Best wedding gifts 2025: present ideas for newlywed couples

If you’re going to a wedding in 2025, you might be wondering whether to give the happy couple a cash gift, an ‘experience’ or a more traditional present to unwrap on their big day.

We surveyed 1,180 people who had attended weddings or civil partnerships to find out what gifts they gave, and we also asked those who were married to share their own wedding experiences.

Below, we've listed the best ideas for wedding gifts from our experts and readers.

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Small appliances

They may be small by definition, but a newly married couple may find the cost of buying these essentials soon racks up. Here are our expert gift picks.

Matching designer kettle and toaster set

We like: Matching sets complement kitchen decor
We don’t like: Most homeowners will already have them

Matching kettle and toaster sets are a popular choice, and newlyweds may love this stylish, retro-chic Dualit Lite set that will create a sleek and unified look for their kitchen countertop. 

Whatever your budget, you'll find great options in our guide to the best kettle and toaster sets.

Read our review of the Dualit Lite JKT43 and Dualit Lite 26205 DLT2Pa or check prices for the kettle below:

Ooni Karu 12 Multi-Fuel pizza oven

We like: A cool and unique present
We don’t like: Can be expensive

A pizza oven makes an ideal wedding present for creating a ‘dining out at home’ experience, perfect for anyone who enjoys hosting friends and family.

The Ooni Karu 12 Multi-Fuel pizza oven features a wide opening that allows guests to watch their 12-inch pizza cook. This model enables you to cook with wood logs, charcoal briquettes, or propane gas (with an additional attachment).

Read our review of the Ooni Karu 12 Multi-Fuel Pizza Oven and other best pizza ovens, or check prices below:

Kenwood stand mixer

We like: Perfect for keen bakers
We don’t like: Tricky to store in small kitchens

A statement appliance may well see the couple through years of food prepping together. Several survey respondents said their Kenwood appliance had lasted decades – one was still in use after 40 years.

The Kenwood Titanium Chef Baker has attachments that are easy to slot on and handy features such as integrated weighing scales, so you can add your ingredients straight to the bowl and save on washing up

Read our review of the Kenwood Titanium Chef Baker and other best stand mixers, or check prices below:

Ninja Foodi MAX air fryer

We like: Quick and healthy cooking
We don’t like: Takes up a lot of space

A decent air fryer can make a great wedding gift, offering effortless cooking to help busy couples save time.

The Ninja Foodi MAX AG551UK health grill and air fryer can cook all manner of food using functions as diverse as air frying, baking and roasting. Plus, it has a ‘smart cooking system’ to remove guesswork for better results.

Read our review of the Ninja Foodi MAX AG551UK and other best air fryers or check out prices below:

DeLonghi Piccolo XS EDG210.R

We like: Makes hot and cold drinks
We don’t like: Pricey pods

With the ability to make over 40 different hot and cold drinks, this DeLonghi Piccolo coffee machine is a fantastic wedding gift. The 0.8-litre water tank is a good size for couples (rather than large households), and it won’t take up too much space on the kitchen counter.

While it lacks a built-in milk frother, you can buy milk pods to create creamy cappuccinos, and the machine also features a convenient drip tray to catch splashes. It’s a fairly affordable option and often discounted, although the milk pods are quite expensive.

Read our DeLonghi Piccolo XS EDG210.R review to see how this model fared in our lab. For alternatives to add to your shortlist, see the best coffee machines.

Panasonic SD-YR2550SXC bread maker

We like: Convenient, fresh, warm bread
We don’t like: No viewing window to check on the loaf

Bread-lovers will appreciate the 31 programs and 63 recipes offered by this Panasonic bread maker. Rustle up everything from fresh sourdough and brioche to pizza dough and cakes.

The device includes a delay timer (up to 13 hours), a quick bake mode, and auto dispensers for nuts, raisins, and yeast. Panasonic claims that two built-in sensors optimise each program at every stage, and the kneading blade works alongside specially designed ribs in the bread pan to achieve the 'ideal texture' for your bread. 

See how we score this breadmaker with our Panasonic SD-YR2550SXC review. Alternatively, explore our guide to the best bread makers.

Samsung Jet 85 Complete cordless vacuum cleaner

We like: Lightweight and versatile
We don’t like: More basic than expensive models

Some cordless models are now good enough to dispense with the need for a corded model, as well as being light, easy to use and compact – perfect for saving space without compromising on cleaning power.

One option is the light (2.7kg) and reasonably priced Samsung Jet 85 Complete VS20C8524TB, which also comes with tools, including an LED brush to highlight dusk hiding in dark areas.

You can read our review of the Samsung Jet 85 Complete VS20C8524TB and other best cordless vacuum cleaners, or check prices below:

Looking to buy a present for mum, grandma or a partner? See our suggestions for the best gifts for women.

Cookware and kitchen accessories

If you’re planning to peruse a couple's gift list or registry (21% of people surveyed did this), you can't go far wrong with these must-have kitchen and cookware accessories, picked by our experts.

Ninja saucepan set

We like: Dishwasher and oven safe
We don’t like: Some sets have more types of pans

A couple who already own some pans from their previous single lives might not see this as a priority, but they should reconsider. New pans in various sizes that work tirelessly, whatever you're cooking, are something newlyweds will appreciate for years to come.

This elegant three-piece Ninja set with glass lids is oven-safe and can be cleaned in the dishwasher.

You can read our review of the Ninja Zerostick saucepan set and other saucepans and saucepan sets, or check prices below:

Ninja Foodi StaySharp Knife Block

We like: Sharp knives make chopping, slicing and dicing a breeze
We don’t like: Sharpener can only be used with Ninja knives

A great selection of kitchen knives is pivotal to any kitchen setup, especially when you consider how often they'll be put through their paces, from slicing bread to dicing vegetables.

Whether they're reluctant chefs or can't get enough of cooking, a newly married couple will benefit from a good set of knives, such as the Ninja Foodi StaySharp Knife Block. The in-built sharpener also makes this an investment that they can truly appreciate year after year.

You can read our review of the Ninja Foodi StaySharp Knife Block and other best knife sets or check prices below:

A posh bin

We like: A useful gift that most wouldn’t buy for themselves
We don’t like: Some might think it’s a bit trashy

Although a bin might not sound like the most exciting present, top-of-the-range models from the likes of Brabantia and Joseph Joseph might be out of the reach of a couple that's just dropped £20k on a wedding.

However, a pricier bin may offer superior functionality, which is great if they want to up their sustainability credentials without compromising on style.

Read about the Joseph Joseph Totem Max and more of the best kitchen bins, or check current prices below:

Gifts for home

Scented oil diffuser

We like: Diffuses oil and sets the mood with coloured lights
Watch out for: Be sure to pick the style that best suits their home

A scented oil diffuser will help newlyweds transform their home into a relaxing and fragrant sanctuary from the outside world. To use it, you fill the base with water, add some drops of oil, and set how long it will run for until it turns itself off automatically.

This ASAKUKI diffuser has an elegant design and can cycle through several LED colours to set the mood. Plus, it doubles up as a humidifier to tackle dry air in the house. 

A subscription or membership

We like: The gift that keeps on giving
Watch out for: They might love it so much they have to buy it

Whatever the couple’s interests (and your budget), there’ll be a membership scheme to suit, from a £40 The Wine Society membership (‘It has introduced us to some lovely wines,’ said one survey respondent) through to a £3,500 National Art Pass couple’s life membership.

Subscriptions are many and varied, too, including The Cheese Society's Cheese Club subscription (from £38 for a one-off monthly box) or the gift of regular flower deliveries by post from companies including Bloom & Wild (from £20).

Alternatively, give the couple an annual gift subscription of one of our Which? magazines.

A tree or plant to grow

We like: A thoughtful gift that lasts
Watch out for: Make sure they are green-fingered first

Give the happy couple a tree to nurture and grow together as a meaningful and unusual gift that gets better as the years go by (entwined cherry tree, The Present Tree £50).

Or how about a rose? Which? Gardening editor Ceri Thomas says: ‘Our Best Buys include 'Champagne Moment', 'Lets Celebrate' and 'Celebration Time'. Plant in the garden for a memory that will last for years.’

Read our guide on how to buy and grow the best roses.

Memorable gifts

Papier The Mini hardback photo book

We like: They’ll be able to keep it forever
Watch out for: Time-consuming to create

Memorable gifts come in all shapes, sizes and guises. If you're looking for a traditional memorable gift, a printed photo album is certain to be appreciated by everyone who gets to flick through it.

This hardcover book from Papier has up to 40 pages and comes in various colours including white, pink and lilac. On the website, you'll need to upload your favourite photos and arrange them manually. You can also tweak the size of the images and add filters.

See how this service compares to rivals with our guide to the best photo album books.

Money or charitable donation

We like: It definitely won’t be wasted

The average cost of a wedding is £20,700 according to wedding experts Hitched, which may account for why almost half (49%) of respondents in our survey have gifted cash – one person said they’d wanted to ‘ease their financial pressure’, while another said that ‘cash translates to anything they want’.

Each tax year you’re allowed to give a tax free gift to someone getting married or starting a civil partnership, with the amount depending on factors including your relationship to the recipient. 

HMRC determines that this applies to gifts made on the date of the marriage or shortly before (in other words, the couple of weeks leading up to the marriage or civil ceremony).

Donations to a UK-registered charity are tax-free, which is worth knowing if the couple have asked guests to give to a charity instead of being given a gift (6% of people surveyed gifted in this way).

Seek professional help from a financial advisor first as there may be inheritance tax and income tax implications for gifting money.

Inheritance tax planning and tax-free gifts – how to give away money from your estate to reduce your bill, plus what is a ‘potentially exempt transfer’?

Honeymoon help or an ‘experience’

We like: You’ll be gifting them lasting memories
Watch out for: Check the expiration date of experience gifts

Some couples may already live together and have everything they need by way of household items and would rather be given cash to pay for their honeymoon. They may also enjoy an experience while away, such as dog sledding or a scuba diving session, or when they return, such as a cookery class or couple's spa day. 

Almost a third (28%) of survey respondents said they'd contributed to a honeymoon or holiday and an additional 4% had given an experience such as afternoon tea.

What was your most memorable wedding gift?

We asked respondents in our survey if they had ever received a memorable wedding gift. The answers were many and varied – here are just some of them:

• ‘A stay on a boat moored in Antibes harbour for our honeymoon’
• ‘Cutlery, saucepans, ironing board, kitchen scales, food grater, food mincer – all still in use after 60+ years’
• ‘A combined effort by friends to club together to buy a sofa’
• ‘Life membership of the National Trust. It’s for life!’
• ‘Half a lamb through the post!’
• ‘Six glasses with our wedding music printed on (we’re musicians)’
• ‘A first-aid box’
• ‘Years' supply of clingfilm and plastic bags’
• ‘A Hoover refrigerator from my parents. It’s memorable because it’s still working after 53 years’