14 thoughtful wedding day gifts for all budgets
Amelia Jean Hershman-Jones
Gifting
Reading time: 7 minutes
A thoughtful wedding gift for the bride, groom or the happy couple can make their big day extra special – here’s our guide to getting something that they’ll love almost as much as they love each other
From “I do” to the first dance and the all-important late-evening nibble, chances are the happy couple will have every moment of their special day planned to the second. While the wedding dress and the contents of the ring box have been taken care of months in advance, wouldn’t it be nice to add an extra, unexpected sparkle to the festivities with a thoughtful wedding day gift?
Whoever you’re buying for, whatever your budget and whatever they’re into, we have the ultimate edit of wedding gifts to give the bride(s), groom(s) or the happy couple as a pair. Plus, we answer some of your most-searched gifting questions, to make finding that perfect present easier than ever.
From experience days and pampering essentials to keepsakes that’ll be treasured for years to come, these are the gifts certain to prolong the feel-good factor of their honeymoon period (and take the stress out of choosing a present, for you, too).
Happy shopping!
What do you get the bride, groom or couple on their wedding day?
Whether you’re a bridesmaid wanting to give a gift to the bride, a proud parent or a wedding guest, thoughtful wedding day gifts for the newlyweds-to-be don’t need to cost the earth.
The important thing is that, whether it’s personalised with a special message or simply personal to their specific likes and interests, you can find something that shows you know and love who they are as they take that all-important walk down the aisle and into their new life together.
A practical but also indulgent day-of-wedding gift could be something they can use while they’re getting ready – say a skincare or bath and body gift set – or ways to help them feel calm after the stress of planning gradually subsides, to help them ease into life as a Mrs or Mr.
If you’re looking for gift ideas that are as unique as they are, as a couple and individuals, consider what their new life will look like as newlyweds. From creating memories to capturing them, the right gift can help create a marriage that’s as beautiful as their wedding day.
It could be a photo album where they can display the posed and more candid snaps of their wedding day, an experience day voucher to make the post-honeymoon return to reality less of a shock or a sentimental gift they can get misty-eyed over as they settle into married life.
Wedding day gifts for the couple
Activity Superstore Gastro Pub & Restaurant Dining Gift Experience
• Voucher valid for 12 months from date of purchase
When the congrats fade and celebratory dinners are done, the post-wedding blues can bite a couple in the proverbial. Be the antidote. Treat them to a mood-boosting meal out with this Gastro Pub and Restaurant Dining for Two experience that they can’t enjoy in sweats from the sofa. The choice of venues includes AA Rosette winners, cosy inns and the latest got-to-visit new venues, with a range of cuisines and culinary styles to whet every appetite.
Geometric Shape Slip-in Photo Album
• Fits 140 6x4 photos
This classic white and gold album is the perfect home for those hotly-anticipated wedding photos. With high quality, thick, white pages and space to slip in 140 snaps, it’s modern, fresh and classic. It’ll look perfect as a conversation starter on a coffee table or for the lovebirds to leaf through whenever they’re feeling nostalgic or sentimental.
Cowshed Relax Calming Diffuser
• Size: 100ml
• Contains lavender and eucalyptus essentials oils
• Lasts up to three months
• Vegetarian-friendly
Perfect for those lazy days post-wedding when they need to relax and appreciate not having to agonise over buttonholes and wedding-ceremony readings, this reed diffuser will help them do exactly what it says on the brand’s iconic packaging. With a blend of calming lavender and uplifting eucalyptus, this fresh herbal fragrance will help them unwind for up to an impressive three months.
Leather-look Photo Keyring
• Flexible leather-effect material
• Rectangular or heart-shaped
• Personalise with your own photo
Sometimes the little things mean the most. This budget-friendly and super-personal gifting option allows them to carry a unique one-of-a-kind accessory and special message close to their heart – on their big day and every day. Be it a dearly missed grandparent or parent, a shot of their engagement or their beloved fur baby who couldn’t make the big day – display their image in a heart or rectangle-shape. Upload an image that truly means something to this flexible, leather-effect and stainless steel keyring.
Activity Superstore River Dining Gift Experience for Two
• Voucher valid for 12 months from date of purchase
When the honeymoon high fades, they might be keen to get out of the house, so a staycation-cum-dining experience could be just the ticket. They can discover the delights of England's waterways and take their taste buds on a literal journey with this intimate river dining experience. Gift them the tranquillity of the waters, taking in the riverside views as they’re served delicious food. Choose from punting and afternoon tea in Cambridge, a riverboat dining cruise with Skipton Boat Trips, a Sunday lunch cruise or tapas and wine at The Bank at Bude, to name but a few.
Fujifilm Instax SQ1 Instant Camera in Chalk White
• Selfie mode
• Automatic exposure
• Prints square photos
• Available in three colours
Designed to turn heads, in colours to suit every style, and capture the beautiful memories of their new lives together. The considered angular-shaped body and rounded, textured grips means this compact and easy-to-use little gem is ready to shine wherever they go. It features a selfie mode and mirror to capture every frame with attitude, and automatic exposure to ensure they never miss a second of their lives together.
Wedding day gifts for the groom
GilletteLabs Heated Razor For Men Starter Kit
• Stainless steel warming bar
• Two temperature levels
• Waterproof
• Includes a GilletteLabs razor, a blade refill, a charging dock & a smart plug
If a luxurious hot-towel shave is his occasional treat, why not bring the hot towels to his home shave – with a waterproof razor that warms and comforts at the touch of a button. The revolutionary heating bar provides two levels of heat and is paired with the shaving giant’s advanced five blades technology to turn a daily or wedding-morning chore into a pleasure. With thoughtfully designed magnetic docking and wireless charging, his barber bliss just became a daily ritual.
Diesel Only The Brave Tattoo Mens Eau de Toilette
• Size: 125ml
• Fragrance family: spicy, woody
Whether it’s his existing signature scent or he’s looking to mix things up for the big day and his new life as a married man, this spicy, woody scent is like an olfactory tattoo he can wear for life. With top notes of crisp apple, an aromatic heart of sage and bourbon pepper, and a warming base of amber wood, benzoin, tobacco leaf and patchouli, this brave and determined fragrance is like a shot of delicious Dutch courage to accompany him down the aisle and to his new life beyond.
ELEMIS Morris & Co. Men's Traveller For Him Grooming Collection
• Five-piece gift set
• Housed in an elegant, black travel bag
• Suitable for normal, oily, combination and dry skin
He can stay fresh and well-groomed wherever a honeymoon or married life takes him with this limited-edition collection of five travel essentials. The elegant black washbag, featuring a classic William Morris design on the lining, will last even longer than the delicious treats inside. Unzip, and the curated set includes a mix of face and body skincare in perfect on-the-go sizes, including a Cool-Down body wash, Dynamic Resurfacing facial wash, Ice-Cool foaming shave gel, Pro-Collagen Eye Revive mask and Daily Moisture Boost to cleanse, recharge and nourish from head to toe.
Glass Photo Block
• Direct print on glass with a thickness of 1.9cm
• Formats: 8 x 10.5cm
Capture a favourite moment and display it in style with this chic glass photo block that’s certain to take pride of place on his mantel or desk. An opportunity to scroll through past albums and stroll down memory lane in order to choose the perfect picture, it’s a great way to add a personal touch to his home.
Wedding day gifts for the bride
Liz Earle Summer Glow Duo
• Two-piece gift set
• Cruelty-free
This amazing value skincare set is the practical gift for the bride that will provide a lit-from-within radiance in just 30 seconds. It features the brand’s iconic and supersized Cleanse & Glow Transforming gel cleanser to remove impurities and a Revitalise & Glow illuminating moisturiser to help reveal brighter, dewy-looking skin on her wedding day and every day.
YSL Lash Clash Eye & Lip Gift Set
• Three-piece gift set
• Each box is made from 100% recycled cardboard
When the make-up artist heads home, this ultimate eye and lip trio can complete or top up any look throughout the day, or as the lights dim, dancefloor fills and the drinks flow. The Lash Clash mascara is a winning formula for next level lashes, while the Dessin Du Regard waterproof eye pencil provides smudge-proof smokiness and the brand’s unmistakable Rouge Pur Couture 01 satin-finish, medium-to-full-coverage lipstick serves up a highly-pigmented classic red. Luxe meets longwear for the ultimate treat she’ll adore long after the last bottle of Champagne has been popped.
No7 Future Renew Regime
• Four-piece gift set
• Tested on over 4,000 women
If she’s enjoyed a facial or a few to get her skin wedding day-ready, why not help her keep up that bridal glow for good with this complete day and night skincare collection? Featuring the brand’s exclusive Pepticology, No7’s world first, patent-pending peptide technology, it supports the skin’s natural self-repair process. Together, the serum, SPF40 day cream, eye serum and night cream help improve the appearance of skin damage. Plus, its mix of textures will help her to create a skincare routine that’s also a true pampering ritual.
Mylee Be Jewelled Nail Art Kit
• Seven-piece nail art set
The wedding manicure might be waning, but if she still wants to beautifully frame that dazzling ring set, this bejewelled nail kit seems like the obvious choice. It includes all the essentials for elevating her look, including a thin liner brush, dotting tool and palette for mixing gel colours, as well as clear builder gel, gold leaf and nail gems, plus pearls that will elevate those nails and complement her wedding ring in the perfect way.
