Wedding shopping is difficult. Finding the perfect present that suits the happy couple without it being tacky is a task unto itself. When the couple register at a certain shop, thus giving you a much appreciated helping hand in guiding you to what they want, the task unfortunately is anything but helpful.
Natalie has registered at Debenhams and her wish list is based on homely things – kitchen, bathroom and bedroom. Already I am at a loss.
Firstly what is the appropriate amount to spend on a friend I have not seen since graduation three years ago? £20 seems too cheap and anything over £80 is extortionate. In fact what is the going rate on the average wedding present? As I am a singleton, does this mean that I can halve the budget?
Secondly if I buy four red Ben de Lisi mugs (at £5 each), am I obliged to buy the saucers to complete the set, as well as the teapot?
Thirdly is it wrong to mix and match? So far I cannot decide between the candles, bin (looks pretty classy for something that essential holds rubbish), mugs and vase.
The cheapest thing on the list starts with a £1.80 pillar candle, ending with a Meyer silver 5 piece pots and pan set for £100. Already I know to stay in the shallow end with caution!
The gift is hard to get right because make one mistake and the bride will always remember. My cousin Celia who married an Emirates pilot in Norway six years ago will never forget opening a Body Shop bath set along with a sex coupon from her colleague – who was in her early 30s and in a good job. Now I may be young, career-less and broke but I’m not that cheap!
Presents are almost unheard of in Chinese weddings for the elders give red envelopes containing anything from £30 to £100. Basically they are paying for their seat at the banquet/ reception do but almost always the bride and groom make a profit. Wendie pocketed more than £1,000 at hers But is money the meaningless, cop out?
Obviously Nat has made the effort to go to Debenhams and zap away at all the things she would like. Thus a card containing a couple crumpled notes or a Boots voucher seems tasteless.
Looking at the list I sense that Nat is no longer just the loud and fabulous Queen of the Gays I knew back at university. She will become this domesticated, new age Delia Smith. The clue is in the £7.50 Trivet (what on Earth is one of these?!) and the Tefal one egg frying pan.
Random fact, buying a pan for me is not the most appropriate way of wishing newlyweds well. It’s all to do with Chinese superstition where everything invokes either bad or good luck. If I bought a wok then that represents me predicting a future of tainted misery for her and Matt.
So I am no clearer as to what to buy for the happy couple. Maybe I should close my eyes, drag the cursor across the screen and wherever it lands on I’ll go with. Call me a cheapskate but if it lands on the £100 pots or the £85 micro fibre duvet then it will be best out of 3.
(Call me cruel but if I get married I’m registering at Harrods!)
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