A wedding gift list (or registry) is basically a wish list of items, experiences, or contributions that you’d love as wedding gifts. Your guests can pick from this list, which makes their lives easier and ensures you receive things you truly want.

A gift list takes out the guesswork and helps avoid duplicate or unwanted presents. Even if you already have the household basics, a gift list lets you upgrade your homeware or fund special experiences for your new married life, like your honeymoon.

Another big benefit is convenience and logistics. With a gift list, you won’t have to worry about guests bringing bulky gifts to the wedding or figuring out how to get everything home. Our partners will deliver your gifts directly to you after the wedding, so you can just relax and enjoy your day.

In short, it’s a win-win: guests feel happy giving something meaningful, and you get items (or funds) you will genuinely use and cherish.

Timing is important. Ideally, you should start building your gift list about 6 months before the wedding so you have plenty of time to choose items at your leisure. You’ll want to have your list ready to share by the time you send out invitations, which is usually around 4 to 6 months before the big day.

Many couples include gift list details with their wedding invites. Don’t worry if you’re late to the game – you can create and publish a gift list closer to your wedding date. One way to be flexible is by creating a wedding website, and adding your gift list there. You can create yours for free with Bridebook, learn more about wedding websites here.

And remember, you can usually keep adding or editing items on your list right up until your wedding day in case you think of new must-haves.

It’s perfectly acceptable and quite common to include your gift list information on your wedding website or with your wedding invitations.

In fact, many gift list services provide complimentary info cards you can slip into your invitation suite to let guests know where to find your list. The easiest way to share your gift list is through your wedding website, where you can share all your wedding details in one place – including your gift list. Find out more about wedding websites here.

Providing the information upfront actually helps guests, as many will appreciate the guidance. The key is to keep the tone polite and optional.

Aim to give your guests plenty of choice: variety is key. A great guideline is to list slightly more gifts than the number of guest households invited. In fact, many wedding planners advise adding roughly 2 to 3 gifts per household invited.

This might sound like a lot, but it ensures that everyone will have options in their budget and style range. It prevents the situation where your list is picked clean too early or a guest can’t find something they want to give.

Guests tend to spend £50–£100 on a wedding gift on average, so be sure to include plenty of options in that mid-range. Then add some lower-priced gifts (small treats or add-ons) and a few higher-end items for guests who may wish to splurge.

You might include a couple of big “dream” gifts too – say a premium appliance or furniture piece – and enable group gifting on those, meaning multiple guests can chip in towards them.

By diversifying your list, you’ll make all your guests feel comfortable and excited about choosing something for you.

Absolutely – it’s now very common for couples to include cash funds or honeymoon experiences on their gift lists. All of Bridebook’s gift list partners allow this alongside traditional gifts.

And don’t worry, it’s not rude to ask for cash in the right way. Your guests genuinely want to give you something you’ll appreciate, so if a honeymoon fund or home deposit fund is what you truly want, that’s perfectly fine.

The key is to frame it thoughtfully. Rather than a generic “please give us cash”, most couples break their honeymoon or house fund into specific activities or goals. For example, you could let guests contribute to “a romantic beachside dinner,” “snorkeling adventure,” or “museum memberships” – that way everyone feels like they’re gifting you a memorable experience or part of your future.

By itemizing the fund, guests can feel connected to what they’re giving, and you avoid the awkwardness of outright asking for money.

A wedding gift list can be so much more than toasters and towels. Our gift list partners let you include just about anything that will make your newlywed life wonderful!

Of course, traditional homewares and kitchen gadgets are popular – think quality cookware, dinnerware, bedding, and decor to turn your place into a home. But you’re not limited to physical products. Modern registries allow a mix of:

• Household items & Home décor: Think luxurious linens, cookware, furniture, and even art. Choose what reflects your personal style as a couple.
• Experiences: Many couples add experience gifts – for example, a cooking class for two, wine tasting tours, or a hot air balloon ride. These create lasting memories beyond your wedding day.
• Honeymoon Funds: You can include a honeymoon fund or specific trip experiences. Guests could contribute to your flight upgrades, a special dinner on your honeymoon, or a couple’s spa day at your resort. This way they feel they’re contributing to an experience rather than just cash.
• Cash Funds for Goals: Some couples set up funds for big goals like a house deposit, a renovation project, or even a new sofa or piano. You can personalise these funds with a description, so guests know what they’re contributing toward. It’s a lovely way for them to feel part of helping you achieve a dream.
• Charity Donations: If giving back is important to you, add an option for guests to donate to a favourite charity in lieu of a gift. Our partners support charity contributions, allowing your wedding to spread some goodness to a cause you care about.
• Subscriptions & Vouchers: The gift that keeps on giving! You might include a subscription service (e.g. monthly coffee, wine club, or meal kits) that you can enjoy as newlyweds. Many gift lists also let you add gift cards/vouchers for popular stores or experiences. And with Prezola’s service, you can even add custom gifts that aren’t on their site by inserting any web link – they’ll convert it into an item or cash fund on your list for you.

In short, you can compile a truly personalised registry. Mix and match physical items with experiences and funds to suit your lifestyle. The choices are practically unlimited – so feel free to get creative and make a list that really reflects you as a couple.

Setting up and using a wedding gift list with our partners is completely free for you as a couple. There are no sign-up fees or hidden charges to create your list, you can add unlimited gifts, and receive dedicated support.

Even better, if you create a gift list with Bridebook partners (Prezola, The Wedding Shop, or The Wedding Present Company), you’ll get £50 to spend on any item you want when your guests spend £200.

For your guests, buying an item from your list is usually just like buying a normal gift online; there’s no added fee for them on physical products, apart from a possible small delivery charge if their order is under a certain amount.

If guests contribute to a cash or honeymoon fund on your list, there usually is a small percentage fee on those contributions. This is mainly to cover the secure payment processing, and neither you nor the gift list company profits from that fee.

Rest assured, using a gift list service is very cost-effective. You get a top-notch service for free, and your guests only pay the normal gift price (plus maybe a minor shipping or card fee in certain cases).