Wedding Gift Ideas

Wedding gift ideas: what to buy, what to spend, and what to do about the list

Two questions come up for every wedding: how much to spend, and what to do when there's a gift list you don't like. The short answers are less than you fear, and buy off the list anyway.

Below is what UK guests typically give, what to buy when there's no list, and the thank-you gifts the couple has to sort out in the last fortnight before the day.

We make the small, personal end of this: candles, coasters, prints and the cards. If you're buying the big-ticket item, buy it off the list and use us for the part that carries the message.

Shop wedding gifts

Candles, coasters and prints for the couple and the wedding party, posted from the UK with the card.

Shop wedding gifts

What guests actually give

  • Cash in the card is normal now and no longer considered rude.
  • Buy off the list if there is one — it exists to stop duplicates.
  • No list: something for the house they'll both use.
  • Going as a couple: one gift between you, not two halves.
  • Evening guest only: a smaller gift plus a good card is entirely fine.
  • Never buy a surprise big-ticket item. It always duplicates something.

Thank-you gifts for the wedding party

  • Bridesmaids: something small each, given the morning of.
  • Groomsmen: keep it useful and keep it under £20 a head.
  • Mothers of the bride and groom: a keepsake, plus a handwritten card.
  • Whoever did the seating plan: a proper thank you and a drink.
  • Readers and ushers: a card each, signed by both of you.
  • The person who drove everyone: coasters and gratitude.

Gifts that always land

  • A candle for the first night in the new place.
  • Coasters for the table that's about to see a lot of use.
  • A print with the wedding date on it.
  • Something for the honeymoon rather than the house.
  • A framed photo, sent a month later when the post has stopped.
  • The card, written properly and not in the car park.

What to spend, honestly

  • Close friend or sibling: £15–£30 is the range most people land in.
  • Colleague or acquaintance: £5–£10, and a card matters more than the gift.
  • Partner or parent milestone: £30–£60, usually one good thing rather than three small ones.
  • Group gift: £5–£10 a head buys something far better than five separate presents.
  • Children's party gift: £5–£15 is the UK norm, and nobody minds the lower end.
  • When in doubt, spend less on the object and more on the message inside the card.

Where to shop next

Frequently asked questions

How much should you spend on a wedding gift in the UK?

Most guests give somewhere between £30 and £75, with couples attending together giving one gift rather than two. Evening-only guests commonly give less, and nobody sensible keeps score.

Is cash an acceptable wedding gift?

Yes, and it's now the most common gift in the UK, especially where the couple already live together. Put it in the card with a note about what it's for.

What if there's a gift list you don't like?

Buy off it anyway. The list exists so the couple don't end up with four toasters, and a surprise substitute usually duplicates something they already own.

What do you give bridesmaids and groomsmen?

Something small and personal handed over on the morning — a candle, a keepsake or a pin badge — with a handwritten card. £10–£20 a head is the usual range.