For a music lover, there's literally nothing more exciting than receiving a personally-curated playlist, created by the one person who knows your taste inside out! The only problem is that a Spotify playlist is difficult to wrap, so it's best to get it down on CD, or, if your partner is retro-minded, an old-school cassette tape mixtape, like the one that thoughtful groom Patrick made for his bride Lais. He slipped his mix tape into a vintage Walkman, packaged the whole thing up with the original albums and left it on her doorstep. How cute!
If your other half is obsessed with their pet (and I don't know a single pet owner who isn't!), then a custom artwork is an inspired wedding-day gift! If the pet in question isn't able to attend the wedding, a gorgeous painting or illustration will mean that the little fluffball is still part of the big day! Lots of artists on Etsy offer custom pet portraits, so there are plenty of styles and price ranges to choose from, but we're big fans of Ginny and I (above), who charges around £115 or €130 for bespoke artwork.
Homemade gifts are always extra special, so even if you haven't made a scrapbook since you were a Backstreet Boys-obsessed teenager, you should definitely consider stocking up on felt tip pens and craft glue! Your scrapbook could be a summary of your journey so far, or depict an amazing trip you took together, and can take the form of a collage on canvas if you're quite artistic, or a physical book (find them on Etsy and Amazon).
OK, so if your other half's favourite book is Ulysses by James Joyce, or The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, this may not be a very practical gift idea, but you'd be surprised at the number of affordable first edition books you'll find on sites like eBay and adverts.ie. If a first edition is either beyond your budget or not available, you could also try looking for a signed copy or an old copy with vintage artwork, which could be just as lovely! This one goes for beloved cookbooks and children's books too!
We love the idea of celebrating your new spouse with a nod to all of the adventures that are still to come (in the form of delicious alcohol, in this case!). There are two ways to do this one - you can either purchase a nice bottle of whiskey, gin or vodka to toast with on every anniversary, or handpick a couple of bottles of wine (ask the seller for tips on which ones will last) and label each one to coincide with a specific anniversary.
It's always nice when a gift doubles as a warm welcome to your side of the family, and if your other half is an enthusiastic cook, a family recipe could be perfect! Start by chatting to any relatives who are superstars in the kitchen, and ask if they have a recipe to offer (bonus points if your partner has already tasted and loved the dish!). Check before putting the recipe in a frame, as your relative might want to keep it a family secret. Other options include rolling it up in a scroll with a pretty ribbon, or using it to start a brand new cookbook (again, Etsy and Amazon have great options) or recipe box.
Got a diary entry from the day you met, a receipt from your first date or the ticket stub from your first gig or train journey together? This will make a perfect wedding-day gift! You can either frame it (enlist the help of a professional framer if you don't trust yourself to make it look wall-worthy!), or purchase or DIY a memory box that you can keep adding to over the years. You could also frame your vows (if they're not a surprise) or a reading from the ceremony.
As lovely as it would be to present your soon-to-be spouse with a bespoke suit or pair of shoes on your wedding day, it's impossible to do this without their knowledge, so a custom pair of trainers or sunglasses is a nice compromise! Brands like Nike, Vans and Ray Ban offer custom services, which usually cost between €100 and €200. You could even engrave them, like real groom Eoghan did for his bride, Sarah - if the company doesn't offer an engraving service, a quick Google should bring you to a specialist who can.
A thoughtful gift for your other half on your wedding day doesn't necessarily have to be something they'll cherish forever. We love the idea of a curated wedding survival kit, like the one pictured above, which features in this gorgeous real wedding, and includes socks "to keep cold feet away" and a watch to make sure he turned up on time! Other options include a nice umbrella (if rain is forecast), a phone charger (if you know they'll forget theirs) and their favourite snack. You can also steal ideas from our emergency kit checklist!
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