It’s a Gift List Bonanza! According to new research from Weddingwishlist.ie, couples are becoming more inventive with their wedding gift list choices and guests are prepared to splash more cash than ever on their loved ones …
Today most engaged couple already own their house and everything in it, but this hasn’t stopped them from making dinning and homewares the most popular wedding gift list category, accounting for over 50% of all gifts.
TECHNOLOGY & ELECTRICAL
If you have every basic home accessory and appliance that you can think off what’s left to ask for? Gadgets of course! The technology and electrical category saw a staggering 40% increase last year with home theatre systems, digital picture frames, Dyson vacuum cleaners and top end coffee machines all high on the wish lists.
LITTLE TREATS
The biggest surprise of all was the changing style of wedding gift lists . No longer exclusively the preserve of the home, gift lists can now accommodate much more personal items. Weddingwishlist revealed that hotel and spa gifts doubled last year. Especially popular are romantic weekend getaways for two such as in the G hotel, Bushmills Inn, Malmaison Belfast, Harvey’s Point, Bellinter House, and Kilmokea Manor. Also popular were experience gifts (spas, facials, dinner for two..)
Adventure gifts also showed a slight increase, with adrenalin junkies being treated to flying lessons, balloon flights and scuba diving lessons.
 Cases of wine have increased on wedding lists by
50% with quality wine from merchants like Berry Bros
& Rudd, Bubble Brothers and Direct Wine shipments dominating.
With the honeymoon in mind branded luggage performed well and it’s expected that labels such as Samsonite, Antler and Tripp will remain key players in this field.
DINING AND HOMEWARES
Traditional favourites such as dining wear and crystal continue to perform well. Topping tableware in 2008 was Vera Wang for Wedgwood, Villeroy & Boch and Denby. In crystal and glassware Louise Kennedy and Patrick Guildbaud for Tipperary Crystal and John Rocha and Jasper Conran for Waterford topped the leader board with another popular Irish name, Newbridge Silerware performing well with their cutlery.
High end cookware specialists Le Creuset, KitchenAid and Analon all featured highly proving that we are keen to experiment with our culinary skills in the kitchen, or maybe it’s more reflective of the fact that we love our kitchen appliances – the shinier the better!
Bedding is always on newlywed’s minds and your wedding gift list is the perfect time to request luxury bedding. Linen sheets, opulent throws, duvet covers and co-ordinating cushions are always popular to give and receive.
SPEND, SPEND, SPEND!
Given the huge choice available, it’s not surprising that wedding lists vary enormously in terms of size and content on Wedding Wish List. The largest wedding list in 2008 had gifts worth over €20,000. The smallest list was the €600 mark.
In terms of spending on gifts, wedding guests displayed unsurpassed generosity in 2008 –
the average spend per wedding gift was €158. The large variation between different guests continues however – the most spent on a wedding gift was €1599 and the least expensive was just €16.
For more info, contact info@weddingwishlist.ie, www.WeddingWishList.ie
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Planning 
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