Wedding gifts are tricky territory. It can feel really uncomfortable asking for money, but a traditional gift list just doesn’t suit everyone. So here’s our suggestion for balance:

Create a list of unique wedding gifts as suggestions for your guests, and make it fun!

By suggesting the gifts you’d like, you’re helping those guests who’d love to give you something special but don’t know where to start. And by including options for smaller contributions you’re helping guests who don’t have as much money, to donate and know they’ve contributed towards something the two of you will love. Of course, the benefit of providing a list is that you’ll (hopefully) end up with NO TAT – which is the ultimate aim when it comes to wedding gift lists!

Our list includes relevant gifts for modern couples: experiences and digital gifting, as well as ethical choices. We hope you’ll find something useful in here that fits the two of you just perfectly!

1. Donations towards honeymoon activities and experiences

You could ask your loved ones for donations towards something specific: an activity on your honeymoon, or a hobby or shared experience you both love. Buy Our Honeymoon is an established and reputable UK business where you can do this.

2. Charity giving

Often at the bottom of online articles for the best wedding gift ideas (keep reading to discover why!) – we think charity giving is really important. Choose your fave and donate directly or set up a JustGiving to donate on your wedding day. Pick a charity that’s important to you both: sustainable causes like the Wildlife Trusts or Woodland Trust, or perhaps a local hospice, animal rescue or youth charity are all really important and meaningful.

3. Personal podcast

Story Locker’s Wedding Podcast is the unique and memorable ‘must-have’ addition to your wedding and the most extraordinary way to capture those magical moments of love. They say it’s the perfect wedding gift for modern couples – and we think they’re onto something! “Through the magic of a Wedding Podcast, generations to come can listen to your Story and cherish your traditions. Story Locker will send you a step-by-step guide, professional mic and headphones. You’ll record your podcast from the comfort of your home. And once your Interview is complete, we’ll studio edit and overlay it with beautiful music. The best part! Your Wedding Podcast will be uploaded in your Story Locker with your choice of photos. Now you can share your Story with friends and family forever!”

‘We loved the experience from start to finish. From getting to know Evey and working with Hope to set it all up. It’s not often you get to sit down with your loved ones and share special memories or really talk about where your story began. And now we have a lovely moment to keep in the podcast episode! Would definitely recommend it to anyone’. Emily Brewster, Manchester UK

4. Personalised anything

Anything personal makes a lovely wedding gift. Adding a few suggestions to your online gift list will help guests make the right choices! Choose from personalised doormats to whiskies, art prints and planters. Not On The High St. has some gorgeous ideas!

5. Subscriptions and online vouchers

Giving toasters and kettles feels very Nineties… so embrace the modern world and give a digital gift! Look for amazing subscriptions for coffee or cookery, Spotify or Netflix! Vouchers and e-gift cards are a great gift too. Perhaps you have a shared love of gaming with some of your guests? Add a PlayStation Plus voucher to your gift list! Or if you’re foodies, suggest vouchers for local hot spots you can visit (together!) Read more on digital gifting at The Knot.

Top wedding gift list tips:

Put a meticulously organised relative or friend in charge of your gift list. Communicate really clearly to everyone that they should tell them what they want to buy or give money towards.

Share your gift list online, on your wedding website – and make sure it’s updated regularly (by your organiser!) Don’t peek!

Most online gift lists (“The 20 best wedding gift ideas for 2024” etc) are compiled by brands on behalf of their advertisers. They include a whole bunch of stuff – for example GQ’s coffee grinders, sheets and dinnerware sets – because the shops selling that stuff have paid for the article!

Our little list includes the Story Locker podcast. Story Locker are a member of English Wedding – we invited them to be a member of our website because we genuinely love what they make! So while we do earn a little by recommending them, we’re not here to sell you a bunch of stuff for the sake of it: our list is different, and we believe it means so much more than most!

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Header photo by Tetiana Shadrina on Unsplash