The Changing Face Of Wedding Lists
The face of modern wedding lists is changing. With more and more couples living together prior to marriage, and people tending to marry later in life, many couples are finding that they have all the household items they need and are looking for other, less traditional gift list options. The internet is another major factor in the changing face of wedding lists. Gone are the days when your guests would travel to the shop, browse the shelves for the ideal gift, stand in the checkout queue, carry it home and wrap it for themselves, then bring it along to hand over to you personally! Nowadays you can often choose your gifts, set up your gift list, your guests can buy from it and your gifts will be delivered, all without any of you having to leave the comfort of your own home!Putting Together Your Wedding List
Isn't it rude.........?Many couples feel awkward about the prospect of putting together a wedding list, fearing they will appear rude and greedy. To the contrary, the majority of your guests will be thankful to have some guidance and be happy in the knowledge that they are buying you something that you actually want. A wedding list is very much the norm these days and is seen as a practical way of ensuring you receive what you want and more importantly, not four or five of what you want! It is perfectly acceptable, and indeed expected, nowadays to include information relating to your list (normally in the form of a notification card supplied by your gift list provider) with your invitations.
Think Of Your Guests
Do think of your guests as well as yourselves when putting together your list, and be sure to include a variety of gifts. It is sensible to choose a range of items, to include things you really need, in addition to other more unusual or frivolous gifts perhaps that cocktail bar set you don't actually need but would look great on your sideboard! Older relatives may like buying you the more practical items such as linen or cutlery but your younger, funkier friends will prefer to buy you something a bit more creative. Make sure you cater for all budget, so that no matter how much or how little your guests want to spend, they can find something to buy you. It is usually a good idea to put some additional vouchers on the list too. Don't worry about putting very expensive items on your list, you may find that some people will club together to buy something larger. It is also a good idea to put multiple small gifts as it means people can mix and match if they want.The Choice Is Yours
Although department stores remain the most popular provider of wedding lists, several other companies are gaining in popularity, offering an even wider choice of gifts. Several online companies, allow you to include all the toasters and dinner plates you want, in addition to a golfing weekend, a row of vines in a French vineyard and a helicopter trip. Alternatively if you are keen gardeners, you could have your list at the at a garden centre where you can include plants and garden-related products. Wine connoisseurs could set up a wine-related list to fill up that wine cellar.If you want to steer away from household items altogether, how about a honeymoon gift list? With an estimated four in ten couples now asking for money towards their honeymoon in place of traditional gifts, a honeymoon wedding list makes perfect sense. Here you divide up your honeymoon itinerary into affordable portions so that your guests can buy you anything from a night in a hotel or a romantic meal, to an elephant safari or hot air balloon ride. This means that not only do you avoid the awkward situation of asking people for money, but your guests feel that they are actually buying you a tangible gift.
Another idea for the couple who really has everything is to have a charity gift list where you set your list up for donations to charities gifts could be anything from a first aid kit to an eye operation, to a tree being planted. A good way to give something back!