Gifts, Guidelines & Good Intentions: How We Really Feel About Wedding Presents in 2025
Gifts, guidelines and good intentions: we're lifting the lid on wedding gifting expectations, etiquette and evolution.
From bespoke ceremonies to micro-weddings and multi-day celebrations abroad, the modern wedding has come a long way from tradition. But while the wedding industry reinvents itself each year, one pressure seems stubbornly unchanged: the wedding gift.
So we asked 2,000 UK adults how they really feel about giving wedding presents in 2025. Are guests feeling the pinch? Is the gift registry dead? And just how much are people actually spending?
Wedding season… or not?
Despite summer being peak wedding season, our research suggests 2025 might be quieter than usual for some guests — especially younger ones. Over half (55%) of UK residents aren’t attending any weddings this year, and more than a third (36%) are going to just one or two.
Rising costs might be to blame. One in three people (30%) told us they’ve had to decline a wedding invite this year due to the associated costs — a figure that rises to 38% among Gen Z.
This reflects a wider cost-of-living trend playing out across the UK. While essentials take priority, milestone celebrations like weddings remain emotionally important — but many are attending fewer and being more selective about where their money goes.
So, how much are people actually spending on wedding gifts?
The biggest takeaway? Most people are sticking to mid-range gifts despite the cost-of-living crisis.
The most common spend is £25–£49 (33%)
Fewer than 3% spend over £150 Even among the highest earners (household income £75k+), only 5% gift above £150
Interestingly, over half (55%) say they’re not cutting back — even as they cut back on dining out and live entertainment elsewhere. Wedding gifting, it seems, still matters.
That said, two in five (44%) admit they are spending less this year — and 60% agree there’s unspoken pressure to spend more than they can afford on wedding gifts.
This loyalty to gifting ties into a wider behavioural shift: emotional consumerism. In 2025, people are prioritising spending that feels meaningful — and few things carry more emotional weight than celebrating a friend or loved one’s marriage.
Confused about how much to give? You're not alone
More than 60% of guests say they’re unsure how much is appropriate to spend, and one in three say they’ve felt judged for the amount they gave.
So what do couples actually expect? Well… not as much as you might think.
Most couples (29%) say they don’t expect a gift at all
Just under one third (29%) expect cash to help cover their honeymoon, although among 25–34-year-old couples, that expectation rises to 42%
But 45% of guests think it’s unreasonable to expect a honeymoon contribution
There’s clearly a disconnect here — especially when you factor in destination weddings. Over a third (33%) of guests say they wouldn’t feel obliged to give a gift if they’re already covering travel and accommodation costs.
Gift registries: thoughtful planning or pointless tradition?
Think creating a wedding list will guarantee you get what you want? Think again. Our research indicates that there is no point creating a gift registry as 58% of guests admit they don’t stick to the gift registry, and 76% would prefer to “go rogue” and choose something personal.
Gifting habits by star signs?
Interestingly, Libras and Virgos are the most likely to follow a couple’s requests — perhaps unsurprising given their reputations for thoughtfulness and order. Meanwhile, Sagittarians are the biggest registry rebels (65%), in line with their spontaneous spirit.
Women are significantly more likely than their partners to take charge of wedding gifting — with 66.69% handling the organisation and nearly half (47%) footing the bill. This disparity reflects a wider gender dynamic: women continue to shoulder the emotional and logistical load of gifting, in line with broader research into how emotional labour is typically distributed within relationships and households.
Gifting, regifting… or skipping it altogether?
Some guests are turning up empty-handed by choice — and income might be a factor:
28% of high earners (over £75k) have attended without gifting
29% of men admit to doing so, compared to 19.19% of women
Then there’s the rise of the regift: 28% of Millennials admit to regifting something they were given at a wedding — possibly a sign of more sustainable gifting habits.
Weddings without an invite: do guests still give?
It turns out yes — over half of Brits (51%) say they’d happily send a gift even if they’re not invited.
Geminis are the most generous in this regard (56%)
The “Silent Generation” tops the age groups, with 70.27% sending gifts despite not attending
The five biggest stresses when buying a wedding gift
Finding something personal and thoughtful – 32%
Financial pressure – 27%
Not knowing how much to spend – 27%
Meeting expectations – 26%
Worrying someone else will buy the same thing – 23%
So what would help? According to our respondents:
A shortlist of stylish but affordable gift ideas – 41%
Availability of gifts under £50 – 39%
A “can’t go wrong” guide – 26%
Personality-based guides (e.g. foodie, romantic) – 23%
Pre-wrapped, direct delivery – 21%
Next-day delivery – 19%
Cultural trends: practicality and generosity win out
Across cultures, functionality matters. Cash gifts are especially common in Indian, Pakistani, Chinese, Arab and Irish communities. Meanwhile, household items remain top for Bangladeshi, African and Caribbean respondents.
White British guests are the most likely to follow a gift registry — though as we’ve seen, this still isn’t guaranteed.
Whether it’s cash in an envelope, a carefully chosen bouquet, or a last-minute gift, what really matters is the thought behind the gesture.
As Jessica Henderson, our Senior Gifting & Lifestyle Category Manager at Bloom & Wild, puts it:
“As weddings evolve, so do expectations around gift-giving. Our research shows that while many guests feel financial pressure, the desire to give something meaningful hasn’t disappeared — it’s just being expressed in more personal, practical ways.”
So if you’re feeling unsure about what to give, know this: there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. But a little thoughtfulness — and perhaps a beautiful bunch of flowers — can go a long way. Or browse our selection of gifts by post, deliverable throughout the UK.
Methodology
Bloom & Wild commissioned Censuswide to carry out the research for this study, which was conducted with 2,001 UK nationally represented consumers. The data was collected between 18.06.2025 - 20.06.2025. Censuswide abides by and employs members of the Market Research Society and follows the MRS code of conduct and ESOMAR principles. Censuswide is also a member of the British Polling Council. Full data set can be found here.