The ultimate wedding gift hacks

Finding the perfect wedding gift for the special couple who chose you to share their most treasured day with is a task that can easily feel overwhelming - there is so much choice but somehow you can’t quite hit the nail on the head and find the gift that says ‘yes - that’s perfect for them!’ Does this sound like you? Fear not - follow our simple hints and tips to find the perfect wedding gift! 

Stick to your Budget 

We know it sounds boring but setting a budget for your wedding gift for the happy couple can really help to narrow down your choices and hone in on the perfect gift - after all how many pairs of designer candlesticks, champagne flutes and mantle clocks (no - we don’t know who would want one of those either!) can one couple have? Lets not forget that weddings can be expensive too, new outfits, an overnight stay and the evenings bar tab can soon add up so the last thing you want to do is add to the stress and then be forced to buy something you can’t afford. Decide your budget and stick to it - wedding gifts don’t have to be expensive to be thoughtful.

Get a personalised wedding gift

Whatever you choose I bet for a little bit extra you can have it personalised or engraved. It is guaranteed to get a ‘how thoughtful’ as it is opened and will mean your personalised wedding gift is something extra special, showing how much you care for them both. This personalised wedding print from our friends at Needi is not only a thoughtful keepsake of the special day but budget friendly too! 

Stick to something practical 

Sometimes the answer to the perfect wedding gift is right in front of your nose… you went for dinner with the bride and groom last week and they just so happened to mention that they smashed some wine glasses when emptying the dishwasher - there you have it! The perfect gift that they don’t need to worry about buying themselves! There are numerous styles, budget options and you can even get them personalised! (see above!)

Don’t leave it until the last minute

Weddings are a lot to get ready for, a whole new outfit, how to get to the venue and sometimes even an overnight stay so don’t forget to add buying the wedding gift to your to do list so that you avoid the need for a last minute wedding gift. But, if you do find yourself in that sticky situation, vouchers are always a good idea. It seems more thoughtful than slipping some cash in an envelope but also means the newly weds can choose what they buy for themselves ensuring they get a gift they really do want or need. 

Ask the experts! 

At your wits end with it all and having a complete mind blank? Then ask the experts to find the perfect wedding gift instead - Needi to the rescue! In three easy steps they will take away the stress of it all … simply answer a few questions to help them get to know the recipients better and get a sense of your budget and within twenty four hours you will have an array of perfect wedding gifts to choose from! All you need to do then is pick your favourite and wait for it to arrive at your door - they will even gift wrap it too! Job Done. 

Group gifts go a long way

Now here’s an idea - it makes So. Much. Sense - buy a bigger item that you couldn’t afford on your own and get the bride and groom something bigger and better as a group! After all it is unlikely the happy couple would be able to afford something extravagant on their own and would probably much rather have one more sentimental group gift than lots of little things they won’t use as often … the rules above still apply of course but it means you have a lot more flexibility with your budget. 

A group gift means everyone can contribute and the wedding gift is much more memorable and sentimental. Perhaps you could buy them an excursion for their honeymoon that they wouldn’t otherwise have been able to experience? Vouchers for a cooking lesson together at home? Or a sterling silver photo frame to display their favourite memory of their special day? So much more choice.  

I would assume that, because you are the person reading this blog, you are the ‘organiser’ in your friendship group who sorts and books everything - so you know how difficult it can be to get your friends to pay you what they owe sometimes … we can help make collecting money quicker and easier so they have no excuse -  download the Collctiv app for free here and see for yourself! 

In doing so, you will have access to needi’s services straight through the app, as well as being able to buy vouchers for all sorts of different products and experiences. Why not use the money you have clubbed together and get them a romantic balloon ride, a voucher for a Michelin-star meal for two and overnight stay or a fine china dinner set from John Lewis for their new home together?

Simply download the Collctiv app for free and all this will be yours!  

How can I collect money for my wedding gift?

What about if you’re the bride or the groom and you are looking for an easy way for your nearest and dearest to give you a gift without the constant back and forth of sharing bank details? I mean let’s be honest, you have a million and one other things to sort that Aunt Sheila asking for your bank details and how she sets you up on her phone banking thingymajig! 

In this modern world, people are getting married older than ever before, often having had at least one house of their own before getting wed, and maybe even a house together before tying the knot (that’s what I did, so no judgement from me!) This means you have most, if not all of the trinkets and gadgets you need for your home, which removes the majority of previous stock items for a wedding present (posh pots and pans, a vacuum cleaner, tableware, coasters, a DAB radio etc….) so really what would be helpful is cold hard cash. Upgrade your hire car on honeymoon, take an excursion that you previously had to pass on for being too elaborate, or put the money toward home improvements when you get back from honeymoon.

Whatever you use the money for, you don’t want cash being thrust into your hand on the big day, having to remember who gave you what for the thank you cards after 8 too many glasses of champagne and like I said before, you could really do without the hassle of at least 10 or 15 of your guests mithering you for bank details or addresses ahead of the wedding day.

Collctiv makes it easy to collect money from friends whilst also making it easy for them to pay in. Simply download the app for free here, create a ‘pot’ for your wedding gift collection and there you have it - your own unique payment link and QR code.

Share the payment link however you would normally communicate with your friends and family - Whatsapp, Facebook Messenger, text, email - and with just a tap, they can donate to the wedding gift. They don’t need to download the app, create an account or validate an email – they simply tap to pay - and done! AND if they have Apple or Google Pay it takes less than 5 seconds!

Now, just as you thought me sharing Collctiv was the most life changing thing you experience today, it gets even better. Are you ready for my ultimate wedding gift hack?

The QR code that your pot automatically generates? Put it in your invites! Straight after the ‘it is your presence, not your presents that we care about’ line, pop the QR code on there which every single person will see with a message along the lines of ‘but if you want to give us something, money towards our honeymoon would be greatly appreciated’.

People will simply scan the QR code and within 10 seconds they’ve given you their monetary gift with your blessing. It literally couldn’t be easier for them. Better still, you can add a heartfelt message to the payment, so you don’t even need to buy a card!

The wedding hacks don’t end there, I have one more for you; print off the QR code and attach it to wherever your gift box is going to be on the day itself! Those people who forgot or whose generosity is accentuated by a few tipples can scan the code and show their love and support of the new couple right until you all stagger arm in arm to your respective rooms, singing ‘Sweet Caroline’ over and over….

How much does it cost to use Collctiv?

There are no mandatory fees involved when you use Collctiv – friends can choose to make a donation to Collctiv when paying in and you could make a voluntary contribution when you withdraw the money you have collected but there is no obligation to at all.

Organisers bring people together

Since 2019 Collctiv has helped over 400,000 people from 83 countries come together by making it simple for Organisers to collect money from groups. Whether it's wedding collections, group holidays or grassroots sports teams - download our free app today and start bringing people together!