London - Wedding gift lists are hitting the £20 000 (about R435 000) mark as couples seek out ever more luxurious presents.
With most brides and grooms already owning essentials like toasters, they are requesting such high-end presents as £3 000 TVs, sound systems and home gym apparatus.
The research by John Lewis also shows that ceremonies are becoming less formal. Fussy “meringue” dresses are falling out of favour to be replaced by simpler, cheaper numbers.
Big hats are also losing popularity with sales of smaller fascinators having surged 27 percent over the past year. And bow ties have outsold cravats by a margin of 40 to one over the past five years.
Sara Allbright, gift buying chief at the John Lewis chain, said: “There is no doubt that couples are becoming more adventurous with what they put on their gift lists. Rather than the traditional mainstays such as a canteen of cutlery or a carriage clock, we are seeing more statement pieces that reflect the personalities and interests of the couple.
“Some have been known to have two lists, one for the classic essentials and key investment items and the other for quirky fun things that they don’t necessarily need.”
A report issued by the department store said lists were increasing in value “with some couples including gift selections worth £20 000”.
It said customers were choosing what they wanted rather than needed when, only five years ago, basics had been at the top of the agenda.
The report added: “The number of couples moving in together before they tie the knot has increased by almost 30 percent in the past decade. With this change John Lewis has seen a development towards ‘everyday luxury’ items replacing the traditional essentials. Households are choosing to upgrade what they already have or indulge in items that suit their lifestyle – with smart TVs, fitness, health products and kitchen gadgets at the top of the contemporary list.
“TVs are now the most extravagant items on wedding gift lists. The most expensive model requested has been £3 000.
“The Crock-Pot digital slow cooker, is the number one choice in the cookware category. Other popular food preparation items include the NutriBullet and the George Foreman Grill, suggesting that quick, healthy food is more of a priority for today’s couples.” By contrast, toasters, stick blenders and panini makers have become less popular.
The top three selling quirky items were bee houses, tents and dumbbells. Other unusual choices included telescopes, drills, jigsaw puzzles and 3D glasses.
John Lewis said the spending does not end when the cork is popped on the last bottle of wedding fizz. “Enjoying a luxurious honeymoon after the wedding is still important for newlyweds too, with the average cost of a honeymoon now worth £2 951 and the average duration being 13 days,” it said.
“The Maldives, Mauritius and Sri Lanka are the top three destinations of choice for John Lewis customers, with most booking their holiday ten months before their nuptials.”
Daily Mail