buy for if they’re very specific about what they do and don’t like. But most people will appreciate a Dangbei Freedo projector, ideal for the living room or cast onto a bedroom wall for cosy nights in. It’s got a long battery life too, so your happy couple could have movie night in their garden in the summer months! If the Freedo is out of your budget range, there are plenty of projector alternatives by Dangbei and other brands that will transform the newlyweds’ living space.
For the active couple, consider investing in tech they can enjoy together as a pair. That might be a TwelveSouth AirFly Pro headphone splitter, perfect for their honeymoon flight, allowing two pairs of wireless headphones to connect to the same source – even on in-flight entertainment systems. As for the headphones, opt for a pair of OpenRock X Sport headphones which use air conduction technology, so they don’t disturb each other with their music at night but can still have a conversation thanks to the open ear channel design.
For something fun, ideal for couples who spend time apart due to working away, why not get them an Enabot AI Companion Bot. A tiny friend, with an expressive face, this camera can move around on wheels and keep your happy couple in touch and not feel lonely even when they’re apart. It can also serve as a home security camera while they’re away on honeymoon.
Experiences and days out
For couples who seem to have everything already, give the gift of memories together. This could be as simple as buying a membership to a cinema for regular dates, or giving them an One4All restaurant card to buy them dinner together.
You can always opt for a choose-your-own adventure type of voucher with a Virgin Experience Days gift card, and make sure they get the treat of money saved on every meal and coffee out with a Tastecard membership. For the couple that prefers to stay in, consider giving them the gift of subscription boxes like Gousto or HelloFresh, so they can spend time making new recipes together.
For wine lovers, why not give them the gift of their own vines? You can rent vines for the happy couple for a year from £200 at Oastbrook vineyard, including the wine made from them!
If your friends have a love of a particular sporting event or music type, consider getting them a ticket to attend, such as Bludfest in June, Emirates Sail Grand Prix in July, the Silverstone Festival in August.
Or, if you know your newly married couple already have an event like the Isle of Wight festival booked, make sure they stay warm and dry with Vivida all-weather robes (ideal for the sneaky cold nights), or gift them camping kit like a tent or sleeping bags to make sure they enjoy their event in luxury!
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