What’s next for weddings? The Wedding Shop reveals all

Multi-award-winning gift list service, The Wedding Shop has revealed new data, showing the trends that are shaping weddings and couples' gift lists for 2026. Based on information from over 80,000 couples gathered since 2019, the leading personal gift service has looked at changes in how couples are choosing to celebrate, and how their dearest and nearest are gifting them to mark their special day with some surprising results.

In terms of the celebrations themselves, more couples are opting for intimate gatherings, with the average guest list declining from 120 in 2019 to 108 in 2025. However, when it comes to presents, wedding guests are splashing out. Average spend on a gift for a happy couple is up almost 20% from pre-Covid data. Couples in 2019 saw their guests spend an average of £106, but over the past few years, against a backdrop of a global pandemic and a cost-of-living crisis in the UK, this has grown to an average of £128.

Gifting Guru, Liza Baucher at The Wedding Shop commented "Couples are starting to rethink what really matters to them on their wedding day. As a result, we're seeing more brides and grooms favour smaller, more intimate celebrations that feel truly special and meaningful to them.

It's more important than ever for couples to have a day that genuinely reflects who they are as a couple and feels personal to them. Gone are the days of inviting everyone simply out of obligation, it really is 'your day, your way'. If that means not inviting extended family you rarely see or the entire office, then that's exactly how it should be. The same mindset now applies to wedding gift lists, with couples choosing gifts that are thoughtful, intentional, and aligned with the life they're building together. Not just practical items, but gifts that make life extra special.

With wedding guest lists becoming more intimate and focused on a couple's nearest and dearest, those guests are often happier to spend more on gifts that truly celebrate the couple." The gifts that are being added to lists also show evidence of a broader change as to how couples live, entertain and express their personal style. The data also shows a shift in trends when it comes to Gen Z brides and grooms vs. the millennials who've married before them.

Gift lists are evolving away from the traditional "first home" foundations, such as classic, timeless tableware and statement luxury electricals chosen all at once. In 2019, the top 15 most-purchased gifts included a Sonos speaker, a Dualit hand mixer, a Dyson fan, a Dyson vacuum and a slow cooker. By 2025, these items no longer appear in the top 15. Instead, electricals remain a key category, with gifting shifting towards more contemporary, lifestyle-led choices, most notably the rise of the on-trend air fryer.

Instead, Gen Z couples are favouring gifts that allow them to add more personality and style to their homes or gardens. Outdoor entertaining is a huge focus, with terrazzo glassware, barbecues, decorative serveware and festoon lights all featuring, none of which were on the list in 2019. Couples are also drifting from clean, safe and traditional textiles, to more bold and expressive prints. In 2019, simple white tableware and neutral bed linen featured heavily, while 2025 sees gingham or striped linen and scalloped edge pillowcases trend. The Wedding Shop has been supporting couples for over three decades and aims to make the wedding gifting process seamless and enjoyable.

More information on their services is available at weddingshop.com or at instagram.com/theweddingshopuk.