Wedding Gifts - How to Put Together your Wedding Gifts List

Many couples view a gift list as an integral part of the wedding planning. However, sending your guests a list of preferred wedding gifts with their invitation is frowned upon within wedding etiquette.

But the inclusion of a gift list has been common practice for many years now. I can remember my mother pouring over a list she received with a wedding invitation for her cousin back in the 1980's. The idea has evolved from a time when couples wouldn't live together until after they were married and would require many household items in order for them to set up their new home together. In modern times however many couples do live together before marriage and even go as far as buying their first home together.

The list of preferred wedding gifts though continues to be drawn up by couples even though most will already have everything they need for their home. In fact today's gift lists tend to be more about luxury items, decorative objects and even vouchers for holidays, restaurants or leisure facilities. There is also a growing trend to ask for money rather than a gift - a huge no-no within wedding etiquette!

And whilst this article may seem like it is damming the gift list for all eternity, a large number of your wedding guests will want one. The tradition of drawing one up has evolved into a tradition of expecting one from the invited guests, with becoming lost and confused if you don't tell them what you want!

Wedding etiquette it would seem is a little behind the times, particularly as the practice of wedding gift lists has been around for a few decades now. But couples can achieve a healthy balance in terms of complying with etiquette and keeping the guests happy.

Etiquette says that gift lists should not be sent out with the wedding invitations as this implies to the recipient that you expect them to buy you a present and places an obligation on the guest to purchase something from the list. The best way is to keep the invitation and the list separate. If your guests make enquiries about wedding gifts then by all means send them the list.

Gift registries have become a popular service for wedding gifts in recent years, with many high street department stores and online stores all offering this service. The work on the principle of you choosing your preferred gifts, these are then drawn up into a list and a copy of which can be sent to the wedding guests. This list will contain all the information they need to make a purchase and as each gift is purchased it is removed from the list to prevent duplication.

For many couples this service can appear like a dream come true giving them the chance to roam the store and select anything they want! Gift registries are a great way of managing a large list of wanted items. The store will record who buys what and deal with all deliveries. After the wedding they can provide you with a complete list of gift bought and by whom so you can easily write your thank you cards. If you set up a registry however make sure you choose gifts that cross a wide range of budgets and that you include plenty of items - you may be surprised by the generosity of some of your guests!