BRONZE BUDGET BRIDE

How to show you got the love without breaking the bank

Summer wedding season may now be well and truly over, but in recent decades autumn and winter weddings have become more and more popular.

With smart-thinking couples planning their nuptials around big holidays such as New Year or Thanksgiving in America and Canada, the autumn’s big breaks in the national calendar are the perfect time to unite friends and family from far and wide.

But what do you bring in tow to show you care? Is it better to go for a feminine-edged gift? Department stores such as House of Fraser have a lovely range, but what about gifts for him? Is there such a thing as a gift that perfectly suits the couple as a whole? Are matching dressing gowns too twee?

So many questions, so little time and money to garner the right answers. One thing is certain – amidst all of these concerns is the growing hole in your pocket (and, potentially, in your mental stability…).

Short of making a scrapbook yourself, it can often feel like staring down the barrel of a very expensive gun when it comes to trying to find great wedding gifts on budget.

One great tip is to focus on a specific area. Wedding lists can be helpful, but even they have to be tailored around the particular store where they are based. If you want to say something special to the bride and groom, you can take inspiration from the items in the list without buying the exact thing.

Luxury dressing gowns may well be a bit too eye-watering…and a bit Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous – so why not go for simple pyjama sets in flannel or cotton? A lovely mix of the intimate and the gently humorous.

Kitchenware is also an excellent choice for gifts to please her and him. Solid, durable, well-designed kitchenware (rather than ‘dining’-ware) is an excellent, and cheaper, choice. Strong Le Creuset casserole dishes in teal and orange shouldn’t set you back any more than £80. That should leave enough money for your morning suit!