When you get married, one of the most generous ways your guests want to congratulate you is by giving you and your new spouse a gift. Whether it’s something for your home, an experience the two of you can share or some much-welcomed cash, you’ll receive a wide selection of thoughtful gifts.
Weddings are expensive. In the UK, couples spend an average of £20,775 on their wedding, which is a huge amount of money for most. After all, your wedding is probably the biggest and most lavish party you’re ever going to throw.
From the perspective of a guest, weddings can also be expensive. Depending on their role in your wedding, guests might have to fork out for a new suit or dress, shoes, accessories, jewellery, a night in a hotel, transportation costs and – yes – a gift for you. These costs quickly add up, so when the time comes for guests to think about your gift, not much of their budget remains.
Thankfully, there are options available for guests who don’t have the money to spare but are still excited to get you a gift for your wedding.
In this post, we’re going to explore the ways you can save money on wedding gifts. We have plenty of tips for wedding guests looking to buy a gift but not break the bank, as well as what couples can do to help guests who might be stressing about what they should or shouldn’t do.
How can you be mindful of wedding guests who can’t afford to give you a pricey wedding gift?
It’s important to be mindful that not all your guests will be in a position to give you a wedding gift. For that reason, don’t be surprised when the number of gifts you receive isn’t equal to the number of guests you invite. If guests are feeling the pressure, you can reassure them so they only buy a gift if they can do so comfortably. The last thing you want on your big day is for your guests to have racked up credit card debt purely because they didn’t want to let you down.
One of the ways you can support your guests is by utilising a gift registry. Not only are gift registries fun to put together, especially when using a site like The Wedding Shop, but they’re incredibly useful for your guests. Adding gifts to your registry which cover a wide range of budgets means guests who want to buy you something will be able to do so even if they have a small budget. It also helps prevent guests from doubling up on gifts, so no one feels like they’ve wasted their money.
Another way to ensure inclusivity is by asking for cash. There are plenty of ways to ask for cash as a wedding gift nicely, and for modern weddings, it’s something guests are used to. Asking for cash also means guests with large or small budgets can give you a gift, whether it’s £1,000 or £10 – and every contribution is more than welcome!
How much should you spend on a wedding gift?
What you should spend on a wedding gift mainly depends on two things: how much you can afford and how much you want to spend. If you want to splurge on the happy couple and buy them a new car, then go ahead. Or, if you want to give them a voucher to redeem on a takeaway for two, that’s brilliant as well.
There are unwritten and extremely loose rules about how much to spend, which can vary depending on how close you are to the couple. For example, if you’re immediate family, you could gift something worth £50 (or £100 if you’re in a couple). Or, if you’re an evening guest, you could gift something worth £20 (or £40 if you’re in a couple). If you’re looking for more guidance on how much you should spend, check out our guide to the cost of wedding gifts.
Do you have to buy a couple a gift for their wedding?
The short and simple answer to this question is no. If you can’t or don’t want to buy a couple a gift for their wedding, then you don’t have to. If you’re going to a wedding, you haven’t been invited because the couple thinks they’re going to get something out of it. You’ve been invited because they want you there to celebrate their big day with them.
If you want to buy a couple a gift to mark their marriage, then that’s entirely your decision. And if you do, but you’re conscious of your budget, we have plenty of ways you can save money below.
12 ways to save money on wedding gifts
Going to a wedding and want to buy the happy couple a gift but not spend too much money? Here at 12 ways to save money on wedding gifts.
1. Set a budget and stick to it
Try to plan your budget as early as possible and, whatever you do, stick to it. When it comes to browsing for gifts, it can be easy to get sucked down a rabbit hole and before you know it, you’re adding items that are worth two or three times your budget. Create a strict budget that fits comfortably within your means and make sure you don’t go over – even when it comes to paying for the P&P.
2. Pool your money with other guests
If you have a smaller budget, one way to make sure it goes further is by pooling your funds with other guests. If you’re in a group of five, for example, a group of colleagues, then if each of you contributes £20 you’ll have a £100 pot to buy one big gift, rather than each of you worrying about finding smaller gifts.
3. Make a DIY gift
If you’re creative, why not use your talents and hand-make the happy couple a gift? That way, you can give them something unique and hugely personalised, while not spending quite as much. Examples include a scrapbook, a painting, a wood carving, a framed photograph, painted pottery, or some handmade jewellery.
Read our post featuring 50 wedding gift ideas for every budget for even more inspiration.
4. Shop during the sales
When you’re a guest at a future wedding, it can be easy to not think about it until it’s a week or two away. But by that point, it might be too far from payday to have the funds to spare for a gift.
To find the best bargains, make sure you plan ahead. Keep a look out for sales, promotions and discounts so you get exactly the right gift but for a far more affordable price.
5. Look at the gift registry early
There are many reasons a couple would use a gift registry, and one of those reasons is to make sure they don’t receive duplicate gifts. Once the couple announces where you can find their registry, make sure you take a look as soon as possible. You might find that many of the cheaper gifts will be claimed by other guests with smaller budgets. Don’t get caught short, so put your name down for a gift that fits your budget quickly.
6. Gift cash or a gift card
It’s the 21st century, and it’s common for couples to ask for – and be more than happy to receive – cash gifts. It might not be the most personal gift out there, but after spending so much on their wedding, it’ll be greatly received. Giving money or a gift card also enables you to control how much you spend, helping you stick to your budget.
7. Browse online
When it comes to shopping, if your go-to retailers are online, then make sure you don’t just default to your usual. If you do some browsing outside of your regular haunts, you’ll open yourself up to finding a bigger range of products and deals. Don’t buy from the first retailer you get to – compare prices from a few different sites before clicking the ‘buy now’ button.
8. Gift an experience
If you want to keep your spending down but don’t want to rely on giving cash, one way to gift something thoughtful is with an experience. Of course, some experience gifts can be pricey – West End theatre tickets or a weekend in Paris aren’t going to be budget-friendly options. But, even smaller experiences can be fun and unique. Cinema tickets or a meal for two are both great options for cheaper experiences which are guaranteed to give the happy couple a great time.
9. Consider regifting
Remember last Christmas when you won that candle gift set in the work raffle? Well, why not regift it to someone who will get more enjoyment out of it than you will? So long as it’s done with thought and consideration, regifting is absolutely fine.
10. Offer your services or skills at the wedding
If you have a skill or talent that the happy couple could make use of at their wedding, why not use it instead of giving them a monetary gift? That way, you get to help them save money at the same time as saving yourself money – it’s a win win!
For example, if you’re a talented baker, why not offer to design their wedding cake, or make some delicious cinder toffee or fudge they can use as favours? Or, if you have a flash car tucked away in your garage, you could take on the responsibility of wedding transport. If you’re a keen photographer or videographer, helping to document the day will always be appreciated.
Whatever service you can provide, it’ll no doubt be gratefully accepted by the couple, especially if it also helps save them some money too.
11. Shop for second-hand gifts
If the couple are big vintage or retro fans, explore local antique stores and auction sites to find pre-loved gifts that suit their tastes. If you start looking early enough, you’ll probably find the perfect gift and grab yourself a bargain.
12. Give a handwritten letter
A well-thought-out, handwritten letter is a wonderful way to express your feelings and pass on your heartfelt well-wishes to the happy couple. If you’re raw and honest, a letter can mean more to many couples than a physical or monetary gift. The more personal and carefully considered it is, the better. It shows how much you care about the couple, which can be far more important than a gift.
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