Your Wedding Gift & Souvenir Guide Sections

Planning the Perfect Wedding Gift List
by: H Porter

Considerations for a gift list - what should you be focussing on?

With society changing so are the ages of people getting married, this means that there are now many stages when you may or may not need things. Our quick guide should help you work out which type of gift list bridge or groom you are and some pointers on where to focus your list...

1) Require the basics - just starting out in every-way

When it comes to a dinner service or cutlery make sure you get enough either 6 or 8 place setting - remember there is nothing worse than getting a set and unable to add to it!

2) Want to upgrade our basics to worthwhile collection - Common amongst couples who have not lived together and have combined possessions

Some items in the outdoor lifestyle area may apply here, perhaps planters, lanterns, chrome garden heaters, decking set & barbecues.

3) The couple who have everything - Common around couples in their mid to late 30's who have been living together for a while

Gift experience vouchers are perfect, these are things you would never buy for yourself such as a champagne balloon flight, driving a fast car or scuba diving lessons?

4) Starting Over - The Gift list for those who have been married before

Although you may not want to Guests will still want to buy you a gift, so if you want to avoid a range of uncoordinated presents you should think about a gift list.

Top 5 tips

About a third of your list should be under £25, with large sets broken up so you can allow a few people to purchase the items

Quality is better than quantity - focus on a few areas and then you are sure to get everything you ideally want

Shop around, there are a range of gift lists amke sure you work with a company who have an online channel it makes it much simpler to administer

Sets are great but try and choose ones which are not limited editions so you can add to your collection

Dont' get greedy, your guests will see it a mile off!
Giftlist checklist and Browser

Pots & Pans

Cutlery -Remember you will need at least a 24 piece set which will cater for 6, if you have a large wedding party try and push for a set for 8 people. You can set your gift list up to separate the set and therefore the cost could be split amongst a few guests!

Crockery - see our pointer above the same rule applies

Kitchen Electrics - If you dont have a toaster or a kettle dont be afraid to put them on your gift list but only put them down once! Worth while considering other equipment like juicers, blenders & mixers.

Glassware - remember tumblers, tall highball and champagne flutes should be on the list get a high quality glass and perhaps a simple design so you can add to your collection without it standing out. at least 6 of each is suggested.

Kitchen Knives - A good set of knives and a knive sharpener are worth their weight in gold every good kitchen should have them!

Bed Linen - remember you need t least 2 for the master bedroom and hen 1 set for each other bedroom in the house

Pillows & Duvets - If you are not planning to use them for a while but still want them how about adding duvet storage covers in aswell?

Bathroom essentials - bath towels, guest towels, accessories these are some perfect gifts for smaller items to cater to all your guests

General lifestyle - scatter cusions, rugs, mirrors, vases, picture frames & ornaments. Some people go for objects that will remind them of their wedding day.

Garden - Plants, planters, lighting, lanterns, table, chairs, outdoor crockery, heaters, sun shades, outdoor heathers and lets not forget a barbecue

Gift Experience or Travel Vouchers

Electronics - DVD players, playstations and games consoles, TV's and Sky Packages are now common items on a list

About The Author
Ms Porter plans weddings for the rich and famous in London, England, and writes exclusively for www.planthatwedding.com.

Personalized Wedding Gifts for the Newlywed Couple
by: Amy Lee Johnson

Nothing helps a couple remember their special day like a personalized wedding gift. Such a gift can bring back all the sentiment of their ceremony and celebration by displaying their names, initials or wedding date on a precious item.

Personalized gifts are widely available, though most stores will add a small charge for this service. It is important to note that a personalized gift will usually require additional processing time, which may delay delivery. Therefore, when ordering a personalized item, it is important to purchase the gift well in advance of the wedding date.

Monogrammed Gifts

Monogrammed gifts are both practical and romantic. From towels and glassware to stationary, monogrammed wedding gifts are a personal treasure.

Personalized Photo Options

Newlyweds are left with literally hundreds of photos documenting their wedding day and honeymoon. Engraved frames and photo albums give the couple beautiful storage and display options. These wedding gifts are usually personalized with the couple’s wedding date.

Autographed Gifts

Document the well-wishes of family and friends with an autographed gift. Wedding guests can sign a large matte of a photo frame, a specially made platter, or a fabric wall hanging.

Home Décor Items

Many home items can be personalized with beautiful results. Engraved photo coasters can display wedding memories while protecting new furniture. Embroidered throws accent the married couple’s home with color and warmth. Seasonal gifts such as personalized ornaments and tree skirts can add to the new couple’s holiday decorations. Embroidered table linens allow the newly married couple to entertain with pride.

Spiritual Items

For the devout couple, a personalized Bible would hold special significance — if given in advance of the wedding, it could even be used as part of the ceremony. An engraved wall cross for display in the home is another option for the spiritual pair.

A Personalized Future Toast

Wedding guests can order bottles of wine or champagne with personalized labels for the happy couple. Engraved wine glasses or bottle stoppers would nicely compliment the wedding gift. The married couple can open the bottles to toast on their honeymoon, or save them for a milestone anniversary.

About The Author
Amy Lee Johnson regularly contributes to Wedding-Vows-4u.com a site dedicated to helping you with information about everything wedding related. We feature article directories on many topics such as Wedding Vows and Wedding Gowns to help you get the information you need – check them out!

8 Questions Brides Ask About Setting up a Wedding Registry
by: Amy Lee Johnson

In theory, setting up a registry is simple. You decide on one or several stores, create a registry online or in person, select various items, and get the word out to your guests. In practice, things are a little more complicated -- but only a little!

With that said, here's the real deal on setting up your wedding registry and getting the word out without offending your guests. Remember that retailers can be an enormous help to both you and your guests. At the same time, you can’t take everything they say at face value.

Q: Where should I register?

A: Chances are, if you're getting married in your own town, you already know where "everyone goes" to set up and shop from a registry. If not, and guests are flying in from far away, pick from some bride-tested standbys likely to be present almost anywhere. Macy’s has a great reputation for registries, as does Williams-Sonoma, Bed Bath & Beyond and other retailers.

Before you choose your stores, be sure to stop by a wedding forum and get feedback from brides who have been there, done that. Store policies vary quite dramatically, ranging from the easy-does-it (who’ll give you cash back for returns off the registry, no questions asked) to the extremely restrictive (who’ll only let you exchange for another item *in that department*, requires a receipt for each item, and so on). You'll want to know about these policies and the store's overall reputation for bridal friendliness before you go in, or returns and exchanges could become a big hassle.

Q: I have a wide range of interests. How many stores should I register at?

A: Two to three stores is fairly typical. They don't have to be typical stores, though. If you're a wine drinker, and live in a state where it's legal to ship wine, set up a registry at one of the great online wine merchants.

Q: When should I register?

A: Although close family members may pressure you to start earlier, it's helpful to wait three to six months before the wedding. Not only are the vast majority of gifts bought within a day or so of the shower or ceremony itself, stores turn over merchandise so rapidly that any gifts you select earlier may be discontinued.

Q: What if I already have all the kitchen appliances and throw pillows I need?

A: Consider putting together a honeymoon registry instead, so guests can contribute toward a special meal or snorkeling trip or a night’s lodging during your honeymoon.

Q: When I signed up at Store X, they gave me a bunch of attractive registry cards to enclose with my wedding invitations. Should I do it, or is that tacky?

A: Sorry, but the consensus is almost universal -- it's uncouth to include any mention of gifts in your invitations. You can, however, tuck those cards into shower invitations. Perhaps the best solution is to include a note in your invitations that reads, "Please see our wedding web site at www.xyz.com" and place your registry information there.

Q: How many gifts should I register for? I don't want to look demanding.

A: Typically, you'll want to select two or three items per guest. That gives people room to choose instead of locking them into something they don't enjoy buying, or worse, forcing them to guess what else you might like, giving birth to the “second yogurt maker” type of gift.

If you have many guests, you can avoid creating a 16-page monstrosity for them to print out by breaking up your registry over several stores.

At the end of the day, “more is more.” Many retailers offer discounts on those items you registered for but didn't receive. Many stores also retain your registry for at least 12 months after the wedding. You may find it's best to register for everything that you plan to buy, even if you don't expect to get it as a gift; you can then purchase your selections for 10% or 20% off after the ceremony. Many brides also find friends and family tapping registries for gift buying ideas for birthdays and other holidays!

Q: What price range should I stick with when selecting items?

A: Generally, you should register for things you really feel you want or need, without worrying too much about the price. Some guests enjoy picking up a number of items in the low price range, and sometimes guests will group together to purchase bigger-ticket items.

Q: I've set up my registry just fine, but now I’m addicted to checking it. How can I stop?

A: Sorry, there's no known antidote for registry-checking addiction, though it's a widespread phenomenon. Counting to ten, taking deep breaths or distracting yourself with double-fudge ice cream might be worth a shot.

About The Author
Blake Kritzberg is editor at "FavorIdeas.com" Stop by for wedding favor ideas, Save-the-Date eCards, free wedding screensaver, free wedding templates and Bridezilla's weekly adventures at: http://www.favorideas.com.