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Gift Ideas

view down church aisle to Luke and Hannah standing together at the alter. Each church pew has a bunch of bright yellow daffodils tied to them, wrapped in hessian

A Spring wedding and National Trust membership

by Rosie Hurwitz May 3, 2022

On the blog today we’re chatting to newly-weds Hannah, from Cumbria; and Luke, originally from Devon. They met at university where they became good friends and both ended up staying in the city with their respective friends after graduation. They lived just down the road from each other and got together often with friends for Sunday dinner or watching The Apprentice. Eventually, with some “help” (ahem) from their friends, they went on their first coffee date together in April 2018. From then on they saw each other as much as they could. They celebrated their marriage with a beautiful, intimate early Spring wedding and their friends and family all chipped in to a National Trust membership wedding gift via their Patchwork. Read on to hear about their day.

How did you get engaged?

Hannah: We got engaged on January 11th 2020. After I had been at a friend’s house to celebrate her birthday, Luke took me on a walk down to the river. We stopped for a sit down on a bench and Luke got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. I was totally surprised and said yes straight away! Hilariously, a friend had asked me that morning if Luke was going to propose soon and I said no!

What kind of wedding did you plan?

A big, country family wedding in glorious Cumbria with a ceilidh. I wanted to keep it as personal as I could using local businesses and using the help of my friends and family. A family member made my cake (and cupcakes to hand out to people at the church) and my friend did my make up. My Grandad drove us in his car. I always knew I wanted a spring wedding so the date was set for April 2021 so I could have all the daffodils in the world! They are my favourite flower and we ordered 300 to go in jugs and watering cans at the church and venue. As it turned out our wedding was scaled down due to Covid. I can’t even imagine how many we would have needed for a big wedding!

How did Covid affect your wedding day plans?

When Covid first happened, we were both certain that it would all blow over by the following year so I continued planning the wedding as best I could. Even with no shops open, I was eventually able to get my dress which was going to be ready for collection around Christmas time and all seemed fine. However, the doubts started to set in by Winter 2020. Following the Christmas lockdown, we had to wait very patiently for the roadmap to be released and for guidelines on weddings to be announced. It meant we had to start talking about Plan A, B, and even C. When they were finally released, we had to make huge decisions and I was gutted to not have the big wedding I had planned for. We were originally getting married on the 9th April however, we moved it to the 15th so we could have fifteen guests rather than just two.

My big family wedding turned into a small family wedding and it was just as beautiful as I could have hoped for – just without the ceillidh. I wasn’t able to have all my bridesmaids as guests but they all came to see me get ready and help with things on the day where they could. The rules at the time meant that my venue cancelled, so I booked another venue and then 2 weeks before the wedding they also had to cancel our booking. So there were a lot of changes to our plans! After a great deal of googling and searching we worked out we could have a marquee in a field behind our house. My caterer thankfully lived next door to me so she was able to cook the food and transport it up after some menu alternations. We moved all the other bookings to a new date this spring so we can celebrate a first year wedding anniversary with everyone.

Wow that’s a lot of re-organising. Did you and Luke have a first dance?

Luke and I never wanted a first dance but we are looking forward to having a first ceilidhi dance together at our celebration this spring.

What was your favourite part of the day?

Lots of friends and family came to see us arrive at the church and watched the ceremony on zoom too – it made it really special.

Why did you choose Patchwork for your gift registry?

I was googling for wedding gift alternatives as we both had two houses worth of stuff so we wanted something a bit different. Patchwork was ideal as we could make it personal to us.

What did you want to invite guests to contribute to and why?

We asked for money to go towards a lifetime National Trust membership. We both enjoy days out especially with a good coffee shop and you certainly can’t go wrong with a National Trust property! Luke and I are both from areas where lots of land is owned by the National Trust and it means we can enjoy lots of days out together (and free parking).

What was the best bit about using Patchwork?

It was easy to set up and share and I could personalise it with my own choice of pictures and words. I also loved being able to read all the comments from people who had sent gifts. Family and friends loved the idea that they were contributing to something different and how easy it was to use.

Have you bought your National Trust membership yet? What have you enjoyed doing?

Yes! We have already put it to use visiting places on our holiday in summer on the south coast by visiting beaches and houses and of course having lots of coffee and cake!

Thank you so much Hannah and Luke for letting us share in your beautiful Spring wedding day and we’re so glad you are enjoying so many great days out with your National Trust wedding gift! If you’d like to set up your own National Trust membership wedding fund you can do that here. And don’t forget as well as supporting conservation through your membership, Patchwork donates 50% of our own sign up fee to environmental charities. Definitely a gift list that gives back in so many ways!

Here are some of the suppliers that made Hannah & Luke’s day even more special:

Photographer: Andrew Wade Photography
Caterer: Choice Catering, Cumbria
Dress: Song Bird Bridal Boutique
Flowers: Greenwheat
Finishing touches: Roses and Hearts and Wilde and Romantic
Wedding stationery: Poppy Forrest

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Black and white image of Patchwork couple Liz and Jack standing close together with Liz's veil swirled above them, they are kissing

Gift Ideas Patchwork Couples

An Intimate Barn Wedding and a Year of Dates

by Rosie Hurwitz September 22, 2021

written by Rosie Hurwitz

Patchwork Couple Liz & Jack have lived in Ealing for the last 4 years, but originally, are both from the Portsmouth area of the South Coast. They met when they both went home for New Year’s Eve in 2014. Liz says “I got so drunk that I didn’t make it to midnight! But luckily, I had made an impression on Jack and he asked me out on a date back in London. We also coincidentally both work in TV and everybody always assumes that’s how we met, but as fate would have it, it was just right place, right time.” Six and half years later and they have finally tied the knot, despite Covid trying to derail their plans. They join us on the blog to talk about their small but perfectly formed wedding day, a surprise first dance and their date night gift registry Patchwork!

How did you get engaged?

Liz: We eventually got engaged in Richmond Park on the 17th of Feb 2019. I say eventually, because it turned out Jack had made many plans to propose in the months previous, but various things happened which meant it didn’t feel like the right time. We have an ottoman bed, and I was sleeping 2 feet away from the ring for months! Completely unaware. It was a very special moment though when it did happen, it was a beautiful fresh winter day and we had sat down in a really private part of the woodlands, I couldn’t quite believe it was happening but at the same time, I could sort of feel it. Jack was very nervous!

Ah that’s lovely. And what kind of wedding did you plan?

Liz: We planned many, many versions of our wedding, and covid ruined most of them… But we actually managed to get a wedding that was pretty close to our original plan. It was a barn wedding in West Sussex, with the ceremony and reception all in the same place. We had planned to have 100 guests, we had 15. We couldn’t have our reception due to restrictions but we still had a lovely meal after the ceremony, speeches and a first dance.

Jack: When people ask about our wedding now, I always say I wouldn’t change it. It was perfect, even though it wasn’t what we had planned. I only had to make a speech in front of a handful of people, so it was a win for me.

So what’s the story behind your first dance?

Liz: So we did have a first dance – but (due to restrictions) only we were allowed to dance. It was outside in the courtyard and everyone had sparklers, so it was really special. We had originally planned to have an acoustic version of one of our favourite songs played by a band, but as we ended up not having the band, we couldn’t decide on a song for ages. Then, a week before the wedding, it came to me. But I didn’t tell Jack, so he had no clue what song was going to be played!

Jack: Back story – for our whole relationship Liz has made it explicitly clear that she hates Oasis, and our house has been an Oasis free zone for years. I’m not a mega fan or anything, but I didn’t mind them and quite liked playing songs on the guitar.

Liz: So, I thought, what better way of showing Jack how much I love him than to have our first dance to Wonderwall! And now, when I hear the song, I absolutely love it, it’s actually a really romantic song! But it’s still the only Oasis song allowed…

Love that. So, what was your favourite part of the day overall?

Liz: I think we can both say our favourite part was when the ceremony was over and we walked out to our friends and family throwing confetti. It was a relief that we had managed to get married after all the stress of trying to plan during the pandemic, and now we could finally enjoy the day.

Why did you decide to choose Patchwork for your gift registry?

Liz: A friend had used Patchwork and I had always thought it was a great idea. We have enough things and felt like a traditional registry was just asking for things with no real reason. It also felt more polite that just asking for cash! This way, our friends and family could see what we liked doing as a couple and be a part of that, whether that be date nights, dinners, gigs, or trips away.

Patchwork honeymoon fund "A Year of Dates" in iPad

What did you want to ask guests to contribute towards and why?

Jack: We asked for contributions towards our honeymoon, which was at San Luis spa resort in South Tyrol, Italy. So we added things like spa treatments, dinner, drinks. Liz: The scenery at San Luis was breath-taking. We had our own private lodge with hot tub, steam room, all set around a lake. All the food was delicious, organic and seasonal. The staff were incredible – proper 5-star treatment. Being so high up in the mountains, everything just felt clean! It felt like the perfect retreat after the madness of organising the wedding and all the stresses we had come through. Jack: We then added to our Patchwork a variety of experiences and date nights we could enjoy doing in London. Again, things like dinner, drinks, trips to the cinema, gigs. All activities we enjoy doing as a couple.

What was the best bit about using Patchwork?

Liz: It was easy to set up and once it was done, we didn’t really have to think about it. It also allowed friends and family to leave a note which was a really lovely touch. Jack: Everyone seemed to navigate it fine. We didn’t have any complaints and I think people found it easier than having to decide on a specific item.

How have you spent the gift money you received via your Patchwork?

Liz: We spent a lot of the money on experiences on our Italian honeymoon, but we still have some left, as we couldn’t really have many date nights during the first 6 months of our marriage! But now things have opened up again, we’ve had an amazing lunch at the Shard (for our dinner with a view), been to a few festivals and have booked a weekend away to Chewton Glen.

Thanks so much Liz and Jack for sharing these gorgeous words and photos of your wedding day. If you’ve been inspired to set up a gift registry for a Year of Date Nights or a Honeymoon to Italy, why not get started? Or browse 100s of other gift registry ideas and choose your perfect gifts and experiences.

Finally here are some of the amazing wedding suppliers that made Liz and Jack’s day extra special:

Photographer: Danni Beach

Dress: Rosamund by Maggie Sottero, bought at Proposals of Chichester

Suits: DKNY, bought at Moss Bros

Makeup: Georgina Chambers

Venue & Catering: Upwaltham Barns

Florist: Rococo Florist

Honeymoon: San Luis Lodges, South Tyrol, Italy

p.s. you can listen to Liz and Jack’s first dance song on our Spotify playlist, made up of lots of our Patchwork Couples’ first dances.

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Gift Ideas

Cash not cringe. How to ask for money as a wedding gift

by Rosie Hurwitz April 29, 2021

written by Rosie Hurwitz

This is a question that comes up often when talking to engaged couples. “How do you ask for cash instead of wedding gifts?” Or more accurately “How do you politely and nicely ask for money as a wedding gift?”.

So, let’s take a look at the different ways you can ask for cash in place of a wedding gift, answer all of your questions and find the way that works best for you and your guests!

Doesn’t asking for money instead of wedding gifts sound grabby?

Couples are always concerned that they don’t want to appear grabby or ungrateful but the truth is that asking for what you really want is the most thoughtful thing you can do for your guests too!

It makes it so much easier and stress-free for friends to know that they are giving you something that is really wanted and appreciated. Oh and giving a gift of money via Patchwork is friendly, joyful, personal and as one of our kind reviewers once said “It was very easy, I was able to do it all without moving from my chair”. What more could you want?

Isn’t asking for cash as a wedding gift awkward?

Yes asking for cold hard cash for your wedding present is awkward. Asking someone to hand over cash or deposit money in to your bank account is a bit cringey and embarrassing.

But with a Patchwork wedding registry you are not asking for money as your wedding gift. You are asking friends and family to make dreams come true – and that is a completely different thing!

When you invite guests to help you to wake up on your honeymoon to an ocean view, or have alfresco lunch on a beautiful Greek island, or drink cocktails on a rooftop, or hike in the mountains, or visit family in Australia – somehow it doesn’t sound like you’re asking for money.

You are asking for their help to fund experiences that mean the world to you. Experiences that will be treasured forever, and appreciated more than anything else.

Already got too much stuff so just want money?

These days, couples are rarely short of “stuff”, and most would rather enjoy time together as a couple. So asking friends and family for contributions towards a honeymoon fund is still no.1 on most couples’ money wedding gift lists.

Even if you’ve paid for your honeymoon yourselves, you can ask guests for those treats that make it extra special. For example: unlimited cocktails, eating in the best restaurants, sightseeing tours, hotel or flight upgrades, or just a new book to read by the pool!

If travel isn’t a priority, many are saving up for one big item like a deposit on their first home. Guests can chip in towards a new front door, a patch of garden, a window, or just a brick or ten. Other popular wedding registry ideas are money towards a home renovation or garden project. Other experience gifts are a year full of fun date nights, or a National Trust membership.

You can add absolutely anything to your Patchwork wedding gift list to make it totally yours and really personal. Need someone to dog sit while you’re away on honeymoon? Always wanted to try a new hobby, or learn a new skill as a couple? Or perhaps go back to that place you first holidayed together?

The more of yourselves, your plans and your dreams you can inject in to your page the more your friends and family will love visiting it, AND feel really good about gifting you generously!

What if we don’t know where we’re going on honeymoon or exactly how we’ll spend our gift money?

If we’ve learned one thing lately it’s that plans sometimes have to change! Because Patchwork is the most flexible gift registry it doesn’t matter at all if your plans aren’t set in stone. You can even change your mind along the way.

A Patchwork wedding registry is a fully-functioning ‘mood board’ showing guests all the things you’d love them to help fund. It might be a honeymoon, something for the home, charitable contributions or a little bit of each. Everything on your patchwork represents an idea, a dream, or a goal.

Even if these ideas change at a later date, they will help your guests connect with your future plans and feel happy about the gifts they are giving. The reality is that you’ll collect all money direct, in to your bank account and you’ll have complete control over how, when and where you’ll spend it.

Can’t people just deposit money in to our bank account?

Yes they can. If you just want a transaction, and are happy to be quite frank and explicit with bank details and so on, this is certainly an option. However, it does deprive your guests of the fun and enjoyment that comes with gifting – in fact our recent survey found that 50% of wedding guests find it ‘joyless and transactional’, 30% think it’s ‘awkward’ and another 10% actually find it ‘quite rude’.

The happy and satisfied feeling that comes with knowing you are bringing joy to someone you care about is completely removed when it’s a simple cash transaction. It can feel like an emotionless donation of money, which whilst might be practical, isn’t celebratory or personal. It also leaves the person sending the money completely clueless as to how it will be spent, or what it will mean to you, and it makes it hard for them to convey their good wishes along with their gift.

What about old-fashioned cash in an envelope or a wedding fund money box?

If you want to go old-school you can leave a discreet money box on a table in your venue and hope that guests come prepared! You’re taking your chances a little here hoping that people have access to cash. Or they’ll need to make the cheques out in the right names (do people even use cheques any more?!). You might possibly also spend a bit of time worrying about money going missing or knowing who’s given you what.

This is a traditional way of giving money wedding gifts in many cultures. However, cash is becoming far less used generally and with security issues and recent Covid concerns it’s perhaps a less popular option today.

Cash without the cringe.

People often agonise about how to ask for money without offending anyone or seeming rude. A lot of the “money poems” out there that are designed to remove the embarrassment. But they actually create it by drawing attention to the fact that you are indeed, asking for money! If you start with.. “let’s get the awkward bit out of the way” or “please don’t think we’re rude” you’re really giving the impression that there is something awkward or that you are being rude.

With a Patchwork registry this whole issue magically disappears. At no point are you having to say “we’re asking for money” because you’re kind of not! You’re simply showing your guests your joint dreams and plans. You’re inviting them to contribute in a way that’s meaningful, personal and suited to every budget. It’s seamless, joyful, secure and is without the teeniest bit of embarrassment or awkwardness!

What if we really don’t want any wedding gifts?

As with most of our Patchwork couples, the vast majority of people who are planning a wedding already live together and have all the household items they need. In fact in many cases couples are blending together two homes so possibly have double the amount they’ll ever need!

Some couples have told us they aren’t setting up a registry because they don’t want any gifts at all. They then come back to Patchwork two weeks before the wedding in a slight panic because everyone is demanding to know what they can get them! Or worse, they don’t set up a wedding gift list. This ends up with all kinds of random kitchenware and bedlinen sets that end up occupying cupboard and drawer space for years to come.

If there’s really nothing you’d love and you’d rather not receive any gifts at all, how about accepting donations on behalf of a charity or voluntary group? You can collect money direct via your patchwork gift list and add patches for different charitable causes. And your friends and family can still leave lovely messages of congratulations for you. Then once you’ve received all of your wedding cash contributions you can send to the charities you have chosen and get a huge dose of feeling good!

Asking for what you really want – nicely.

In summary, asking for cash as a wedding gift is kinder to the planet (less waste). It’s more practical for your guests (no shopping stress) and more fun for you (honeymoon here we come!) More than any other occasion in life – a wedding is a time when you really can be honest about what you want. Enjoy showing everyone your plans, knowing that they really do want to treat you both to something special. So don’t be shy.. have a play around with some of our honeymoon fund or wedding registry templates and see which ones inspire you!

It’s easy to share your page via a unique URL and then all you have to do is sit back and see the cash contributions and lovely messages come rolling in! All gifts are logged in your account and you’ll have names and emails for all contributors. Once your wedding day is over you can send thanks via your patchwork page to everyone who chipped in – you can even send photos of you on your honeymoon / in your new home / or on your friend-funded adventures.

So join the 100,000 (and counting) happy Patchwork people from all around the world by starting your page today! Questions? We’re real people and we’re here every day to help at [email protected] or over on our LiveChat.

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woman painting a piece of art on canvas up against the wall

Gift Ideas

Top 10 wedding gift list ideas 2021

by Rosie Hurwitz March 31, 2021

written by Rosie Hurwitz

Want to set up a wedding gift registry but don’t want traditional gifts? Also not sure about post-Covid travel restrictions? Like most couples you’d probably rather ask for cash as a wedding gift and put it towards something you’d really love. Here’s the top ten wedding gift list ideas Patchwork couples are asking guests to chip in to via their cash gift lists this year. We promise you won’t find these on an Amazon wedding registry!

1. A campervan

The great thing about being gifted a campervan on your wedding gift registry is it puts you in control of the when and where of your honeymoon travel! It is the ultimate wedding gift for flexible, spontaneous getaways. And is just what we all need right now. Just think, throwing your stuff in the van at a moment’s notice and heading off for a weekend of adventure – it is the dream.

A whole year of mini-moons perhaps? Whether you decide to staycation in your local area or head across Europe. The options to explore new places together are endless. And there’s nothing more exciting than heading off on the open road. Firstly, just pack some good music, then plenty of snacks and a of course a sense of adventure! And of course, your four legged friend can join you too.

First, you set up a campervan Patchwork gift registry. Next, show your friends and family the campervan of dreams that they can help fund piece by piece. Whether it’s a glow up of the interior, putting some petrol in the tank or chipping in towards some cosy bedding, everyone can choose how to help.

You can even add non-financial gifts. For example, invite people to give you tips on great places to visit or add some road trip songs to your playlist!

Best of all, Patchwork doesn’t hold your funds. This means you can put down a deposit on your dream campervan as you receive the cash gifts. Soon your guests will be waving you off on the road trip of your dreams. And you can send pics via your Patchwork account to say thanks for helping you on your way!

2. A piece of art

If this year has taught us anything it’s the importance of making our homes beautiful spaces to relax and unwind in. You possibly have all the toasters, towels and mugs you’ll ever need. However, a unique piece of art isn’t something you can treat yourselves to every day. Inviting guests to contribute towards an artwork that will take pride of place in your home is a special wedding gift that will remind you of your loved ones every time you look at it.

Whether it’s oil, acrylic or pastels, a timeless classic, or something contemporary – a piece of art is a very personal gift that will bring happy memories and give joy for many years to come. We usually think of art as something to hang on a wall inside but another option is to look at adding a garden sculpture to your wedding gift list. In addition, we’ve also seen a lot of couples commission work from local artists. This a lovely way to support creative businesses especially after the tough year so many people have had. So this really is a unique wedding gift that gives back in many ways.

3. A home makeover project

Staying on the home theme, we’re seeing loads of Patchwork couples thinking about giving a room in their house a refresh and setting up a home project gift list. If travel isn’t an option for you and you already have all the household items you need, what about setting up a wedding gift registry to invite guests to chip in towards a mini makeover project instead?

A bathroom or kitchen makeover is always popular. There’s no limit to the things you can ask friends and family to fund. An hour of a plumber’s time? A contribution towards that fridge you’ve had your eye on? Or perhaps a tile or 10?

If you want to add some gifts that are non-financial – you can! Once restrictions allow, you can invite mates to come and help you. They can get a few coats of ‘Brave Ground’ on the walls (that’s the aptly named Dulux colour of the year 2021). The best bit about a kitchen or bathroom Patchwork gift registry is that you can invite your guests to come and enjoy it too (when we can finally do that exciting thing called “having friends round”!)

Patchwork wedding registry "A Year of Dates" in iPad

4. A year of dates

This is a brilliant idea and will ensure you’ll have a year of exciting adventures closer to home if a honeymoon isn’t possible just yet. One of our most popular Patchwork gift registry templates is our Year of Dates Gift List.

Friends and family can treat you to date nights and other fun experiences as a couple in and around your local area. Want to try out that new restaurant or bar? Visit new galleries and exhibitions? Or enjoy a bit of live music, a massage, or just shop for a picnic at your local deli? With a little help from your family and friends you can enjoy a year of fun experiences.

It will create brilliant memories of your first year of marriage and of course help out local shops and services too. Some of our favourite ideas to include are a wine tasting date, a comedy club night, a night away by the sea and of course lots and lots of cocktails and coffee dates!

5. National Trust lifetime membership

If you love nothing more than spending your weekends pottering about country houses and gardens, a National Trust Lifetime Membership is the perfect wedding gift.

Set up a Patchwork gift registry and invite friends and family to treat you to a lifetime of historic houses, beautiful gardens and woodland walks. And don’t forget the cream teas! It give you a lifetime of countryside adventures, castle visits and happy memories. And the money contributed via your Patchwork wedding gift list will also go towards helping the National Trust keep these places special forever, for everyone.

6. A garden project

Right now seems like the perfect time to set up a Patchwork wedding registry for a garden project. There’s been a huge increase in couples wanting to spend time and money on their gardens. Largely thanks to lockdown and the comfort of watching Monty and the gang!

It’s the perfect gift for family and friends to chip in to especially as soon they’ll be able to enjoy it with you! So all that’s left to decide is what type of wedding garden project you’ll go for. If you’re passionate about sustainability you could get a vegetable patch going so you can eat home grown produce.

If entertaining is your thing, what about an outdoor seating area complete with fire pit, bespoke bar and solar lighting? Even if you don’t have a garden you could have a revamp of your terrace or balcony area. Invite friends to chip in to an allotment rental. You can ask for help to kit you out with all the tools that you’ll need to grow your own for years to come. Whatever outdoor space you have, make the most of it. A Patchwork wedding registry gift helps you collect money towards your dream retreat at home.

7. A rescue dog

Has it always been a lifelong dream to give a dog a loving home? With Patchwork you can set up an online wedding list and invite your guests to help you fund a rescue pup. Even if you’re not buying a dog, there are a lot of expenses that come with owning a four legged friend. Your family and friends can help by visiting your Patchwork wedding registry and choosing whether they’d like to contribute towards a year’s worth of food or those inevitable vet’s bills. Or maybe they’d prefer to fund the ‘fun’ stuff? A new cosy bed, some squeaky toys, or a personalised collar perhaps.

You can even add a charitable donation to your Patchwork wedding gift list and continue to support the rescue centre your four legged friend came from. Whatever they choose to help you with, they’ll be super happy to know that in contributing to your wedding gift list they are helping a dog find a loving forever home. And they’d probably love to join you both and your pup on adventures in the years to come!

8. A dining table made for friends

What better way to celebrate finally being able to have friends round than to host them around a beautiful handcrafted dining table? Set up a Patchwork wedding registry for a new dining table. Then share with your friends and family and look forward to having a dining table that you’ll cherish forever. There’s no greater joy than a beautiful and sustainably made piece of furniture. It will be at the heart of your home for a lifetime. And be the centre of shared memories, good food and joy-filled celebrations.

Not sure where you’ll buy your table? The best wedding registry is one that allows you to spend your gift money where and when you like. The Patchwork wedding registry has no ties to retailers and you can access to your funds straight away.

9. Post wedding staycation treats

Treat yourselves to the ultimate staycation by setting up a Patchwork staycation wedding gift list. Fill your page with those treats that will turn time at home in to a completely luxurious experience. We’ve seen many couples rethink all their honeymoon plans and instead focus on the one certainty – time at home! With a little imagination and the generosity of family and friends you’ll wonder why you ever wanted to leave.

Some of the best suggestions we’ve seen this year for an online wedding gift list include: A yearly Netflix subscription for cosy nights in; take aways from your favourite restaurants; luxury bedlinen for that 5 star feeling; home spa treatments; magazine subscriptions; cocktail nights at home; a monthly flower delivery; a cheese subscription box.

What would you add to your Staycation wedding wish list?

10. A flock of sheep

Well, we’ve not seen these on a John Lewis wedding gift list. Yes we really did have a couple who asked their family and friends to fund a flock of sheep on their Patchwork wedding gift registry! They had their eye on a very specific breed of pedigree sheep called Valais blacknose to join them on their smallholding in Scotland. They even had names picked out: Edith, Agnes and Frances. If sheep aren’t your thing you could ask for chickens, bees or a pony on your wedding list website instead.

Don’t forget, you can also combine your wedding gifts and experiences with a charity gift list. You can invite wedding guests to support your favourite causes. Which just goes to show that with a Patchwork wedding registry you really can fund absolutely anything you’re dreaming of.

So there they are – 2021 most wanted wedding gifts from Patchwork couples in the know. Feeling inspired to create your own non-travel, toaster and towel free Patchwork wedding registry? Join the thousands of couples that have. Even ex Prezola employees use Patchwork wedding registry!

It couldn’t be easier to start creating your marriage gift list, filled with all the things that make you happy. Browse our readymade templates for more ideas or let your imagination run wild and start your own wedding gift list from scratch.

Need help? Give us a ring on +44 7547 439 805 or drop us a line at [email protected] – we’d love to hear from you and share our top tips for how to create the best wedding gift list!

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family visiting grandparents on doorstep during coronavirus

Gift Ideas

A room with a view – a gift for those in isolation

by Rosie Hurwitz October 26, 2020

written by Rosie Hurwitz

And so here we are in Autumn, and things feel as uncertain as ever. But, there’s one thing we’re all certain we still can and want to do, and that is let our friends and family know we are thinking of them. Whether it’s a birthday, Christmas, a new baby or any other life event, Patchwork can help to connect people, with thoughtful isolation gifts that are really wanted, appreciated, and easy to organise digitally and from afar.

roses with windows of house in background

Gifts that say we’re thinking of you

Many of our elderly or vulnerable relatives are now spending a lot more time at home, alone. Including – sadly – those special occasions like birthdays, and now possibly Christmas too. It’s heartbreaking that we can’t be there in person with the ones we love to give them a proper hug or sit inside with them and have a cup of tea! Doorstep calls and sitting in the garden are lovely in the summer but as winter approaches, won’t be as easy to do.

Patchwork founder Liv’s Nan – Vera – turned an incredible 93 this month, and for the first time, she wasn’t able to visit one of her many children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren for tea, cake and flowers. So to let her know they were thinking of her, the family clubbed together, and used Patchwork to organise and fund a beautiful and thoughtful group gift. A birthday garden patchwork allowed everyone to chip in towards some flowers for her back and front garden, some compost and manure (and the gardener to do the planning and planting!) So that although she might not be able to get outside at all right now, she can still have beautiful, colourful views from her windows.

A beautiful garden, piece by piece

Liv’s sister Rosie set up the page and shared it with the family near and far so that everyone could contribute to Vera’s “Room with a view”. One of the best things about a Patchwork group gift page (other than it being gorgeous to look at and a breeze to use) is that you can set your own prices so that everyone can chip in what they can afford. Whether it’s £5 towards some geraniums, £15 for an hours gardening time or £70 for two climbing roses. You can even set patches without a monetary contribution, so people can gift their time and skill instead. In this case, Rosie asked if anyone in the family could help out by being the gardener’s assistant (socially distanced and with their own tools of course!)

Grandmother and granddaughter enjoying a glass of champagne in garden

A gift that everyone can (eventually!) enjoy

So in the months to come, Vera will be looking out at newly planted roses, clematis, geraniums, wallflowers and know that it all happened because her family are thinking of her and miss her and want to show her how much they love her! And hopefully by Springtime the daughters, grandchildren and great-grandchildren will be back in the flower-filled garden for tea and biscuits and a chat with Vera.

Plants and flowers make us happier

Even if they don’t have a garden, everyone has a window to look out of, so this group gift idea can easily be adapted to include hanging baskets, window boxes, small potted trees, a bird feeder to hang up and maybe a small watering can to keep them healthy and green! It makes sense as we are all spending more time at home, to make our surroundings as nice to look at as possible. Adding colour and life to our outside space with flowers and plants is also scientifically proven to make us feel happy. And so for people living alone, this is an isolation gift that really can make a difference to their mental wellbeing at this stressful and often confusing time.

The perfect group gift for someone in isolation

We can’t think of a more perfect gift for an elderly or isolated person at this time, than something beautiful to look out at from their window. Whether they live in a small flat, or have a big garden, there’s always a window to sit by, and so this gift can always make the view better. If you’ve been inspired to set up a “Room with a View” patchwork or garden patchwork see our readymades and have a play. It’s so easy to set up a page, make it personal and then share with family and friends. Any questions? We’d love to help on LiveChat, via [email protected] or over the phone on 07547 439 805.

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A 'Fund our Wedding Photography' patchwork wedding gift list in an iPad

Gift Ideas Wedding Planning

Alternative Wedding Registry: Fund Your Wedding Photography

by Rosie Hurwitz September 8, 2020

written by Rosie Hurwitz

We know planning a wedding can be stressful and expensive, and at the moment, while things remain so uncertain, there’s even more to think about. Most couples who use Patchwork choose to invite their friends and family to contribute towards an amazing honeymoon – and because we are THE flexible wedding registry – and all gift money is yours to spend how you wish – anything you plan with Patchwork is 100% safe and secure! However if the honeymoon is taken care of, you have all the household “stuff” you need and are looking for alternative gift options – why not think about asking guests to contribute towards your wedding photography?

Image credit: Andrew Heeley Photography

Why fund your Wedding Photography?

We asked wedding photographer Andrew Heeley what he thought of the idea: “Photography is one of the few elements from your wedding that you will return to year-after-year, not only that, but you’ll hand down your wedding photos to future generations – I have my parents and grandparents wedding albums and my children love the chance to have a peak back in time when we get them out. Good fine art albums and photo books are quality, hand-made products designed to last multiple lifetimes, but the cost can be a little daunting. Patchwork is an amazing way to get your family and friends to help with those additional costs, and they can get the joy of seeing the physical memory of your wedding too!”

Image of gay couple in matching mustard suits standing by two huge water tanks looking in to each others eyes — Image credit: Lisa Jane Photography

Your wedding photos are the gift you’ll treasure forever.

Rowan at Parrot and Pineapple agrees: “Including your wedding photography as part of an alternative gift registry is a fantastic idea. So many of my couples have said that they love their wedding photos so much because it’s pretty much the only thing you get to keep after your wedding. All your planning and hard work gets captured by your wedding photos, along with the emotions and sentiment of your guests enjoying your wedding. There’s literally no better present to treasure than photographs! And while I might be a bit biased given my job, I do truly believe that. I have my grandparents wedding album from when they married in 1945, and my great grandparents wedding portrait from when they married in 1920. If my house was burning down, it would be those items that I rescued first (along with my dog!)”

A gift that your guests will love giving.

Whatever your wedding plans are, you’ll want great photos to remember your special day. Plus, asking guests to “gift” this service is a really nice way for friends and family to be a part of your day even if they can’t attend on the day. Guests get that lovely feeling of knowing they are helping you to create amazing memories by contributing towards the cost of your wedding photography instead of physical gifts. They can be involved in your celebrations in a way that’s meaningful to you, and they get to see the gorgeous photos afterwards too! We asked wedding planner Cherelle Joseph Founder of Perfectly Planned 4 You for her thoughts. As a fellow wedding supplier who loves exploring concepts outside of convention, and making dreams a reality she says: “With many couples already living together, today’s lists are less about traditional, wedding gifts made up of items for a couple’s first home, and more about guests celebrating your marriage with a gift that you can keep forever. The best way to make sure your wedding memories are captured and recorded for a lifetime is through the photos that you take on the big day. Using Patchwork gift registry is a brilliant, stylish, and simple way to ask your guests to help you do this.”

Photo of couple on wedding day, from behind, walking through forest holding hands — Image credit: Craig Williams Photography

So how does Patchwork Gift Registry work?

With a Patchwork Gift Registry you show your friends and family via a ‘Pinterest’ style page, the things you’re dreaming of and they help to fund them – with cash direct to you. Everyone can contribute as much or as little as they like, and feel connected to you and involved in your plans.

Bride putting on a pale blue open toe show against an dusky oink patterned rug — Image credit: Babb Photo

You collect all gift money in to your PayPal or bank account. You can keep track of all cash contributions in your Patchwork account, read gift messages, send event updates and then afterwards send thanks to everyone who helped make it happen!

Setting up Your Wedding Photography Gift Registry

It’s super simple to set up a Wedding Photography Gift Registry and you don’t need to be techy or spend lots of time to create a really professional, fun and engaging page. Use our gorgeous readymade template and personalise it to suit your celebration. You can add your own event details, edit images and set gift amounts, letting everyone know the things they can choose to fund, make or do. For example, you could include a patch for people to pay for a shot of the two of you for £200, chip in towards a hand-made album for £100, or a shot of the cake for £50. If you don’t want to just ask for money, you can add make and do patches too if you wish – maybe you know someone creative who can turn a favourite wedding photo in to a work of art?

Image credit: Parrot & Pineapple Photography

How easy is it for guests to use?

When you publish your patchwork you’ll get a unique website address (URL) which you can then share with your guests on invites, your wedding website or via email. Everyone can then view your patchwork and choose how they’d like to contribute, and leave you a lovely congratulations message too. Payment is secure and simple, with a choice of PayPal, debit card or credit card. And because all gift money goes direct to you, you can start to book your photographer and put down deposits straight away!

It’s super easy to keep track of gifts and messages from guests. So after the wedding, you can upload photos to your account to send along with a thank you message to the friends who funded specific parts of your patchwork. Plus, you can also send printed thank you cards using our 30% discount with our friends at Moo.

All the need to knows…

It’s easy to sign up to Patchwork and you’ll be supporting vital work on climate action too. We offer a choice of a one-off fee of £50 or a monthly subscription of £6 to use Patchwork. With both options, 50% of the sign up fee goes direct to one of our three environmental charity partners: Friends of the Earth, Survival International or ClientEarth. Patchwork is not tied to any suppliers and we don’t hold your funds. Instead all gift money goes directly into your PayPal or bank account via Stripe so you can spend it when, where and how you like. We’re proud of the amazing feedback we receive every day from our couples, and hope you’ll join them. But don’t take our word for it! Read more from happy couples who’ve used Patchwork.

Ready to give it a try? Let’s go!

Our gorgeous readymade Wedding Photography template is easy to personalise so you can have a stylish and personal gift registry set up in a few minutes. If you enjoy being creative you can start your own page from scratch and upload your own images and write your own descriptions.

Photography credits:

Andrew Heeley Photography

Laura Babb at Babb Photo

Lisa Jane Photography

Rowan at Parrot & Pineapple

Craig Williams Photography

Laura Martha Photography

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Gift Ideas

Sunny Day Gifting: Digital Giving During Lockdown

by Rosie Hurwitz May 14, 2020

written by Rosie Hurwitz

We’ve certainly had a lot of grey and stormy days lately; but even on the bleakest days we can always look out for rainbows, and remind ourselves that storms don’t last forever. In the midst of the Coronavirus pandemic, babies are being born, birthdays are being celebrated, and important milestones and anniversaries will be marked. Whilst social distancing measures make it impossible to physically be together to celebrate, we can still show our love from a distance. In fact, now more than ever, it’s important to remind friends and loved ones that their special days are not forgotten! Digital giving, distance gifting, or ‘sunny day gifting’ are all on the rise, and Patchwork is perfect for them all!

What is sunny day gifting?

Sunny day gifting is simply sending someone a gift now, to be enjoyed when the clouds clear. So, you might want to treat your friend or loved one to a luxury spa day, a night at the theatre or a birthday sky dive. With Patchwork you can set up a group gift page in minutes, share the link with friends and collect cash contributions towards the big gift. Then on their (lockdown) birthday you can gift them their beautiful patchwork page, with all the messages from their friends and the money towards their ‘sunny day gift’ to be spent when they are ready. It’s a way of connecting with friends, and bringing some joy and excitement to their special day. When life returns to normal and this is a distant memory they can enjoy their gift and send thanks to all those who made it happen!

Patchwork rainbow fund

If you’re not sure what your friend might need or want – we’ve thought of that too. Have a look at our brand new Rainbow Fund template. It’s kind of like a rainy day fund but much more fun. It’s money towards whatever it is that will help keep them excited about the future. Allowing them to dream of freedom to come; something to plan for, when the clouds have finally lifted.

Ideas for new baby gifts while social distancing

A new arrival is always a sign of hope and new beginnings, and one of the happiest (and cutest) occasions to celebrate. Social distancing measures are especially important for pregnant women and no-one wants to spread germs to a brand new baby, so distance gifting is extra important. Whether you want to treat the new parents to a food delivery service, or contribute towards a big item like a new cot, Patchwork makes it easy with readymade templates that can be customised in minutes.

Say happy birthday with love, from a distance

There are going to be a lot of birthdays celebrated during lockdown, and whilst the parties might have to be put off, the birthday gifts don’t! You can use Patchwork to get together with friends and family and let loved ones know you are thinking of them on their special day. Collect birthday messages on the page to share with your birthday buddy and they can treat themselves to their gift whenever they like. Whether it’s a subscription of beers for a year, money towards a vegetable patch, or contributions towards a new sofa (for all that staying at home!) they’ll feel loved from a distance.

So if you know someone with a birthday or special occasion coming up (or if you have one coming up yourself!) check out our 100s of stylish templates and get some distance gift inspiration to bring some joy to someone you love!

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Gift Ideas Wedding Planning

Alternative Wedding Gift – A Year of Dates

by Rosie Hurwitz February 14, 2020

written by Rosie Hurwitz

Date nights shouldn’t just be reserved for Valentines Day. Keep them coming throughout the year with Patchwork. Ditch the traditional Wedding Gift List in favour of a Patchwork Year of Dates fund.

Keep the romance alive and ask your friends and family to fund towards all the fun things you want to do together in your first year of marriage.

Whether you’d like funds towards a date kayaking down the Thames together, a restorative couples’ massage or fancy doing a cookery course together, you can customise the Year of Dates patchwork to bring your Year of Dates to life.

If you rate treasured experiences over pots and pans, then this is the alternative Gift List for you.

Why ‘A Year of Dates’ Is Great!

Gives you lots to look forward to
Helps cure any post wedding day blues
Keeps the romance alive!
Creates lots of lovely memories
Values experiences over yet more ‘stuff’
Totally customisable so you can share all the things you love doing together

#MoreLoveLessStuff. See our Year of Dates template for the wedding gift that’s high on fun and low on waste!

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Image of a positive review of Patchwork Wedding Gift List

Gift Ideas Patchwork Perspective

Unbiased Reviews – Best Wedding Gift List

by Rosie Hurwitz February 6, 2020

written by Rosie Hurwitz

“Patchwork is a beautiful way to ask for what you want!” Ines

We think Patchwork is the best wedding gift list and honeymoon fund for a few reasons. But don’t listen to us. Like all parents, we’re obviously biased. Listen instead to the people that use our platform and are spontaneously inspired to leave reviews describing our gift list and honeymoon fund service as a ‘gem’, a ‘joy’ and a ‘delight’ and to tell us they are ‘in awe’ . These are quotes from strangers reviewing a piece of technology, not proud parents describing their first born. So, as much as we can tell you why we’re the best, the lovely people who have actually used our honeymoon fund and wedding gift list tell it better. So here are their unbiased reviews, describing what we do and why they are so happy to recommend us, in their own words:

“Patchwork has been an absolute gem of a find for us! As a registry it delivers everything that we were after, in a format that’s both fun and friendly for our guests, and having looked around (extensively!) for alternatives none of them were able to give the versatility and ease of use that this site could. It was super-easy and intuitive to use and when we had queries the friendly staff were on hand to help immediately.” Review by James & Katie

What is a honeymoon fund and how is it different from a traditional gift list?

A honeymoon fund is perfect for couples who don’t need traditional gifts but would like to offer guests the chance to contribute money towards a honeymoon instead. With a Patchwork honeymoon fund, you collect all cash contributions direct, and can show guests your plans with an online “patchwork” of images representing all the things you’d like to do. Guests can choose which piece they’d like to treat you to.

“We were struggling to find a collective pot for our Honeymoon contributions and really did not want to ‘ask’ for money from our wedding guests. Patchwork appealed to us as you can bespoke the donation amounts, and make the group of images related to the honeymoon theme. We were able to make a patchwork of all holiday elements that we would like money for.” Review by Charlene

“Fantastic way to enable people to visualise and contribute towards your honeymoon, I feel this was much nicer than asking for cash. Patchwork is easy to use, and we’re very happy with the level of service and Patchwork itself!” Review by Natalie

“We have really enjoyed the whole process of using Patchwork to put together our wedding list. The website is very clear and easy to use and all our questions and inquiries have been responded to swiftly, personally and incredibly helpfully. We have been so impressed with the whole concept and how it works and would recommend Patchwork to all our friends.” Review by Jessica

“Patchwork made it really easy and fun to put together our Honeymoon contribution list, and it looks amazing. I can’t wait to start hearing our guests comment on it. Highly recommend.” Review by Heidi

“Only just done the setup so far but it’s made me very excited about my upcoming honeymoon! It’s so nice to be able to ask friends and family for gifts rather than just give them bank account details!” Review by Abigail

Why should we set up an alternative gift registry?

A Patchwork wedding gift list lets you ask friends and family for money towards absolutely anything, whether it’s dinner at your favourite restaurant, a piece of art, or contributions towards a new sofa. You can also ask for friends to give their time and skill instead of money. For example friends could gift you their skills to help with a DIY project, take time to cook you dinner to celebrate your marriage or promise to DJ at your wedding reception.

“Easy to create your own patchwork based on a template. Yes, this was the solution to our wedding gift ‘problem’. Thanks” Review by Klaus & Silvia

“Patchwork was a brilliant solution to me and my finance’s problem; wanting to request money for experiences rather than having a set gift list. Patchwork was really good, easy and intuitive to use. It was fun to set up and add our own photos too!” Review by Sophie

“WOW! We love Patchwork…what a great concept that has been extremely well executed by a very helpful and friendly team. We set up our Patchwork site as a way of having our friends and family contribute towards our plans to transform our garden – in celebration of our wedding! ” Review by Charlie & Liberty

“Amazing amazing amazing! Loved this service so much! Such a great website concept. Really speedy customer service replies when I needed any help but it was actually super easy to use! We simply love it! Thanks Team Patchwork!” Review by Jon & Laura

How does it work? How do I set up my Patchwork registry?

When you set up your Patchwork registry all contributions go direct to you via our payment partners Stripe and/or PayPal. It only takes a few minutes to set up a page using one of our readymade templates – or you can get creative and start your own from scratch! Then simply share your page with friends via email or with a link in your wedding invites.

“The site was so easy to setup and use. It has great templates and ‘stock’ images to get you started plus we found it very easy to upload our own photos to compliment these, with each picture representing a key component of our plans.” Review by Charlie & Liberty

“This website is amazing! We found it at a wedding fair and it was exactly what we were looking for! The fact you can design it all yourself and choose how much you want people to contribute, even as little as £5 was what really swung it for us. It’s very easy to use even for a tech novice.” Review by Kathryn

“Oh my goodness I just love how my honeymoon page has turned out. It is so cute and the templates were an amazing help to get me started.” Review by Megan

“Great idea, beautifully executed! The pages are easy to build and for guests to use. The whole package has been thoughtfully designed.” Review by Becky & Oli

What will my friends and family think?

People love to find out more about your interests and see what your plans are for your wedding, honeymoon and your married life beyond. A Patchwork gift list is visual and engaging, which guests love, and they will be delighted to know that the gift they are giving is so wanted, needed and appreciated. Because it’s online, and payment is fast and secure, there’s no traipsing round shops or filling in long forms, and no risk of money going astray. Here’s what friends and family think:

“It has never been easier to make someone happy.” Review by Jan Christoph

“What a brilliant idea! It enabled us to learn about the dreams and wishes of the happy couple, and share in their beautiful journey with them. So inspiring and a wonderful way to feel part of it all, whilst gift giving. Well done Patchwork!” Review by Dorothy

“What a great unique idea from Patchwork! It makes gifts so much more personal. Loved the experience and will recommend to friends and family.” Review by Anil

“It couldn’t have been any simpler, easier or clearer to use and it was fun, well done Patchwork.” Review by Fiona

“Love using Patchwork Gift Registry. Giving towards something a loved one really wants. And you make it so easy to do payments. Great Job Patchwork!!!” Review by Michael & Zelna

“Easy to use and also fun. Being a technophobe I found it a delight.” Review by Carol

“Absolutely nothing beats this. I’m in awe.” Review by Tom

“Thanks for creating a really engaging, inspiring and beautiful website and for making it a very good user experience.” Review by Matt & Hazel

“Once we’d launched the site and shared the link with friends and family we received nothing but positive feedback about how unusual, refreshing and inventive the concept was – it’s great that it’s such a freeform platform. It really is perfect for weddings – a way of distinguishing your event given how hard it is to stand out now.” Review by Charlie & Liberty

“We’ve used Patchwork for our honeymoon registry and have had so much positive feedback regarding it. It’s been super useful and looks great, and it’s been easy to collect gifts from our wedding guests. Patchwork have also been at the end of every email and have dealt with everything really quickly. Thanks! Will use again!” Review by Matt & Kris

How much does it cost?

There is no set up fee to use Patchwork, and if you are using the service to ask friends and family to “make” or “do” something – it’s completely free to use. We only take a 3.6% commission on cash contributed via your page, so if you don’t collect any money we don’t either! Our payment partners Stripe and PayPal charge their own small commissions to process payments. You can read all about our clear and fair fee structure here. On average couples using Patchwork collect 30% more than those simply asking for money, and they save everyone the awkwardness and security concerns around giving cash gifts.

“These were also the best rates that we could find – no hidden fees, and what you read in the T’s & C’s is all you’re charged, unlike another couple of sites we had initially looked into. We honestly can’t recommend Patchwork highly enough.” Review by James & Katie

“So easy to create and no set up fee. Brilliant and just in time for us to now add the link to our wedding invites – thank you Patchwork!!!!” Review by Charlene

Design, style and UX are important to us – how will our Patchwork page look?

Patchwork offers clean, fresh design for your wedding gift list. Well thought out UX means you can create a gorgeous and super stylish page in minutes that looks professional, whilst still being unique to you. Our templates mean you don’t have to spend hours curating your list, although if this is your idea of fun – go for it and start your page totally from scratch!

“Surely the best idea for a wedding gift registry! Very versatile and aesthetically pleasing!” Review by Pavlos & Eleni

“So far we are really impressed with it. Its the best looking and most appropriate crowd gifting site we have seen. And very easy to use. I only found it after searching extensively on Google. It should be easier to find!!” Review by Mandy

“Absolutely amazing website, so easy to use and navigate across. Really able to make it your own, add your own photos or use the website gallery.” Review by Tiffaney

“Easy and super stylish. After trying loads of different options it was an obvious choice for our family-moon fund.” Review by Nikki

“We really enjoyed setting up our Patchwork. The choice of imagery is great and the UX is intuitive. Playing with the design was really enjoyable.” Review by Kat

“Really easy to use website, makes your page look great without any technical requirement. The staff are fantastically friendly and respond really promptly to questions.” Review by Kieran

We want great customer service and a smooth payment process – is Patchwork right for us?

Responsive, pro-active and friendly customer service is always our very top priority and our choice of payment partners means you can choose which service suits you best.

“Very attractive, user-friendly site with fabulous backup – a very quick response to all our enquiries. Highly recommend this.” Review by Kim

“Straightforward and easy to use. Great customer support and payment integration with Stripe.” Review by Andy

“This service was an absolute godsend in trying to organise and fund a wedding – the customer service was super quick and really helpful. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Patchwork to anyone planning an event.” Review by Ciara

“Wow, who knew getting married was so easy. Patchwork seem to have thought of everything and have made it so simple to see the gift selection, to pay for a gift and to leave a message. Why choose anyone else, choose the best, choose Patchwork.” Review by Henry

So, there you have it – straight from our users, the people who found us, loved us and have recommended us to their friends. Want to try Patchwork wedding gift list and honeymoon fund yourself? We have 100s of stylish templates for you to personalise, a friendly team on hand to help, and plenty of tips and advice for making your gift list a success. We are so sure you’ll love us too that we guarantee to waive our fee if you’re not 100% happy with our service.

Oh and before we go, the last word goes to Rod who says Patchwork is: “More fun than the John Lewis wedding list.”

We have used independent review site reviews.co.uk to collect independent, honest reviews from our users and their guests. We have an optimum star rating of 4.75* (compared to 4.5* for Prezola, and The Wedding Shop, and 4.4* for Honeyfund). You can read all of the brilliant reviews above (and more) at reviews.co.uk – and see why 95% of Patchwork users recommend us to their friends.

So now you know all about us – start your patchwork today and make your dreams a reality!

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Gift Ideas

Sustainable Wedding Gift Ideas: Meet the Makers – House of Love

by Ismay Ozga September 18, 2019

written by Ismay Ozga

“Capturing moments of time in inky lines of love” is the way Megan Metcalf describes what she does. Producing beautiful illustrations for couples who want to capture memories of their day; Megan creates unique, sustainable wedding gifts that bring people joy on the wedding day itself and for years to come. We chat to Megan to ask what it’s like to be part of this special moment in a couple’s history and find out more about her passion House of Love Illustration

How did House of Love come about? What had you done previously and what made you want to start your own business?

I put all the things I love together and created my dream job role. Drawing, dressing up and celebrations! It just came to me a few years back as I was finding my way as a professional illustrator. I don’t want to be stuck at a desk drawing – I’m too fidgety! So I decided to make parties my office, and The House of Love Illustration was born! In my previous London life I used to be a Trend and Colour Materials Designer for the likes of Nokia, Samsung and The Future Laboratory.

I was totally frazzled by London life and wanted to be more creative, but wasn’t sure exactly how. Four years ago I just went for it and (like many creatives) moved to Margate. I began to draw again and find my creative feet. It felt like I’d found home and what I was always meant to be doing. People liked what I did, so here I am! I now get all sorts of wonderful commissions, and creative opportunities continue to appear all the time. The House of Love Illustration is my love interest and I can’t wait to see where it takes me.

And what are the best things about your job?

It is just such an honour to attend people’s big life events. I’m always exploding with joy to be there and to capture the characters and movements of the day as it unfolds. I always feel like the luckiest woman alive to be able to be surrounded by love and happiness and simply do my drawing thing. Plus I love an excuse to dress up too, so I’m in my element.

What have you learnt since starting your own wedding business?

Ah so frustrating sometimes but, patience, patience, patience!! It takes a lot of ground work before you see the fruits of your labour. But it’s well worth the wait. Honing the art of trusting in yourself and your work is essential. My three top tips would be: Be yourself and don’t get distracted by “nos” you won’t be everyone’s cup of tea and that’s cool. Say yes to scary things as they will take you to new places, different people, create opportunities and do your confidence the world of good. Ask others for advice. It’s ok to talk to others in your industry and beyond for advice. It was hard for me as what I do is so niche but I’ve had support from some great photographers. I’m very lucky as to some extent I can lead the way as, refreshingly, I have no one to emulate.

Tell us about what you do at a “typical” wedding

I draw approx 3-4 illustrations per hour and then add water colour to the originals in my studio. I also scan them in high resolution and create a digital portfolio for you. It’s totally up to you what you do with the artworks, you always get a framed picture, all the originals and images formatted in an album should you wish. One couple chose to exhibit the pictures the next day at a post wedding brunch. Others have created thank you cards or had large format originals created from their favourite, the options are endless!

What are some of your favourite commissions? Are there any particular pieces or weddings that have stood out?

I once drew at an incredible A-list musician’s wedding where I illustrated 30 ceramic cake stands, did the menus and also illustrated 30 tea pots too! I had to hold myself together not get too star struck and draw the epic wedding. I had to have the drawings finished and coloured in watercolour read to go on display the very next day for a post wedding brunch. I worked through the night and totally nailed them. Still super proud and some of my best ever illustrations.

What makes your work perfect as a group gift to include on Patchwork registry?

In a world of photo booths and filtering, having me illustrate the day is a lovely authentic way to capture the spirit and energy of a special occasion. I create beautiful and characterful live illustrations of your wedding or event. Just like a reportage photographer, I discreetly capture people, objects and moments that tell the story of the day. It’s captivating for guests and they love to have a peep over my shoulder and are always super intrigued about what I’m doing. You’ll have unique original works of art to treasure forever and know that your gift registry has a super low environmental impact so it’s a win-win!

Are you ever been asked to help with celebrating other occasions?

Paper anniversary gifts are super popular as I can easily work from photos and can create bespoke sizes to suit. I am also working with Festivals to create live art experiences and murals, workshops etc. I am always open to seemingly impossible ideas and love wild and wonderful briefs. People want to celebrate in different ways, make and hold on to memories in different ways. I am always learning and coming up with new ideas myself this is why I love what I do as it’s an adventure unfolding everyday.

What do you love doing when you are not working?

I live in Cliftonville in Margate, 2 minutes from the beach and I adore my seaside life. Early morning wild and windy walks on the beach with just me and the seagulls are the best. I love to drink coffee and write to do lists and daydream in cafes. Kent’s coast and vibrant art scene are fantastic for exploring but I also enjoy venturing back to London’s galleries when I can.

Because I’m so busy and my family are in Gloucestershire time with them is rare. So when I can find it, time with them (especially with my niece and nephew) is golden.

Thank you so much Megan for chatting to us and giving us a glimpse behind the scenes! If you’d like to set up an alternative wedding registry to ask friends and family to help fund wedding day illustrations or any other type of art you can customise one of our readymade templates to send out to guests.

If you’d like to get in touch with the lovely Megan to chat about your wedding day you can do so here.

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