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Wedding gift lists UnwrappedWJ reveals the current trends in wedding present lists and suggests a few unusual alternatives…
The etiquette of wedding gift lists
The correct etiquette of wedding gift lists is hotly debated. Some people think it perfectly acceptable to tell guests that they would like particular gifts from a certain shop, or even that they would prefer money over a gift, while others think dictating in this way is rude and unappreciative.
 In today's modern age, with many couples already either living together or separately, wedding gift
lists have evolved as a way of allowing couples to suggest gifts that they really would like and most people are delighted to use them in order to avoid wasting money on an unwanted present.
Generally speaking most wedding guests have come to expect a wedding gift list and will actually prefer you to have one, so the only real question,
is what type of gift list to have?
The traditional gift list
The traditional gift list remains the most popular choice and is a list of items placed with one or more department or homeware stores - the likes of Debenhams, Brown Thomas or Arnotts for example. Shop around carefully before choosing which company you are going to place your list with as some offer better packages than others. Look out for added bonuses for guests who will be using the list such as easy online purchasing, free delivery and free gift wrapping, and extra treats for yourself like cash back offers, free gifts or vouchers.
Most large stores will have a dedicated ‘gift list' department and all it takes is a few hours of browsing to note down the products you would like to include. Simple to use, the lists are then managed by the store who will help your guests make their purchases either in-store, online or over the phone and after your wedding the store will send you a list of who has purchased what so you know who to send your thank-you letters to.
Ideally you should place your gift list three months before your wedding day and remember to keep topping it up as the weeks go by ensuring that guests have a wide scope of choice when it comes to price range and variety.
Once you have your wedding gift list created you need to let people know about it - another area where the correct etiquette is unclear. Most of the gift list providers will supply you with discreet cards to slip into your wedding invitations saying something simple like ‘Jenny & Chris have placed their wedding gift at Debenhams'. Most guests will find it perfectly acceptable to receive a card like this, but there will be others who will find it presumptuous and therefore offensive. The alternative is to rely on word of mouth. Most people will ask you directly or contact a member of your family to find out where your wedding gift list is located.
Online gift lists
Online gift lists take the convenience of a wedding gift list one step further by allowing you to view, select and compile your wedding list, all from the comfort of your own home. Here you have the choice of using a the wedding gift services of single product companies such as Wedgwood, Royal Doulton and Denby or using a specific gift list site which features hundreds and often even thousands of products from a variety of companies. Irelands largest wedding gift list service, www.weddingwishlist.ie does just this, featuring over 10,000 gifts online from 100 gift partners - with everything from home and garden items to luxury spa weekends and more. Another popular choice is www.wrapit.co.uk which allows you to choose from over 350 brands (and 30,000+ products) online, ranging from favourite tabletop and kitchenware brands to designer home furnishings and unusual gift ideas.
THE ALTERNATIVE GIFT LIST
The problem with the ‘traditional' list is that many couples today have all the household items they could possibly need even before they get married and so the ‘alternative gift' has emerged as a way of requesting other items such as holidays, art and even charitable donations. Here are a few of our favourites:
www.honeymoney.co.uk 
There are a number of travel companies who sell travel gift vouchers or will set up a honeymoon wedding list for you but this is one of our favourites. HoneyMoney have created "The Ultimate Honeymoon Wedding List" allowing you to set up a virtual "wish list" of the various elements of your honeymoon that you would like to receive as wedding gifts including flights, accommodation, tours, meals and entrance to attractions.
You could also try www.moneymoon.net www.irishhoneymoonregistry.com and www.trailfinders.com www.thewineweddinglist.com
www.wineonline.ie and www.directwine.co.uk
Many wine merchants will help you put together a list of your favourite wines from which your family and friends can place their orders. It's a great way for the couple who already have everything home-related to establish their own ‘cellar'. www.thewineweddinglist.com allows you to put together a bespoke list of fine wines with the advice of experts. Guests can buy online or over the phone and your wines will be delivered when you need them. Each has a hand-written label that tells you who bought it for you together with a personal message.
www.irishpaintings.com
A piece of art is a fabulous gift to give or receive as it will act as an enduring memory or your wedding day. Art lovers are spoilt for choice at the Waldock Art Gallery in Dublin where you can choose from original Irish paintings or some sculpture, art glass, ceramics, or limited edition signed prints. There are two ways of organising your art gift here. Firstly, you can request guests to buy gift vouchers from the gallery or you can select an art gift/s in advance which guests can group together to purchase. See the site for more details.
www.thealternative
The Alternative Wedding List was the UK's first online charitable gift list service to provide a great selection of gifts to a variety of well-known registered charities wrapped up like a traditional gift list. Register online and select the charities that you would like to benefit. Your friends and family then logon to your personal gift list and select the charity they would like to make a donation to. You can look at donations made and messages left by your friends and family, and after your wedding you'll be sent a certificate confirming the total donations to each charity.
www.oxfamirelandunwrapped.com
With Oxfam Unwrapped you can swap the usual wedding gift of a kettle or toaster for a goat, school books or clean water. Set up your wedding list online or over the phone and Oxfam will send you wedding list cards which you can include in your invitations. After the wedding, they'll send you a list of who bought what, with a grand total of what your Oxfam Unwrapped Wedding has raised to help those living in poverty around the world.
www.gift-tree-ireland.com
Go green and give a tree. Your friends and family can visit the store section of the site and choose the trees, bushes, seeds or plants they would like to give. They can also choose how they would like their environmentally friendly gift to be wrapped and can add a personal message. The gift will then be delivered to you in style with a special ornate copper tag.
www.biomelifestyle.com
Biome Lifestyle is an online store for eco friendly and ethically sourced products for the home and has a wedding list facility, the 'Eco Wedding List Service' available on the website. This is a great choice for the ethical and design conscious couple as the site features a number of beautiful products which have been handpicked not only for their aesthetics, but because they are made from recycled, sustainable, organic, or fairly traded materials. WJ
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