Gift Lists

Getting married is one of life’s most stressful events, and this stress is always added to when deciding what to do for a wedding list. Some couples choose not to have a wedding list at all, others choose to ask for specific items, whilst others simply ask for a cash gift towards the cost of a honeymoon.

In our experiences, it’s always best to have a gift list – across a range of items across many different budgets. Having a list keeps your wedding gifts on track, helping you and your wedding guests in organising your gifts. Not having such a list can make it very difficult for your guests to decide what to buy you – taking the fun away from gift giving.

Historically, wedding lists would be a list of goods which would help the new married couple setup a home, and family life. Today however, with most couples living together before marriage – the traditional list of white goods, simply does not apply. Today, couples should ask for items they ‘want’ rather than simply ‘need’

Below, we run through some perfect ideas for wedding guests lists – which guests enjoy purchasing, and married couples enjoy receiving!

Luxury Gifts

One of the best types of gifts we like to give and receive, we class as ‘luxury gifts’ these gifts can be excellent versions of everyday items, as well as more unique pieces.

In the case of everyday luxury items, umbrellas, pens, stationery, wallets and purses are all excellent options. For the more opulent gifts – think luxury speakers, keepsake collection jewelry, watch winders as well as luxury glassware – allowing you to enjoy every tipple, that little bit more.

Luggage

One of the most important things to upgrade in every home, is the luggage. Although it may only be used a couple of times a year – old, tired luggage not only looks bad, but also underperforms when it comes to protecting your possessions, whilst being a real pain to lug around airports etc.

In sharp contrast, modern luggage sets do an excellent job of protecting your property, are easy to manoeuvre whilst looking great.

Homeware

Although we understand that you probably are not in desperate need of 5 toasters, 3 cutlery sets and a range of everyday glasses – your wedding represents the perfect time to upgrade a lot of your homeware & accessories. In choosing to upgrade these pieces, you can expect higher performance, easier cooking as well as added luxury and style.

Popular choices include Champagne Glasses, Dinner Sets as well as Cutlery Sets.

Bedding

Bedding is also another area in which you can bring everyday luxury into your life – there’s very few things better in life than climbing into fresh, clean and luxury bedding at the end of a long day – helping you drift off and wake up refreshed, and happy (even on Monday mornings!)

Vouchers as Wedding Gifts

The ideal way of being able to choose exactly what you want, is to ask your wedding guests to purchase you vouchers, at department stores which offer all of the above and more. You could also ask for service vouchers, such as for a cleaning service like Gleam Clean Specialists. This allows the guest to purchase you a proper gift. Whilst giving you the control to purchase exactly what you want and need yourself.

Burton Blake source, select and test a wide range of great wedding gift products, from some of the finest manufacturers in the world. Their theory is, if we do not like it – you will not either. Our range is absolutely perfect for newlyweds, with thousands of luxury products available.

Traditionally, a wedding was a time in which the bride and groom would ask for items which they needed for their new home. These days however, it’s most likely that most couples have lived with one another before they got married – meaning they already own most of the items they need to run their home. This means that weddings today, are the perfect opportunity for the married couple concentrate on improving and upgrading the items in their home which you use every day, namely your tableware, dinnerware and glassware.

At Kings & Queens, we have been providing the perfect gifts for weddings for years. Carefully choosing the very finest dinnerware, tableware and homeware from the world’s leading designers– before working hard to discount all of the items we supply.

In this article, we run through some of our most popular products and product groups bought as gifts, and also look at how  our Bridal Lists work. The true beauty of these products, is that they can be used almost every day – turning everyday into a special occasion.

Dinner Sets

At Kings & Queens, we offer some fantastic dinnerware options that are perfect for use every day, or saved for special occasions (although we always opt for everyday) A massive range of dinner sets are available, from brands which really understand how people want to eat. There’s everything from dinner sets aimed at those who like to eat from platters and sharing, right across to more formal dinner sets which allow the owner to eat their food, from a truly beautiful plate.

Most of these designs are microwave and dishwasher safe – so they won’t hold you back in the kitchen. There’s everything from traditional designs from Wedgwood, right across to sleek and contemporary sets from Villeroy & Boch. So whether the dinner set is for a cottage in the country, or a sleek apartment in the city – there’s the perfect dinner set for all.

One of our favourite traditional dinner sets is Hibiscus from Wedgwood, inspired by an archive pattern dating back to around 2010 – it features rich blue hues, and all of the bone china collection has been embellished with Gold. On the contemporary front, Villeroy & Boch New Wave is one of the most impressive sets we have come across. Each piece in the collection has been crafted as if it is modern art, whilst remaining functional and durable enough for everyday use.

Cutlery Sets

If there is one thing which makes a significant difference in the enjoyment of any meal – it’s using the right, quality cutlery. When most couples move in together, times are usually pretty hard and quality cutlery is often a luxury which isn’t given a huge amount of importance. There’s a huge amount of cutlery sets available on our website, and all have been chosen (and subsequently) discounted from the likes of Amefa, Arthur Price, Aynsley, Belleek as well as Villeroy & Boch. The range encompasses cutlery sets of all sizes, as well as sets which just focus on serving cutlery.

One of our favourite suppliers of cutlery, is Viners, who began manufacturing cutlery in the early 1900s. It’s grown today into a well-loved and trusted British Brand. Our favourite set within the collection is the Titanium Range. This set is all about style and opulence, featuring a scratch resistance titanium coating which is available in either Rose Gold or Bronze.

Crystals & Glasses

Glassware and Crystal is also another area in which you can give the gift of an upgrade. Just like cutlery, many of young people’s cupboards are full of the cheapest possible glasses. We are proud to boast one of the most comprehensive ranges of glassware and crystal ware on the market, and believe each and every product within this collection helps make each drink, just a little more special. As a brief overview, there’s: white wine glasses, champagne glasses & flues, red wine glasses, beer glasses, G&T glasses as well as goblets, decanters and ‘everyday’ glasses.

The Promises collection from Royal Doulton is an excellent choice for a wedding/special occasion gift. All have been hand embellished with Swarovski crystals, and arrive in a presentation box.

Bridal Lists at Kings & Queens

We were one of the first e-commerce companies in our sector to operate our own bridal lists and have worked hard to make sure that the process is as simple as possible. (Weddings are stressful enough as it is) If you are interested in using one of our bridal lists for your special day, please just get in touch and we will be happy to help. You can view all of the information you may need, here.

Forgetting a wedding anniversary is often the butt of many sitcom jokes and the subject of many men’s angst. But why bother to celebrate? Well actually there are many good reasons to celebrate a wedding anniversary:

• It’s a chance to celebrate a deepening love and commitment.
• It’s a chance to spoil each other with gifts.
• It’s a chance for a couple to take stock and reflect on their marriage.
• It’s a chance to congratulate each other on surviving the trials and tribulations of the relationship.

Where did the tradition of wedding anniversary gifts come from?

Celebrating wedding anniversaries is believed to originate in Central Europe during the Middle Ages. Back then, it was customary for a husband to present his wife with a silver wreath, or garland, after 25 years of marriage. After 50 years, she was rewarded with a gold one. It was this custom that first led to the tradition of celebrating silver and gold wedding anniversaries.

During Queen Victoria’s reign, the importance of marriage, family and the home began to grow. It was during this time that it became popular to celebrate other wedding anniversaries. The gifts given were made from different materials to symbolise the growing value of the marriage.

By the early 1920s, the anniversaries most commonly celebrated were the 1st, 5th, 10th, 15th, 20th, along with the traditional silver (25th) and gold (50th) anniversaries. In her book, Etiquette, published in 1922, the American writer Emily Post drew up a list of appropriate gifts for each one of those years.

Traditional vs modern gifts

Over time, other years have been included. Now, there is a gift for every year from 1 to 30, and then for every 5th year up until a 75th wedding anniversary. What’s more, the list has been updated for the modern couple. So, rather than receive fruit on our 4th anniversary, today we might receive a kitchen blender!

The modern list of wedding anniversary gifts also seems to recognise a woman’s love of diamonds. In the traditional list, diamonds were reserved for couples that reached their 60th anniversary. Today, even if the marriage only lasts a decade, you could expect to receive some diamond jewellery. It’s not just anniversaries, special occasions such as birthdays or valentines can also warrant jewellery as a gift but for now, let’s have a look at anniversary gifts.

Traditional & modern anniversary gifts:

What is the significance of the different materials?

The idea is that as the marriage progresses, the materials get ever more expensive and precious. This symbolises the growing investment in each other and the deepening of love. In the traditional list, a paper gift has always been given on the first wedding anniversary. This symbolises the blank page, the fragility of a young marriage and the opportunity for writing a future together.

As the years pass, the materials become more solid and expensive until a gift of diamonds is reached on a 60th anniversary. This tradition is linked to Queen Victoria. When she celebrated 60 years on the throne, the anniversary was known as the Diamond Jubilee. This associated diamonds with 60 years and so they became the perfect gift for a long and lasting marriage.

Anniversary gift ideas

Sometimes finding the right gift can be a creative challenge. But there is help out there. The internet is a great place to source unusual and quirky gifts. There’s little need to traipse around the shops when you can buy fine china, gifts and porcelain online at competitive prices. Here are a few ideas for some of the most important anniversaries.

1st Anniversary – Paper
Photographs, luxury notebook, paper flowers, art, photo album

5th Anniversary – Wood

Plant a tree, wooden chess set, wooden jewellery box, bookends, wooden sculpture, planter, chopping board

10th Anniversary – Tin

A metal planter, a keepsake tin box, tin of coffee/biscuits, metal tankard, poker chips in a metal box

15th Anniversary – Crystal

Vase, glasses, decorative bowl, jewellery, a healing crystal

20th Anniversary – China

Vase, tea set, mug, tableware, figurine

25th Anniversary – Silver

Jewellery, picture frame, keepsake box, cufflinks, wine coaster, keyring

50th Anniversary – Gold

Jewellery, Golden Oldies music compilation, watch, sundial, a golden rose bush