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The days of all nearlyweds registering a gift list with a department store are firmly behind us. But if you don’t fancy adding to a honeymoon fund, nor putting cash in a card, what should you give to the couple? Tesco recently launched a list for the very practical, but here are some more romantic ideas that won’t break the bank.
For green-fingered friends, pick a perennial that will flower every year around their anniversary, or just before, so they can have freshly cut flowers on the day. Try Rosa from Patch for summer weddings – it’s a pink climbing rose and costs £18. You can add a decorative pot from a range costing £14 to £70.
If the couple likes to collect pieces from a particular artist, show your attention to detail by picking one that they’re missing. David Shrigley fans will see humour in his Foolish Hearts poster, for example. An unframed print costs €48 (£40.93) on Shrigshop.com.
A monogrammed or personalised memento could be a lovely gift. Cressida Jamieson sells handkerchiefs embroidered with names of your choice, or a version embroidered with your chosen message, both of which can be in your own handwriting (from £25 and from £35 respectively).
Why not turn a skill into a one-of-a-kind gift? Pen a comic book of their love story so far, write a humorous poem, or a lovely letter on smart writing paper.
You could handwrite one of the readings they’ve chosen for their ceremony, or hunt down an early edition of the work it came from and bookmark it with a note. John Atkinson Fine & Rare Books is a good place to start (from about £25).
A vinyl copy of the music for their first dance is also a cute choice – go digging at somewhere such as Rough Trade.
A scrapbook of messages and photos from your group of friends is a wonderful keepsake for the couple to revisit. Not on the High Street sells leather, plain page albums that you can personalise (from £39). Snappy Snaps offers printing from as little as 31p a picture.
