Wedding Gifts and Gift Lists – Why You Should Provide Family and Friends with Ideas for Your Gifts
There comes a time in most Wedding preparations when thoughts turn to Gifts and Wedding Gift Lists. The traditions of gifts to the Bride & Groom stem from early years when Dowries or Trousseaus were brought to the marriage to help the newly-wed couple; or fruits were donated to encourage fertility. Some countries now traditionally donate money to the happy couple whereas other traditions prefer gifts for the newly-weds, customarily items to help them start a new home.
More latterly a young couple starting out in married life would be emerging from living their formative years in their individual parental home, personally possessing little in the way of household wares or necessities. The parents, family and friends of the Bride and Groom would donate gifts of linen, textiles and other household goods to help the couple create a new home together.
The age old problem with Wedding Gifts is the matter of what the couple would actually need or wish for, in the way of Gifts, to enable them to establish a new home and furnish it with the basic necessities â previously provided for by their parental home. The needy newly-wed pair could be beleaguered with 26 bath towels, of various colours and designs, or 8 sets of saucepans but be left bereft of bed linen or tea cups.
To avoid the possibility of receiving unwanted gifts, or items of no use in their new home the couple should always prepare a Gift List detailing items they have a need for and which will fit into their plans for their new home. They may wish to include their Gift List along with their Wedding Invitations or have it published on-line with the company providing the items on their list for purchase.
Many couples may have difficulty with the concept of preparing a wish list of Gifts. The idea of asking someone for a specific item does not always sit comfortably and some may not want a Gift List at all. There may be some embarrassment and a feeling of being presumptuous that others would want to give anything in the first place, let alone being directed in their choices. However there are always family, friends, guests who will want to give a Gift at their Wedding and who equally may not feel comfortable donating cash. They too may equally feel embarrassment, or perhaps be dissuaded from purchasing a Gift without guidance, for fear of ingratitude or wasting money on unwanted items.
Which is where a Gift List comes into its own. Not only helping to alleviate the possibility of unwanted or duplicated Gifts, donated in good faith but without knowledge of othersâ intentions or donations in the same vein. The Gift List will also assist the family, friends or guests who would wish to donate a worthwhile Gift but whom could otherwise be at a complete loss as to what to give!
Bob Norwell is author for Quay West Living a family run store located in the harbour town of Falmouth in Cornwall (England). The store offers a wide range of stunning and unusual diningware, tableware, items of glass, porcelain and contemporary giftware and provides a very personal Wedding Gift List service.
