In 2015, there were 3.1 million opposite sex and 90,000 same sex couples cohabiting in the UK, according to data from the Office of National Statistics. Cohabiting couples are the fastest growing type of family in the UK: from 2005 to 2015, there has been an increase from 14% to 17% of opposite sex couples making up the total number of families, and an increase of 0.3% to 0.5% for those of the same sex.
Looking at these figures, it is easy to see why so many couples begin to get confused when it comes to registering gifts for their wedding — in living together before their marriage, they often find that they already have a great deal of the traditional gifts, such as toasters, china, and cutlery, that would make it on to a newlywed’s present list.
This can often lead to a bit of a puzzle when it comes to thinking of gifts for your register — what is a guest meant to bring a happy couple who already have all of the essentials? This is where we have decided to help you out, with a list of four thoughtful gifts that you can add to your registry that will give your guests a much needed helping hand.
Something extra for your honeymoon
While it is often quite possible to afford both your wedding and honeymoon without breaking the bank, it might be a good idea to ask for some contributions to your trip spending money to make your getaway that extra bit special. There are online registries like Honeyfund that allow you to set-up a fund that your guests can easily contribute to, as well as pay for specific activities for a more personal touch. It’s probably the only opportunity your grandparents will get to pay for that shark-cage diving adventure you’ve both always wanted to go on!
A nice bottle of wine or bubbly
Even after the festivities of your wedding day have passed, you will still find yourselves wanting to toast each other’s health when you return from your honeymoon. As long as you have enough space, you can never have enough nice bottles of wine or champagne, so why not add a few distinctive vintages to your gift register.
You can make your guest’s job even easier by suggesting a wine specialist, like Gifts International, so that they don’t have to go too much out of their way to find your favoured bottle. Wine and champagne keeps well, so there is no need to consume it right away, and you never know when there will be another occasion to celebrate in the near future.
A gift to enhance your lifestyle
Your wedding gifts aren’t limited to just being useful household items — they can be things that will enhance your lifestyle too. If you are both gym-goers, why not ask for a joint membership at a luxury gym and spa that you can both enjoy? Or if you are both lovers of good, old-fashioned vinyl records, you could add a subscription to a record club like Vinyl Me Please, so that you can both chill out and enjoy some new sounds on your stereo together. There are many possibilities for this kind of gift, both for luxury and practical options — so put your heads together and think of something you would both really like.
Charity
If you both feel that you really don’t need anything more in your life, or if you are just looking to use your special day to give something back, you can organise a charity gift registry where your guests can donate to a cause of your choosing. Many online registries give you the opportunity to include gifts or even an entire fund as part of your gift list, so look around and find one that lets you donate to a charitable cause or NGO. Take a look at Bridalguide’s article on making your wedding even more of a charity event if you want to go one step further.
The four gift ideas in this article just go to show that there are plenty of options if you feel like you already have everything you would normally register for. Be original and choose things that will make you both incredibly happy.
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