Traditionally wedding guests bought gifts for the Bride and Groom to help them furnish a home at the start of the their new life together. Nowadays, gifts are not necessarily confined to useful items for the home and sometimes a collective luxury item, donations to charity or even contributions to the honeymoon, may replace the traditional list.
A gift list may be set up with a specialist wedding gift list company, independent shop or a department store. For busy couples, a gift list can also be set up on-line without the need to visit a store. A list is usually set up about 12 weeks in advance with the details of where it is held included with the invitations. The gift list company will usually provide you with cards for this purpose.
Most lists will allow guests to purchase by a variety of methods with all gifts being delivered, beautifully wrapped, after the wedding.
When compiling your list, select many more items than you have guests so that there is plenty of choice and cover a comprehensive price range to suit all budgets.
At regular intervals you should be informed which items have been bought from your list and, if necessary, you can always amend it or add additional items. It is a good idea to write your ‘thank you’ letters as and when a gift is bought so that you are not faced with an enormous task after the wedding.
If you opt for a traditional gift list but also wish a charity to benefit, an option would be to place your list with a registered charity. The Highgrove Shop has launched an exclusive online wedding gift list service where you will find beautiful accessories inspired by the architecture and gardens at the Highgrove Estate and the interests and passions of HRH The Prince of Wales.
All profits generated from the sale of the gifts are donated to the Prince’s Charities Foundation, which is a grant making charity which supports a wide range of causes and projects. The choice of gifts range from the elegant hand-cut champagne flutes and silver butter dishes to the fun and quirky, such as doorstops shaped like the rare-breed hens and pigs kept on the Estate.
Gift lists don’t get more regal than this and readers registering their wedding gift list before the end of 2012, with a minimum delivered value of £100, will receive a complimentary bottle of Highgrove champagne. Please quote ASPIRATIONALGIFTS-2012.
Couples can select products and set up a list on-line or may visit the shops at Highgrove, Bath or Tetbury. Food and alcohol products are also available at Fortnum & Mason,
Piccadilly, London.
www.highgroveshop.com