Celina Murphy
In recent years, we’ve noticed more and more couples exchanging gifts on the morning of the wedding — a lovely tradition, but one that can quickly start to feel like yet another expense on an already very costly occasion. While some nearlyweds choose to splurge, a meaningful wedding-day gift doesn’t have to come with a four-figure price tag. In fact, some of the most thoughtful presents are the simplest: personal, sentimental and chosen with care rather than extravagance in mind. With that in mind, we’ve rounded up some sweet and stylish wedding gift ideas for your spouse, all coming in at €150 or less — and no great artistic talent required. For a music lover, there's literally nothing more exciting than receiving a personally-curated playlist, created by the one person who knows your taste inside out! If your partner is retro-minded, you can get a custom playlist put onto vinyl, or what about an old-school cassette tape mixtape, like the one that thoughtful groom Patrick made for his bride Lais? He slipped his mix tape into a vintage Walkman, packaged the whole thing up with the original albums and left it on her doorstep. How cute! Homemade gifts are always extra special, so even if you haven't made a scrapbook since you were a Backstreet Boys-obsessed teenager, you should definitely consider stocking up on felt tip pens and craft glue! Your sentimental scrapbook could be a summary of your journey so far, or depict an amazing trip you took together, and can take the form of a collage on canvas if you're quite artistic, or a physical book (find them on Etsy and Amazon). A custom-made accessory is a lovely way to give your spouse something personal without necessarily splashing out on a big-ticket gift. It could be something small and sentimental, like a piece of jewellery or a monogrammed handkerchief, but a custom pair of trainers or sunglasses can be a really fun compromise too. Brands like Nike, Vans and Ray-Ban all offer custom services, with prices typically landing somewhere between €100 and €200 depending on the style. You could even add an engraving to make it extra special, just like real groom Eoghan did for his bride Sarah — and if the brand doesn’t offer engraving in-house, a quick Google should point you towards a specialist who can. OK, so if your other half's favourite book is Ulysses by James Joyce, or The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, this may not be a very practical gift idea, but you'd be surprised at the number of affordable first edition books you'll find on sites like eBay and adverts.ie. If a first edition is either beyond your budget or not available, you could also try looking for a signed copy or an old copy with vintage artwork, which could be just as lovely! This one goes for beloved cookbooks and children's books too! We love the idea of celebrating your new spouse with a nod to all of the adventures that are still to come (in the form of delicious alcohol, in this case!). There are two ways to do this one - you can either purchase a nice bottle of Champagne, whiskey, gin or vodka to toast with on your first anniversary, or handpick a couple of bottles of wine or whiskey (ask the seller for tips on which ones will last) and label each one to coincide with a specific anniversary. It's always nice when a gift doubles as a warm welcome to your side of the family, and if your other half is an enthusiastic cook, a family recipe could be perfect! Start by chatting to any relatives who are superstars in the kitchen, and ask if they have a recipe to offer (bonus points if your partner has already tasted and loved the dish!). Check before putting the recipe in a frame, as your relative might want to keep it a family secret. Other options include rolling it up in a scroll with a pretty ribbon, or using it to start a brand new cookbook (again, Etsy and Amazon have great options) or recipe box. If your other half is obsessed with their pet (and I don't know a single pet owner who isn't!), then a custom artwork or bespoke design is an inspired wedding-day gift! If the pet in question isn't able to attend the wedding, a gorgeous painting, illustration or accessory will mean that the little fluffball is still part of the big day! Lots of artists on Etsy offer custom pet portraits and bespoke jewellery design, so there are plenty of styles and price ranges to choose from. Got a diary entry from the day you met, a receipt from your first date or the ticket stub from your first gig or train journey together? This will make a perfect wedding-day gift! You can either frame it (enlist the help of a professional framer if you don't trust yourself to make it look wall-worthy!), or purchase or DIY a memory box that you can keep adding to over the years. You could also frame your vows (if they're not a surprise) or a reading from the ceremony. A thoughtful gift for your other half on your wedding day doesn't necessarily have to be something they'll cherish forever. We love the idea of a curated wedding survival kit, with their favourite drinks, sweets and a watch to make sure he turned up on time! Other options include a nice umbrella (if rain is forecast), a phone charger (if you know they'll forget theirs) and their favourite snack. You can also steal ideas from our emergency kit checklist! A handwritten note to your spouse on the morning of the wedding is one of the simplest and sweetest gifts you can give — and it doesn’t have to cost a thing. A few heartfelt words about how you’re feeling, a favourite memory, or what you’re looking forward to in married life can become one of the most treasured keepsakes from the day, something they’ll hold onto long after the celebrations are over. Blown the budget already? Read this post to save over €1,000 by curbing your last-minute spending!
Image by This Modern Love via One Fab Day1. A Homemade Mix Tape
Image by Studio Brown via One Fab Day2. A Sentimental Scrapbook
Image by SOSAC via One Fab Day3. A Custom-Made Accessory
Image by Paula O'Hara via One Fab Day4. A First Edition Copy of their Favourite Book
Image by Studio Brown via One Fab Day5. A Bottle of Fancy Tipple for Future Anniversaries
Image by Folklore Photography via One Fab Day6. A Family Recipe Box
Image by Whims and Joy via One Fab Day7. A Gift That Includes Their Favourite Furry Friend
Image by Ivana Milchanska via One Fab Day8. A Framed Keepsake
Image by Brianna Parks Photography via One Fab Day9. A Wedding-Day Survival Kit
Image by Francis Meaney Wedding Photographer via One Fab Day10. A Sweet, Heartfelt Note
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