What to get the bride and groom
Have you been to a wedding this year? If so, what wedding gift did you buy? A recent survey found that three quarters of the British population is spending 10% less on gifts for family members. However, a similar report by a leading retailer, that offers online wedding gift lists, found that there has been an increase in the top-end wedding gift market too and gifts are no longer a standard list of kitchenware, silverware or linen.
Basically it seems that we are getting more and more creative when it comes to present buying. At the bottom end this is because we have less money to spend on goods at the moment, so people are looking for cheaper options, which probably explains the findings of the first report. However, the top end spending has been for gifts for friends. This could be something to do with the greater importance friends play in people's lives nowadays – it's not just about family now, but also the average age for people to get married has increased, so we have more money to spend on gifts.
The type of gifts that are now popular are things like mp3 players, games consoles and home entertainment systems. Other gifts include experience days such as formula one driving, champagne breakfast in a hot air balloon and spa days which are much more fun, although maybe less practical, than receiving a bread maker or a new set of knives.
Hampers have always been a popular choice for gifts, particularly at Christmas, but now they are becoming popular wedding gifts too. Interflora, for example, offer Christmas hampers on their website that include food, wine and gifts so they are perfect for a Christmas wedding. They are ideal especially if you don't know the bride and groom that well and don't really know what to get them. They are also a great idea for foodies and champagne lovers.
Online wedding lists with the larger department stores are also a popular route these days. They work just like a Christmas list; the couple go through the department store and pick out things they like and build a wish-list of wedding gifts. This is then accessible online to all the guests and they choose the gifts based on price, personal preference and often what is left after the other guests have nabbed the best bits. This does take the fun out of buying personalised gifts though, so wherever possible it is better to let the guests have free reign. But these online gifts work really well for young couples who are moving into a new house and for guests who don't know the bride and groom all that well.