honeymoon

With a wedding on the horizon (whether it’s your own or one you are attending as a guest), you may be wondering how to choose a wedding gift. With choices ranging from wedding gift list companies to cash, honeymoon contributions and everything in between. Choosing the perfect wedding gift can sometimes present a challenge, from what to buy through to the wedding present amount. It’s a generally accepted norm that if you attend someone’s wedding – especially if you are there for the whole day – that a gift is given to convey your well wishes for the happy couple. But what do you ask for as a wedding gift if it is your wedding day? Or if you are attending a wedding, how should you choose a wedding gift for the happy couple? People have different views on this and some say you shouldn’t expect flash tokens from guests. But let’s be honest – getting a bevy of treats really is an upside of the day. If you are the married couple to be, it is also a great opportunity to treat yourself to something special and potentially save money down the line. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve heard horror stories of spoilt couples demanding guests contribute a certain amount to pay for the day (don’t be like them!) and this certainly isn’t the way to go.  You want your nearest and dearest there to make fantastic memories, not for financial incentives. But after all the blood, tears and table plans – it may just be your best chance to kit out your home or pay for that dream honeymoon you’ve been considering.  Looking for inspiration? Read on for some great ideas on how to choose a wedding gift: Money Is it okay to ask for money for a wedding gift? Well as the old saying goes, cash is king – and for good reason!  Offering the ultimate in flexibility, a cash gift from your guests can be spent as you see fit. Whether it’s towards your honeymoon, household goods to furnish a new place or to help pay off some of the (now gigantic) credit bills you’ve somehow accumulated.  Some guests may prefer not to give cash for this very reason. They may prefer that you have an actual gift to cherish rather than some easily accessible money that may be absorbed into spending elsewhere. We’ve all been in the position of accidentally frittering away a sum of money intended for a more exciting cause, and it’s understandable that some will opt for something more tangible and lasting. This will be for you to judge, but if requested most will be happy to oblige. Especially if you have stated what you intend to spend the funds on, such as that dream honeymoon to the Maldives (see below).  Don’t forget, your less organised guests will always be happy to fall back on a cash wedding gift as a last minute option. We think it is okay to ask for money for a wedding gift, and there’s a good chance you will have some cash to put towards something special even if many prefer to opt for a more formal gift.  Wedding gift list companies With an abundance of wedding gift list companies out there such as John Lewis and Prezzola in the UK, a wedding gift list offers a great opportunity to treat yourself to those essential or indulgent items you haven’t got round to buying.  With a huge range of high quality items from leading brands, this could be the perfect time to upgrade that hand-me-down cutlery set, buy those posh wine glasses or treat yourself to some plush Egyptian cotton towels, a new coffee machine, or that toaster and kettle set you’ve had your eye on for a while.  The great thing about a gift list from one of well know wedding gift list companies is that you get to pick out a number of great items at different price points and easily add them to your DIY wedding gift list.  This is then circulated online and guests can browse and choose your wedding gift according to their budget – giving you a lasting gift to enjoy. Big names such as Prezola – the UK’s favourite wedding gift list and honeymoon fund – offer a smooth and enjoyable process to to do this, with a wealth of amazing high end products for you to choose from.  Just sign up (use this link to get £50 to spend at Prezola with gift lists over £200) and share the link. This will then guide guests through your pre-selected choice with a mix of cash, gifts, honeymoon contributions and more available on the one list. With curated lists of the most popular wedding presents online – they will take away a lot of the hard work from you. Sign up now and Prezola are also offering £50 towards your list when your gift list amount is over £200. Our top tip: Pick a broad selection of gifts at different price points. Most guests will fall into the £30-100 region, but offer a number of medium and higher priced options for the the big hitters to choose from.  Please note: we may make a small commission if signing up to a gift list via our links above at no additional cost to you. Honeymoon  That dream trip to the Maldives, sun kissed cocktails in the Caribbean or big game safari tour in Kenya – yes please!!! Billed as one of the best holidays we’ll have of our lives. We all want to make the most of our honeymoon and create some perfect memories from the first magical getaway as a married couple. However, if you’ve overspent on the big day itself, adding on additional £2-5000 on top of an already burgeoning credit card bill can feel like a bit of a stretch. Well , why not ask for guest contributions towards your dream honeymoon? They will feel more at ease about steering away from a