UK wedding gift lists combine traditional physical items with modern honeymoon funds, typically hosted through John Lewis, Prezola, or The Wedding Shop. Guests spend £50-£100 for acquaintances, £100-£150 for friends, and £150-£300+ for close family according to YouGov UK research (February 2024).1 British couples now favour flexible registries that combine household items, experiences, and cash contributions, moving away from the traditional high-street store-only model.
Best UK Gift List Services 2025
John Lewis remains Britain's most prestigious traditional gift list service, having transitioned to an online-only model that includes travel funding alongside their product range. Prezola dominates the modern market as a £15M company offering 50,000+ products from over 100 brands with a 1.9% fee on cash fund contributions.2 The Wedding Shop maintains luxury London showrooms for couples preferring in-person consultation and premium service.
| Service | Best For | Key Features | Fee Structure |
|---|---|---|---|
| John Lewis Wish List | Traditional prestige | Online-only registry, travel funds, price match, iconic British brand | Free for products, small % on cash |
| Prezola | Modern flexibility | 50,000+ gifts from 100+ brands, group gifting, 114 charities, John Lewis price match | 1.9% on cash funds, free products |
| The Wedding Shop | Luxury experience | London showrooms, in-person service, premium brands, white-glove support | Contact for details |
| Amazon UK | Budget-conscious | Massive product range, Prime delivery, easy returns, universal access | Free service |
| Hitchd | Honeymoon focus | Dedicated travel fund platform, experience-based gifts, easy cash collection | Platform fee applies |
| Buy Our Honeymoon | Cash contributions | Honeymoon and house deposit funds, personal messaging, guest tracking | Service fee on contributions |
Amazon UK provides the widest product selection for budget-focused couples, whilst specialist platforms like Hitchd excel for honeymoon-centric registries. Most UK couples now create hybrid lists combining traditional items from retailers with cash funds for travel or house deposits.
Prezola's group gifting feature allows multiple guests to contribute towards expensive items like Le Creuset cookware or espresso machines. The platform's charity option lets couples donate a percentage of their gift total to one of 114 registered charities, combining celebration with philanthropy.
How Much to Spend on a UK Wedding Gift
Close relationships warrant £50-£100 according to 56% of UK respondents, whilst 77% suggest £50 or less for distant connections (YouGov UK, February 2024).1 Regional variations exist with London and Southeast weddings typically commanding higher gift values due to elevated cost of living and venue expenses.
| Relationship | Recommended Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Acquaintance/colleague | £50-£75 | Appropriate for plus-one situations or work connections |
| Friend | £100-£150 | Standard for friendship group weddings |
| Close friend | £150-£200 | Reflects deeper relationship and typically attendance at pre-wedding events |
| Immediate family | £200-£300+ | Parents, siblings, children may contribute significantly more |
| Extended family | £100-£150 | Aunts, uncles, cousins follow friend-level guidelines |
| Destination wedding | Adjust down 20-30% | Travel costs count towards overall contribution |
Evening reception guests without meal service typically give £30-£50, whilst day guests attending the full celebration contribute at the higher end of these ranges. Group gifts among friend circles allow individual contributions of £30-£50 to collectively purchase substantial items worth £150-£250.
Your personal budget always takes priority over these guidelines. Handmade gifts, family heirlooms, or heartfelt cards carry significant value beyond monetary contribution, particularly for couples who already maintain established households.
Destination wedding guests spending £500-£1,500 on travel and accommodation appropriately reduce gift spending by 20-30%. The couple's investment in hosting guests abroad represents mutual financial commitment.
UK vs US: Key Differences in Gift Registry Culture
British couples use "gift lists" rather than "registries" and traditionally favoured single-retailer solutions like John Lewis, contrasting with American multi-registry approaches across Target, Crate & Barrel, and Amazon. UK gift-giving culture emphasises modest restraint over the American preference for comprehensive household replacement.
| Aspect | United Kingdom | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Terminology | Gift list | Registry |
| Traditional venue | John Lewis, department stores | Target, Bed Bath & Beyond, Macy's |
| Cash gifts | Increasingly accepted, honeymoon funds popular | More established, often via cash registry websites |
| Spending expectations | £50-£150 typical | $50-$150 typical, regional variation |
| Registry scope | Single or dual registries common | Multiple registries standard (3-5 common) |
| Invitation etiquette | Never mention on invitation itself | Often included as insert or website link |
| Thank you notes | Handwritten essential within 3 months | Handwritten traditional, 3-month window |
| Charitable giving | Emerging trend via platforms like Prezola | Established option on many platforms |
American couples commonly register for 100-150 items across multiple price points, whilst British couples tend towards 50-80 carefully selected essentials. This reflects different approaches to household establishment and gift-giving expectations.
UK wedding culture historically viewed cash requests as potentially vulgar, though attitudes shifted significantly in the 2010s-2020s. Honeymoon funds and poetically worded cash requests now appear in approximately 60% of British wedding communications.
The death of British high street retailers including Debenhams (closed May 2021) accelerated the shift towards online platforms like Prezola that aggregate multiple brands. American registry culture experienced similar disruption with Bed Bath & Beyond's 2023 bankruptcy.
UK Gift List Etiquette
Share your gift list through your wedding website, separate information cards with invitations, or word of mouth through family members. Never print gift list details directly on the wedding invitation itself, as this breaches British etiquette standards by appearing presumptuous or gift-focused.
Create your gift list 6-8 months before the wedding date to allow adequate selection time. Make it publicly accessible 3-4 months prior so guests can purchase before items sell out or shipping delays occur. Include items across £30-£300 price ranges to accommodate different guest budgets and relationships.
Update your list regularly as guests purchase items, removing fulfilled products and adding new options if the list depletes below 30-40% availability. Out-of-stock situations frustrate guests and lead to duplicate gifts or reluctant cash contributions.
Group gifting transforms expensive items into accessible contributions. A £400 stand mixer becomes manageable when eight friends contribute £50 each. Prezola, John Lewis, and most modern platforms facilitate this collaborative purchasing with automatic coordination.
Thank you notes must be handwritten and posted within three months of receiving each gift. British etiquette demands acknowledging the specific item or contribution, mentioning how you'll use it, and expressing genuine gratitude for the guest's presence at your celebration.
How to Ask for Money Politely in the UK
British politeness requires framing cash requests around specific goals like honeymoons, house deposits, or home improvements rather than general monetary gifts. Prezola recommends wording such as "Having you with us on our special day is the best gift we could ask for. Though should you wish to help us keep the celebrations going, a cash gift towards our honeymoon fund would be greatly appreciated."2
Traditional British rhyming poems soften cash requests through lighthearted verse. Example: "We've lived together for a year or two, we really don't need anything new. But if you were thinking of getting us a gift, a donation to our house fund would give us a lift."
Create dedicated honeymoon funds through platforms like Hitchd, Buy Our Honeymoon, or Prezola's integrated cash fund feature. These services provide specific experiences or activities guests can sponsor, such as "Sunset champagne cruise in Santorini (£150)" or "Snorkelling adventure (£75)."
Never apologise for requesting money or use phrases like "we know this is unconventional." Confident, gracious wording acknowledges guests' generosity whilst clearly stating your preference. Approximately 60% of UK couples now include some form of cash fund.
Offer a small physical gift list alongside your cash fund for guests who strongly prefer tangible presents. This hybrid approach respects traditional preferences whilst meeting your actual needs as an established household.
When to Set Up Your Gift List UK
Begin creating your gift list 6-8 months before your wedding date to allow careful selection and comparison across retailers. Make it live and shareable 3-4 months prior to your wedding so guests purchasing gifts for engagement parties, bridal showers, or early gifting have adequate access.
Research each platform's features, fees, and return policies before committing. John Lewis provides automatic 2-year extended warranty on electrical items, whilst Prezola's price matching ensures you receive best-market rates across their 100+ partner brands.
Visit The Wedding Shop's London showrooms if you prefer hands-on consultation with gift list specialists who guide you through premium homeware selections. This traditional approach suits couples overwhelmed by online options or seeking expert curation.
Include 75-100 items across varied price points when launching your list. Monitor purchase rates monthly, adding new products if availability drops below 40%. December-February weddings require earlier list creation (8-10 months ahead) to account for Christmas shopping disruptions.
Coordinate with your wedding website launch so guests discover your gift list simultaneously with save-the-date announcements. Include your registry link in your website navigation and consider a brief explanatory paragraph about your chosen approach.