35 Unusual Wedding Gift Ideas They'll Love
Let’s face it, who needs another toaster or glassware set? Break the mould and treat the happy couple to a wedding gift with a difference
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Coming up with unusual wedding gifts can be a tricky task - especially if the happy couple hasn’t provided a wedding gift list, or asked for monetary contributions to pay for their dream honeymoon to kick off their life together.
Finding an unusual wedding gift for the nearlyweds can be fun, though! With a gift-list free wedding, you can get creative with your choice of present, choosing a quirky wedding present that surprises and delights the couple when they open it - and who wouldn’t want that?
We also spoke to wedding gift expert Hayley Rorrison at The Wedding Shop too about the biggest wedding present trends for 2024, to help guide you in your quest to find a rare wedding present that nobody has seen before.
The Best Unusual Wedding Gift Ideas
You'll find the perfect quirky wedding gift idea for your favourite nearlyweds here.
1. Personalised Kissing Lovers Wedding Anniversary Print - Keren Parmley
For art lovers, we’re obsessed with this romantic print. You can personalise the colour of the kissers as well as the date and names. We’d add their wedding date, but the day the happy couple met is also a cute idea.
- Expert Take: This comes in A4 and A3 for £10 extra. Have it framed for an extra special touch, making it ready to hang immediately.
2. A Year of Dates - Not On The High Street
Make sure your friends have a fun-packed first year of marriage with the unique wedding gift idea. The box includes 52 sealed cards containing a date for every week of the year as well as five blank cards that you (or they) can write on. The box can be personalised with their names, and you can even choose the font and the colour of the text.
- Expert Take: Go the extra mile with the blank cards and either put money in to help them fund their dates, or offer to cook for them, or babysit.
3. Personalised Picnic Blanket - Jonny’s Sister
For couples that love a picnic, we adore this personalised round picnic blanket. You can write two bespoke lines of text and choose between pink and blue blankets - or buy both and they can invite all of their friends to dine al fresco with them.
- Expert Take: Pull out all the stops and buy a selection of (non-perishable) picnic treats to go with the blanket. Prosecco is never a bad idea!
4. Wedding Date Print - Abalone Studio
The minimalist style of this date print means it’ll suit all home decor, and is a gorgeous nod to the happiest day of the couple’s lives - plus a handy anniversary reminder if one of them isn’t good at remembering dates. It comes in A3, A4 or A5 and a variety of different palettes, we like the nude and black one best.
- Expert Take: We think the A4 or A3 versions are best, as A5 could look a little like a save the date card - something the couple has likely seen more than enough of during their wedding planning journey.
5. Everyman Cinema Membership
For cinephile couples, annual membership to the UK’s fanciest cinema would be gratefully received. The £89 membership includes six tickets for the year plus the opportunity to take a guest for free on Mondays and 10% off food and drink.
- Expert Take: Everyman is our cinema of choice, because they bring food and drinks to the super comfy sofas you sit on, but other less plus cinemas also offer unlimited memberships too, if your friends don’t have an Everyman near them.
6. Personalised Twelve Inch Vinyl Record - Mix Pixie
Think of this incredible gift as a luxury take on the mix tapes of yesteryear. Not only can you personalise the record sleeve with a photo and date, you choose the tracks yourself, too. You can select six tracks to feature - so pick wisely!
- Expert Take: If your friends aren’t being secretive about their wedding music choices, find out their first dance, the song they’re walking down the aisle to and ceremony songs to create a bespoke vinyl that will take them back to their big day every time they play it on their record player.
7. Personalised Popcorn Bowl - Sophia Victoria Joy
Help your newlywed pals create the ultimate at-home date night with this personalised popcorn bowl - ideal if they’re on a budget post-wedding but still want to create special memories.
- Expert Take: You can add gourmet popcorn to this bowl, so the date night is ready to go as soon as they open it. Perfect for curing any post-honeymoon blues that might creep in…
8. Monthly Wine Subscription - The Grape Reserve
For wine-loving couples, a wine subscription is a fun way to keep their vino collection topped up for the first few months of their marriage. You can choose to send two or four bottles of wine, plus each monthly box comes with recipe suggestions for food to make with their bottles.
- Expert Take: If you’re feeling generous, or if you club together with other wedding guests, you can opt for a six or 12 month wine subscription, to keep the good times going.
9. Neon Sign - Dunelm
There’s nothing quite like living in a newlywed bubble. Help your friends relish the feeling with this fun neon light, whether they hang it in their living room, bedroom or hallway to welcome them home.
- Expert Take: Reviewers note that this is lovely and bright, with no need for other light in the room, making it perfect for lighting up a den.
10. Wedding Venue Line Drawing - Letterfest
Letterfest hand draws your building of choice, from churches and barns, to hotels and pubs - no matter where your friends are getting married, you can have it immortalised in ink. Add a personal touch with the couple’s name and wedding date to make it even more special.
- Expert Take: You have to provide a photograph of the wedding venue, and Letterfest are happy to remove bins, satellite dishes and other unsightly items when they draw it up. If you want something added in, they’re happy to do that too.
11. Paper Cut Bauble - No Original Gift
If your friends are getting married during the festive period, this bespoke bauble is a thoughtful wedding and Christmas present wrapped into one. You can personalise it with names, genders and wedding date, as well as the ribbon and foil colour for a truly personal pressie.
- Expert Take: This beautiful bauble is glass, so keep in mind that it’s breakable if your friends have pets or young children than could send it tumbling from the Christmas tree branches.
12. Charity Donations
Charitable donations are the perfect unusual wedding gift for the couple who says they don’t want anything. Trees For Life helps to restore forests in the Scottish highlands, making it a lovely choice for couples that love the outdoor life.
- Expert Take: Charity donations are a nice way to prove to the couple you care about the causes that matter to them, so think wisely about causes close to their heart and go for that
13. Lonely Planet's Best Places to Eat in Every Country - Amazon
Globetrotters will love this handy guide to the world’s best food spots. It boasts over 2,000 recommendations and provides the ultimate inspiration for when you’re considering were to eat on your new holiday.
- Expert Take: This is the ultimate coffee table book - it’s hardback and seriously heavy, so it’s one for poring over at home rather than taking with you on travels.
14. Stargazing Experience in Wales for Two – Dark Sky Wales
Send the newlyweds stargazing with their very own astronomer in some of the darkest skies in the UK with this truly unique wedding gift.
They’ll take a three-hour tour of the night sky, viewing familiar and unfamiliar constellations of the northern hemisphere and learning the correct use of binoculars and how to set up a telescope.
- Expert Take: This makes for the perfect experience if the couple are planning a Welsh mini-moon - just check their dates before booking.
15. The Original Chocolate Making Workshop - My Chocolate
Chocoholics will love you for buying them this chocolate-making workshop in London, Brighton or Manchester.
The couple will take a journey of chocolate discovery as they taste their way through mouth-watering chocolates, learn about how they’re made and get some to take home. What a treat!
- Expert Take: This one is for true chocolate lovers, with the tour including a lesson in truffle making and giant chocolate shaping, with the session hosted by a theatrical chocolatier.
16. National Art Pass for Two – Art Fund
Arty couples will love a National Art Pass, giving them access to over 850 venues all over the UK and a subscription to the Art Fund magazine.
They'll also receive 50% off various art exhibitions so they won't be stuck for entertainment at the weekend for a while.
- Expert Take: If your newlywed pals are under 30, this is even better value at just £36 per person.
17. Carbonara Gift Box For Two - Pasta Evangelists
Pasta lovers will be delighted to create restaurant-worthy carbonara from the comfort of their home. The kit comes complete with a starter of charcuterie, burrata and focaccia, as well as tiramisu for dessert.
- Expert Take: Arrange delivery of this treat to coincide with your friends’ return from honeymoon. It takes the faff out of cooking and gives them a delicious meal to look forward to to ease the post-holiday blues.
18. Personalised Couple Wedding Pillowcases – Koko Blossoms
These couple’s pillowcases from Koko Blossom are a great wedding gift – they’re a chic bedroom accessory and celebrate the pair’s marriage all at the same time.
The calligraphy is printed on a white cotton base, and the black text makes for a stylish finish, though you can pick from a rainbow palette if your friends have a colourful bedroom.
- Expert Take: These of course are available as Mrs. and Mrs. and Mr. and Mr.
19. Name a Binary Star Gift – Star Name Registry
Give your favourite couple a gift which will last a lifetime by naming a binary star after the both of them.
On the Star Name Registry, you can name a star after two people, and you can choose a star from a list of constellations which are visible from the UK, so they can catch a glimpse of their sparkler.
- Expert Take: Binary stars are two stars which constantly orbit each other, making this gift a beautiful representation of marriage and a special way to treat a newly married couple.
20. Offer a Helping Hand
While offering to pay for elements of a wedding day for others can seem patronising or gauche, if you know someone who works in the wedding industry, from florists to cake makers to bands, why not loop the couple in, and even pay towards the recommendation?
This makes for a heartfelt gesture and gives you an amazing role to play in the most special day of the couple’s lives.
- Expert Take: People can become offended when money is in the mix, so make sure the couple in question would be comfortable with the suggestion.
21. Personalised Wedding Flower Press - Bombus
After their wedding, the newlyweds might have lots of flowers and nothing to do with them. Make sure they don't go to waste by giving them a personalised flower press so they can keep a part of their wedding day forever.
- Expert Take: Remember to tell the couple in advance you’ve got them this gift, so they have some flowers to press. Or, squirrel some away yourself from the day to press for the couple.
22. Personalised Anniversary Journal - Uncommon Goods
This stylish book has space for the couple to record what they did on each of their wedding anniversaries, from first to sixtieth, with prompts to inspire their notes, from how they celebrated and their aspirations. There’s also a page for photos each year, if you want visual memories too.
- Expert Take: Reviewers say they include cash on the first anniversary page, to contribute towards their friends’ celebrations, and we love this extra touch.
23. Private Chef Experience - Take A Chef
Create an incredible at home experience for your friends with a private chef who will turn their home into a luxury restaurant. You can either tailor it to their tastes, or leave it to them to liaise with the chefs to create their dream menu.
- Expert Take: Pricing isn’t available until your request a quote, so consider that when shopping for this unusual gift. Consider teaming up with other guests for a joint gift to make it more affordable.
24. Llama Trekking for Two – Virgin Experience Days
You can't beat a country walk in the fresh air - until you add a llama into the mix, that is!
This llama trekking experience is based in Northamptonshire and invites couples to take a stress-free stroll with their new pal - we bet there'll be a few laughs along the way with these playful characters.
- Expert Take: If you're far from Northampton but you're enamoured by this idea, search for llama trekking near you - you might be surprised.
25. Kayaking for Two on Loch Lomond – Virgin Experience Days
For the outdoorsy couples, a trip to Loch Lomond kayaking will bring out their adventurous side.
They don't have to be experts on the water, as they'll receive training before they take to the water plus kept safe with a buoyancy aid and a wetsuit.
- Expert Take: Again, take this as inspiration. If Loch Lomond is nowhere near where your friends are getting married or where they’re honeymooning, look for kayaking destinations nearer.
26. Puppy Yoga Sessions - Puppy Yoga London
We challenge you to find a cuter unique wedding gift than a puppy yoga session, which sees participants perform downward dog surrounded by pups.
The puppies are well looked after, so you need not worry about their welfare, with each session seeing different dogs join in.
- Expert Take: Choose a bubbly puppy package, complete with a celebratory glass of something fizzy - we can imagine much yoga goes on in those sessions, but who’s there for exercise anyway?
27. Annual National Trust Membership - National Trust
Give the gift of endless fun weekends with a National Trust membership for two. The membership allows entry to more than 500 places around the UK, as well as car parking in even more. It’s a great way to kick off married life, visiting gorgeous gardens and impressive stately homes.
- Expert Take: If you’re feeling extra generous, you can also buy a lifetime membership.
28. Couples Massage
After a hectic wedding planning season, a massage will be gratefully received. Most spas offer couples massage, which sees the newlyweds treated to a luxurious massage in the same room. Upgrade to a full spa day if you know they’re fans of relaxing together.
- Expert Take: There are all kinds of massages out there, from hot stone to Swedish, so do find out their favourite kind before booking!
29. Introduction to Pottery for Two - Virgin Experience Days
What better way to kick off married life than by starting a new hobby? Buy your pals this unusual wedding gift of a pottery class and they can reenact the infamous scene from Ghost - or create some lovely ceramics for their home.
- Expert Take: Each attendees makes two pots, so if all goes well, they’ll have four brand new pieces of crockery, designed by them.
30. Wedding Ring Making Experience - Wonder Days
Something extra unique about this wedding present is that you give it to the couple before their big day, so they can create their own wedding rings, ready for their nuptials.
The experience is five hours long and takes place in an old ford, for an authentic experience. The couple leaves with two handmade wedding rings, making them super sentimental.
- Expert Take: The pre-wedding period is often awash with stress, so this makes for a fab event in the run up to the big day - just make sure the couple has time in the lead up to spare five hours to get crafty.
31. Wedding Gift Hamper - Jo Loves
Give the gift of the most incredibly scented home with this luxury hamper, full to the brim with scented treats including Bath Cologne, Bath and Shower Gel, Body Lotion, a candle and a diffuser. The best part? They come in a variety of different Jo Loves scents, so your friends can try them all to find their favourite.
- Expert Take: £320 is a pricey wedding present, but if you have the money to spend, we can’t imagine any couple who wouldn’t love this
32. Ticketmaster Gift Card - Giftcards.co.uk
If the nearlyweds are big gig-goers, a gift card for Ticketmaster is a fab idea. The voucher is valid for a year from purchase, so they’re bound to find a gig they want to go to in that period. You can send it straight to their email for ease, or order a physical card to slip into their wedding card.
- Expert Take: Available from £10 to £150, you can decide how much you want to give.
33. Head Chef and Sous Chef Mug Set - Oliver Bonas
For foodie couples, these cute ceramic mugs make for a fun gift. They come in a pretty gingham box (easy to wrap!) and are dishwasher and microwave safe.
- Expert Take: Reviewers love the size of these mugs, praising them as perfect for a cup of tea.
34. Latte Art Course - Kiss The Hippo
For coffee connoisseurs, a latte art class makes for a fabulous gift, helping them craft cafe-level coffee at home. The two-hour group session walks you through the process of milk steaming and pouring two select latte art patterns, honing your skills to perfection.
- Expert Take: As well as learning latte skills, you get to drink unlimited coffee during the two hours - heaven for bean lovers!
35. Wine and Picnic Table - Hot Laser
Upgrade your friends’ picnic experience with this cute outdoor table, complete with four wine glass holders and a space for the bottle, too. There are also sections for nibbles and charcuterie to complete the experience, plus you can personalise it with their initials.
- Expert Take: Reviewers say they bought this for wine lovers - if that’s your plan, we’d buy a bottle of their favourite vino too so they can try it out right away.
Unusual Wedding Gift Ideas & Inspiration
“The Wedding Shop has been helping couples curate their dream wedding gift list for over three decades and we've seen the popularity of gifts change throughout the years - from your classic silverware and heirloom pieces to unique travel experiences,” says Hayley Rorrison, wedding gift expert from The Wedding Shop.
“In 2024, we’ve seen the landscape of popular wedding gifts shifting towards elevating the joy of hosting. Think pizza ovens for alfresco gatherings, contemporary air-fryers for effortless entertaining, and colourful cookware to add that extra pop to every culinary creation.”
Gifts That Keep on Giving
“Subscription gifts are also on the rise,” Hayley says when we asked for inspiration on unusual wedding gifts. “From seasonal flower deliveries to artisanal sourdough arriving at your doorstep, couples are seeking gifts that infuse newlywed life with those little moments of joy.”
Finding an Unusual Wedding Gift
When you’re looking for a rare wedding gift, it can be tempting to buy something whacky, but consider if you’d actually want it yourself. Don’t buy something quirky for the sake of it that will just end up gathering dust.
For a unique wedding gift that the couple will love, Hayley sayd: “Our top tip is to always focus on the couple's interests, aspirations and needs. Consider what they enjoy doing together, and how can your gift elevate this?
“Consider practical yet personal items, such as a sleek coffee maker for the latte connoisseur, or a robe set to add a touch of luxury to the everyday, if they love going on spa breaks.
“ Experiences they'll remember are always a hit, such as a ticket to a concert or a couples massage.
“Gifts that give back are failsafe too, such as supporting their favourite charity or a gift from an artisanal maker,” Hayley adds.
Looking for more wedding gift ideas? Here are our favourite wedding gifts.
