Of course this is a massive generalization but a predicament that I’m sure most people who have found themselves on this post, after frantically searching Google for a good few hours have experienced.
1. Vouchers
Now this one you really can’t go wrong with. Vouchers are the perfect way to show you have put some thought into the gift and haven’t just opted for the easy option of giving money. However, it also leaves it open enough for the recipient to choose something they really want. There are numerous different voucher options readily available on the market, which can create a bit of a minefield when it comes to choosing which one to get! The first thing to consider is the person who you are giving to – what are their interests? What are their hobbies? What would they consider a treat? Once you’ve established these initial pointers you should have a better idea of where to head first. Something you most certainly can’t go wrong with is a holiday! Who doesn’t like a holiday? Now this doesn’t mean you have to go booking an all-inclusive week in the Mediterranean, you can instead just make a small gesture which will help towards them booking that first getaway together. Holidays are a very personal thing so try to keep it as broad as possible. A lovely idea is to purchase a voucher towards a stay in a cozy cottage or apartment ideal for two, Cornwall is a perfect example of a location exuding both relaxation and romance! If the couple are more of the quirky kind, then you could instead provide a voucher for a yurt or a glamping pod – a novel take on alternative UK accommodation. A holiday voucher also makes a great opportunity to collaborate with other family members or friends to push up the value of the overall gift. Another fault-proof voucher idea is of the edible kind! You really can’t go wrong with food. This is also a great way to demonstrate you’ve really given it some thought. Purchase a voucher for their favorite tea room, café, or restaurant so they can indulge on your behalf. Have your recipients recently moved into their first home? For many young couples, this is either the case, or most definitely on the cards sometime soon. A voucher for a large homeware or department store will allow them to start kitting out their new pad to their own tastes. Last but not least, is a simple cinema voucher! Allow the couple to rekindle that first date romance by heading out to watch a film and consume too much popcorn.
2. Hamper
If you are feeling crafty, then this can be a fun project for you. A hamper is a good choice as you can tailor it to the exact requirements of the couple you are making it for. All you need is a large, plain wicker basket and then the content to go inside is completely your choice. Head to your local charity shop and select some miss-matched vintage china, pair it with some cutlery, add scones, cream, jam, and strawberries and you have yourself a delightful cream tea hamper. If you want to make it that extra bit special, you could also head to your local farm shop and select some other goodies such as crackers, cheese, chutneys, and crisps to turn it into more of an exquisite picnic. Do the couple you’re buying for, just need an excuse to take a step back from everyday tasks and enjoy a night of relaxation? If this is true, then pack them up their very own ‘movie night in’. Select a few DVDs (classics, rom-coms, and horrors are fairly safe choices), choose some indulgent snacks and refreshments such as popcorn, chocolate, sweets, and a bottle of wine ‒ you could also even add some extra special bubble bath and a few scented candles.
3. Overnight Baby-sitting
If the couple you are buying for has a young child, then this can seem like the most simple of ideas to you, yet to the recipient it can be the best gift they receive! Get creative on your computer and put together a personalized voucher offering your baby sitting services for one night – providing them with some well-deserved time out to spend how they wish.
4. Experience Day
This is for the more adventurous and fun-loving couple! There are a whole host of websites out there these days offering experience days in just about everything and anything; from high tea at a castle to a hot air balloon ride ‒ you think of it, they can probably provide it. Now this makes your job very easy, have a scroll through a website such as Virgin Experience Days, filtering the features to ‘gifts for couples’ and select an experience you think they would both love. A truly unique idea and something anyone would love to receive.
5. Illustration of Their House
Notonthehighstreet is a fantastic place to start when faced with a difficult gift buying scenario. They offer wonderfully unique products from all spectrum of the market allowing you to choose something that little bit different. A lot of young couples will have just moved into their first house together, so why not get a hold of a photo of said house and have it created into a perfectly posed illustration for them to proudly hang on their wall.
6. Travel-Related Items
Does the couple you’re buying for, love to travel? Do they have a serious case of wanderlust? Then why not cater to this with your gift-giving. Either have a quick scour online where you will be able to pick up a large world map, then all you need to do is buy a frame large enough to comfortably and securely accommodate the map. When putting the map inside the frame you want to, however, ensure you remove the pane of glass. Wrap the framed map up with a little bag of drawing pins and small note instructing them to place a pin whenever they travel to a new location. Alternatively, you can assist with their travel planning. There are endless amount of fun books for people yearning to travel and explore new places such as 36 Hours 125 Weekends in Europe, so why not choose a few and wrap them up together to give them some inspiration and help send them on their way. Featured photo credit: Gopix Database via gopixdatabase.com