Wedding gift, when we really don't need anything

jenijen27

What about membership to the National Trust (or similar)?

Ilona

I had a birthday party and told everyone that I didn't want any presents because I have everything I need. I suggested that if they wanted to they could put an anonymous donation into an envelope and I would split it between my two favourite charities. It gave me great pleasure to write the cheques and put them in the post.

ilona

tealady

How about telling guests to use the money to treat themselves? And ask them NOT to tell you what their treat was.
You could add the only gift you want is their presence at your wedding.
If peopke feel a bit guilty you could ask for a photo each guest has taken of the day so you can make an album, you could send all guests an electronic copy.

sillyvixen

jenijen27 wrote: »

What about membership to the National Trust (or similar)?

One of the best wedding gifts we had was a voucher for national trust membership.

jackieblack

sillyvixen wrote: »

One of the best wedding gifts we had was a voucher for national trust membership.

Whereas it would have been completely wasted on us and of no benefit whatsoever.
Horses for courses...

trailingspouse

We had the same problem - had been living together for 10 years, and there really wasn't anything we needed.

OH had had cancer 2 years previously, so we asked for donations to a well known cancer charity.

We also asked all of our guests to buy us a single item of cutlery from a specific set, which built up in to a nice canteen of cutlery - not expensive for the guests, and a lovely thing to have to remember our wedding day.

lika_86

Are you readers? If so, why not ask you guests for a copy of their favourite book or a book that moved them? If they write in the front then they can act as wedding cards too!

MandM90

lika_86 wrote: »

Are you readers? If so, why not ask you guests for a copy of their favourite book or a book that moved them? If they write in the front then they can act as wedding cards too!

This is such a lovely idea, if you are readers.

We had a similar issue for our (tiny) wedding. We're minimalists - so don't like being bought 'stuff' - and also didn't want to ask for money. When people asked we just said they could buy us a drink before/after the registry office :beer: or come and help us in the garden one afternoon in the summer. In the end, they all put in towards the restaurant bill, despite our protests, and our wedding reception in a posh local Thai ended up being free! :eek:

Hubby's work bought us a couple of nights at a B and B at the coast, which was lovely. My work gave me a John Lewis voucher and a big bunch of flowers.

Out,_Vile_Jelly

I'd be very clear that you definitely don't want "stuff". The sense of obligation is culturally strong with weddings, and you may end up with a load of His n Hers tat that you don't like but have to display out of politeness.

A relative had a fairly low key wedding (second time around for one of them) and they set up a website for donations to their favourite local charity. You could pay online and leave a little message so it felt personal.