10 Wedding Gift List Questions Answered

If you have questions about wedding gift lists, we have the answers! In this Q&A, Georgia, our expert Gift Guru, answers couples' most asked questions. Including what a gift list is, why have one and everything in between.

A Gift Guru is an expert advisor. They are assigned to each couple when they sign up for The Wedding Shop. Your Gift Guru is there to guide you through your gift list journey. They offer advice, including how to build your gift list and give you tailored product recommendations. You can meet your Gift Guru face to face at one of our showrooms or via a virtual appointment.

Q: Our newly-married friends used a Wedding Gift List service, but we've never heard of it! Can you tell me a little bit more about it, please?

A: A wedding gift list is a wish list created by an engaged couple, full of gifts they love. It is an important part of wedding planning, not to mention effortlessly fun! Designed for both guests and the couple, it offers a seamless gifting experience. A gift list lets guests pick gifts they know the couple will love with confidence! For couples, having a gift registry allows them to invest in their future together by choosing gifts they cherish.

A Wedding Shop gift list is a personal service that offers couples choice, flexibility and exceptional service. With over 30 years in the business, we have unrivalled experience helping couples create their dream wedding lists. Rest assured, we are here to help at every stage of your gift list journey!

How Do Wedding Gift Lists Work?

Q: I'm thinking about signing up for The Wedding Shop. Can you tell me how the process of building a gift list works, please? Is there a cost to get our gifts delivered?

A: You can begin your wedding gift list for free online or at one of our five showrooms, including our four-storey London Townhouse. First, start by adding wedding gifts that you love. Browse over 450 of our brand partners. Even add honeymoon, cash and charity funds. Your dedicated gift advisor (aka your Gift Guru) will send you tailored gift recommendations to get you started. You can meet your Gift Guru in person at our showrooms, online or over the phone. 

Next, personalise your list, starting with uploading your profile photo! Arrange your gifts on your dashboard to show your favourite presents at the top. Make sure you have products with different price ranges to give your guests plenty of choices. When your gift list looks just as you imagined, publish it and spread the word. The Wedding Shop can alert you each time a guest purchases a gift too! 

Then comes the best part - delivery day! Before you confirm your delivery, you'll have the option to swap a gift for something else, just in case you've changed your mind. Once we have the go-ahead, we'll deliver your presents straight to your door, free of charge. It's like Christmas, but so much better.

Q: A few of our married friends have told us that we need to have a wedding gift list or we may receive lots of unwanted gifts. We hadn’t really planned on having a registry as we felt it might be a bit presumptuous, but now we are in two minds. Please help.

A: Your wedding guests will absolutely want to gift you something that will mark your special day; it’s a lovely tradition that is thankfully not showing any signs of dying out! Having a gift list makes it easier for both you and your guests. It allows you to ask for meaningful gifts that you'll both cherish. Whether upgrading your home, building a honeymoon fund or even adding unique experiences, there are gifts to inspire every couple. Importantly, it also gives guests confidence that they are giving you something you will love.

You can use our complimentary notification cards as a modest way to let your guests know you have a gift list. You can also read our article on Wedding Gift List Wording.

When Should We Create Our Gift List?

Q: How far in advance can we set up our wedding registry? I have a few weeks off work to focus on planning for our wedding, so I would like to use some of this time to get our gift list together and include it on our invites. We won’t be sending out the invitations for a few months yet - does this matter?

A: Great question! Setting up your gift list in advance gives you time to really think about what you would like. We recommend starting your gift list six to nine months before the big day. 

It's also great to have your wedding gift list set up and published before you send your wedding invites. Doing this allows you to mention your gift list on your wedding invitations, but your guests will always be able to easily find you with our handy find a list tool. You can also use our complimentary notification cards to do this. We recommend you share your list with your guests three months before your wedding date.

If you're worried you may change your mind later on, you can always swap a gift for something else - even after your guests start purchasing!

Top tip: if you're looking for wedding stationery inspiration, Papier is a great place to start. Browse their beautiful collection of customisable designs. Plus, couples with The Wedding Shop get 15% off all Papier wedding stationery.

Q: We are setting up our gift list, but how much should we add? Matt suggested one gift per guest, but I thought this might seem a bit greedy. What do you recommend?

A: You will be very surprised by the generosity of your guests. Our couples always tell us that they receive more than they ever expected. 

With this in mind, we recommend adding more gifts to your list than you think you need. This will give your guests choice and ensure they find something they are happy with too. Think about different price points to suit a variety of different budgets. Also, if you are planning on having cash funds, maybe also include some physical gift options too so you have a range of options suitable to all guests, as some guests still prefer to give a physical item.

How Much Do Guests Spend On A Wedding Gift?

Q: Can you give me a rough idea of how much guests spend on a wedding gift, please? I don't want to be presumptuous and add products to my list that are too expensive. 

A: This can be a difficult question. It really depends on the guest and their relationship with you. At The Wedding Shop, the average gift spend hovers between £50-£100: this will increase or decrease depending on how close the guest is to you.

The most important thing for guests is that they know you'll love the gift they're giving. Because you've already pre-selected the presents you love, your guests will have an effortless experience picking out your gift. That's why we recommend adding a range of products with different prices so your guests can choose how much to spend without any pressure. The Wedding Shops Group Gifting option also allows guests to contribute towards a gift with a higher price bracket. Here are four gift collections to get you started: 

Q: We’ve started designing our wedding invitations. Do you have any tips on how to let guests know we have a wedding gift list with grace?

A: Wedding gift list wording can be a little tricky, but fear not! We're here to help. Our best advice when letting your guests know that you have a gift list is to reassure them that their presence is the most important thing. However, most guests will still want to gift you something special. So, if that is the case, let them know that you've set up a gift list of things you love and need. Our blog on how to ask for gifts graciously is full of great examples.

You can also use our complimentary notification cards to inform your guests of your gift list. Or create your unique URL for your wedding website, wedding e-invite or printed wedding invitations.

Are Wedding Gift Lists Rude?

Q: We want a wedding gift list, but we're worried our guests will think it's rude. What feedback do you get from wedding guests regarding this?

A: We understand your concerns, but we can confidently say that no - wedding gift lists aren't rude! In fact, we get continuous positive feedback from guests, and many of them come back to use our service when they get married too.

Our gift registry service is created not just for the couple but to help guests too! For those guests who wish to buy you a present, having a gift list takes the stress away from trying to pick something they think you'll love. We always recommend adding a variety of gifts from various price points, allowing your guests to choose how much they'd like to spend and be confident that whatever they buy will be loved by you both! It's a win-win for all.

Q: We've been living together for a while now and already have everything we need for our home! We'd like to use our gift list to create cash funds but aren't sure how to ask our guests for money. Can you help?

A: If you already have all the home necessities and would prefer to create a cash or honeymoon fund, that's completely fine! Our advice would be to personalise your funds. For example, if you're planning a honeymoon fund, why not create a Wedding Shop honeymoon fund for a scuba diving experience? Or a fund for a romantic seaside meal? Personalising your funds lets guests know what you'll spend their money on! They'll be so glad to be contributing to your future together.

It's also a good idea to still add products to your list. Some guests will prefer to give you something tangible. With thousands of gifts to choose from, there is something to complement every fund. Why not add some luxury beach towels to take away with you? Or, a camera to capture all the amazing memories on your first holiday as a married couple.

Why Should We Choose The Wedding Shop?

Q: We are just starting to think about having a gift list. We've researched a few services that seem great, so what makes The Wedding Shop different?

A: Well, where to start!? The Wedding Shop is a personal service provided by our website, showrooms and expert advice from our Gift Gurus. From start to finish, we are here to help you at every stage of your gift list journey. With unrivalled choice, you can choose gifts from over 450 of our brand partners. Add products, honeymoon, cash or charity funds and even custom products. The choice is endless! 

Our showrooms offer couples a chance to view gifts in a home setting. (Our flagship showroom in Chelsea is gorgeous and definitely worth a visit!) Here you can also meet your Gift Guru in person, with a glass of bubbles. On top of that, guest purchases are 100% secure with The Wedding Shop, leaving your mind at ease to focus on the fun stuff (like planning your home makeover). The Wedding Shop is proud to be known as the UK's most established wedding list - with over 30 years of experience helping couples build their dream gift list.

If you have a question we haven't answered in this article, please get in touch. Book an appointment with our Gift Gurus at our Showroom or over the phone. They would be more than happy to sit down over a cuppa to talk through our service and answer any questions you may have. Or, if you’re looking for more wedding gift list inspiration, our blog post on 35 Ideas To Delight Every Couple is a great place to start.