Gift Registries

Bad Gift Burn n.

1. an unpleasant sensation brought on by the acceptance of inappropriate or horrible presents.

2. a reason to plan a gift registry.

Making a list of wedding gift ideas is a great way to while away the afternoon with your other half – and it’ll help prevent that common post-Christmas phenomenon of Bad Gift Burn. So, if you don’t fancy the idea of coming home from the honeymoon to a bizarre collection of antique elephants, towels in a shade that could only be described as unsightly, or his-and-hers matching toilet brushes, get planning!

For any other occasion, giving a gift of homewares is a political quagmire that most people wouldn’t want to get near with a proverbial bargepole. But none of the normal rules apply when compiling a gift registry. Deep down inside all of us, there is a tiny Stepford Wife who’s been aching to get out and polish the silverware. This is her moment. So grab your best matching shoes and bag and go window shopping. We won’t tell anyone. We promise.

Read through our guide to compiling the perfect wedding gift registry for wedding gift ideas. Scroll through our blogs for gift registry items from brands like Royal Doulton, Tefal and Waterford, Wedgwood and Royal Albert.

Try and select a wide range of gear that would be fun to give – and affordable for a range of incomes. Go for things you wouldn’t normally buy yourself – and above all, go for things you really, really want. If the idea of having everything matching frightens you, think about ‘complementing’ instead. We’ve also pinned interesting and creative gift ideas on our Wedding Gifts Pinterest board.

But don’t stop there! Where homewares will provide you with a great stash of things you might never have bought yourselves, tickets can provide you with a swathe of experiences you might never have had.

We live in an affluent society, and the truth is that some couples really have all they need. For a wedding gift registry that will help you feel great for years to come, why not ask your guests to:

• Donate a sum of their choice to your favourite charity
• Contribute to a child sponsorship program on your behalf
• Participate in a clean-up-the-planet day or plant a tree
• Buy carbon credits to help slow Climate Change

Be creative! Whatever you choose, remember that your guests will want to feel like they gave you something special. It’s up to you to fend off Bad Gift Burn – and ring in a new era of delicious surroundings and special moments for you and your beau.