While there’s no obligation to, nearlyweds often decide to buy their spouse-to-be a gift for the wedding day, to sum up the love they feel and convey the emotion of the occasion. We’ve rounded up a few of our favourite gifts that will add a real wow factor to your love story…
SOUNDS GOOD
You don’t need to be an epic musician to bring musically minded romance into your relationship. Thanks to Lark – which composes tailor-made, personalised songs – you can bring a smile to your loved one’s face, a tear to their eye and a toe-tapping beat to the dance floor. Lark’s team of award-winning writers, musicians and producers have worked with the likes of Alicia Keys, Amy Winehouse, Sia and Sam Smith, and can collaborate with couples to craft a completely bespoke song from scratch. The songwriting process starts with interviews to learn everything about you as a couple – your relationship, how you met, your most treasured memories and moments, funny in-jokes and favourite things, as well as your favourite types of music.
They will then work with you to create a unique and personal track, recorded by a professional singer to a commercial standard which can be played or performed live on the day. Imagine surprising your fiancé, wowing your guests and maybe even making your first dance or the walk down the aisle even more memorable with your very special soundtrack.
DATE NIGHT REINVENTED
Celebrate the ‘just married’ phase by elevating your date night experience. We love these xxxxx from A Twist of Date, a website that aims to eliminate the planning and focuses on the fun of dating your partner. With easy and straightforward downloads, couples can access a whole array of date night activities at a fraction of the cost of going out. Choose from activities such as Cold Case Files, where you have to work together to solve a crime, or our favourite, the choice of Escape Rooms (from the comfort of your own home!). With everything you need, including 17 pages of clues, which form six puzzles to be solved in order to escape, it’s a fun twist on your average date.
Not just about whiling away an evening together, the thought-out dates also strengthen bonds and help you open up (and share a laugh!). We also love the 105 Deep Conversation Starters, which will help spark fascinating and thought-provoking conversations, helping to deepen your connection with each other.
atwistofdate.co.uk
LISTEN UP
The way we record and cherish memories has changed, and we’re absolutely in love with this innovative idea from Story Locker. A new and unique way to create a digital legacy, the podcast-recording service means couples can tell their love story in their own voices, to listen back to and share with friends and family forever.
You’ll be interviewed by one of Story Locker's professional interviewers (the likes of whom have experience working at the BBC, Radio One, The Guardian and more), which is then edited with sound effects and perfectly curated music to create a studio-quality podcast.
Perhaps you’ll create your own to surprise and delight your partner, or the two of you could craft your podcast together to include memories of the big day as well as how you met, the engagement and everything else that weaves its way into your love story.
storylocker.co.uk
MEANINGFUL MUSIC
Whether it’s the tune that was playing on the radio when your eyes first met, the song that was the soundtrack to your proposal or the music you’ve chosen for your first dance, chances are you have a song that means a lot to you as a couple. A novel way to commemorate this meaningful music is via soundwave art, which takes ‘your song’ and creates the soundwave graphic, printed on quality paper and framed so you have a musical memento forever.
Opt for a digital addition for an extra-cool touch, so when you hold your phone up to the picture, ‘your song’ is played through Spotify. Not only will it look striking on your wall, but it’s easy to relive those first dance or ‘Will you marry me?’ moments at the touch of a button.
notonthehighstreet.com
THIS IS US
A beautiful alternative to a photo album, we’re lusting over the ‘Our Love Story’ video album from Nostalgias Delights. With a beautifully matte-finished front cover, it looks every part the luxe photo album, but open the cover and you’ll reveal a seven-inch display screen, which will start playing your personalised video. Bringing your memories to life, the album provides up to four hours of video playback, has 4GB of memory, built-in speakers and is easily chargeable using the provided USB cable.
One of our favourite features is that it’s easy to upload new videos – meaning you could have it pre-loaded with a loving message to your spouse-to-be on the morning of your wedding, and then add your wedding video when the big day is over, leaving you with cherished memories that are easy to watch over and over again.
nostalgiasdelights.com
BOX OF DELIGHTS
Devon based Bespoke + Local offers a truly personal service, curating handmade gift boxes to meet the wishes and preferences of the lucky recipient. As a result, no two boxes are ever the same, with the hand-chosen selections made after a 30 minute consultation.
Lovingly presented with sustainable packaging, the boxes can include items such as local artwork, textiles, ceramics, wooden homeware, leather gifts, natural skincare and artisan décor. Add to that the finest produce from local suppliers (think bottled cocktails, wine and chocolate) and you'll have a gift box showcasing some of Devon's most impressive artisanal producers to present to your loved one, which is sure to stir sweet memories of you Devon wedding long after the I dos.
words Lucy Lawrence
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