Wedding Lists, Gifts & Favours

While you may not feel comfortable with the idea of registering with a wedding list service, your guests will want to give you something to mark your wedding and which they know you will love and treasure. So giving them some idea of what you would like reduces the angst of finding a gift that counts.

But there is a way of personalising the gift list idea. You could commission a craftsman to make a beautiful bed or table for your new home out of local timber. It will last a lifetime. A potter could make you a set of plates and bowls that you will treasure or an artist might paint your portrait. These will all become family heirlooms. As long as your guests know what it's for they will be content to give money towards the commission. (Take a photo of the piece, or the artist you have chosen, to accompany your invitations.)

If you're a couple who already has everything, you could choose to ask guests to donate to a charity of your choice on your behalf or register with one of the new and popular charity gift list services.

It is the custom to leave a small gift or favour on each guests' place setting to thank them for coming. If you want to follow custom, forget those wedding favours that your guests will just throw away the moment they get home and go instead for something they'll treasure - a pot of home made jam, a little plant in a gorgeous container, some local honey, a chocolate dipped strawberry, the list is endless. Be creative your guests will remember it and feel special.

If you want to thank those who have helped and supported you through those endless months of planning and carried you through the big day, take them all out for a really good meal. Even better, cook them a delicious dinner of local produce, parcel up a pamper pack of gorgeous organic skin care products, or buy an acre of rainforest on their behalf.

Our partner pages are full of ethical wedding lists and creative gift ideas.