Home Tags Posts tagged with "gift inspiration"
Tag:

gift inspiration

Laura and Ed leaving their wedding ceremony at Cripps Barn, Cotswolds. Laura is a white woman with long blonde hair and Ed is a white man with short fair hair, a short beard and black framed glasses.They are both smiling as guests shower them with petal confetti
Patchwork CouplesWedding Planning

A vegan-karaoke-Christmas wedding!

by Rosie Hurwitz
written by Rosie Hurwitz

Meet Laura and Ed who got to know each other first as friends while working for a national newspaper in London during their early 20s. Laura admits “we don’t have one of those ‘love-at-first-sight’ stories – Ed doesn’t even remember the first time we met!” After a year or so of being friends they ‘officially’ became a couple and had been together for over 8 years before getting engaged in July 2021. They took on quite a challenge organising their amazing wedding in just 5 months. But in their words their ‘100%-vegan-karaoke-Christmas-wedding!’ was perfect and they wouldn’t change a thing. After searching for a registry that ticked all the boxes they found Patchwork and created a unique list combining honeymoon activities, charity donations and pledges so that guests had non-monetary options too. A fun couple and a very fun wedding. Read on to hear more about their day.

Black and white photo of Laura and Ed on their wedding day at Cripps Barn, Cotswolds. They stand outside on a carpet of autumn leaves with woodland behind them. Ed has his arm around Laura and pulls her towards him in a hug. She wears a long ivory sleeveless dress and carries a bouquet of flowers. Laura is a white woman with long blonde hair and Ed is a white man with short fair hair, a short beard and black framed glasses. They both look very happy
Ian Jeffrey Photography

How did you get engaged?

We got engaged during Covid times when international travel was off the table. Ed booked a London staycation at a very swanky Hyde Park hotel under the guise of a work celebration and popped the question! 

Cripps Barn, Cotswolds, ceremony venue for Laura and Ed's wedding December 2021
Ian Jeffrey Photography

Nice one Ed! And what kind of wedding did you plan?

The easy kind! The idea of planning a wedding is not something that either of us like the sound of (which is why we put it off for so long) so we wanted something simple and easy. The result? A 100% vegan-karaoke-Christmas wedding that we managed to pull together in five months. Not quite hitting the brief, but we discovered the incredible venue Cripps Barn in the Cotswolds who were a dream to work with; they made the process very straight-forward and made the day run without a hitch. The food was also a massive highlight, their in-house catering team delivered on the ultimate vegan feast that even the biggest meat eaters didn’t grumble at. We kept some of the traditional wedding aspects (e.g. cake) but it was mainly about having as much fun as possible. Mission completed, because loads of our guest were swapping numbers by the end of it to signify their newly-found friendships! Even if we had all the money in the world, we wouldn’t change a thing about the day – it was perfect.

Black and white photo of Laura and Ed on their wedding day at Cripps Barn, Cotswolds. They stand outside against a weathered wooden wall, looking at each other. Laura is a white woman with long blonde hair and Ed is a white man with short fair hair, a short beard and black framed glasses.
Ian Jeffrey Photography

Aw, that’s what you want! And did you have a first dance?

We did our first dance to Dido, Thank You. We have fond memories of ‘singing’ it very loudly and out of tune in the back of the cab on our first date.

Black and white photo of Laura and Ed on their wedding day at Cripps Barn, Cotswolds. They stand outside against a weathered wooden wall, laughing. Laura is a white woman with long blonde hair and Ed is a white man with short fair hair, a short beard and black framed glasses. Laura wears a long ivory dress and veil and carries a bouquet of flowers. Ed wears a mid-blue suit.
Ian Jeffrey Photography

What was your favourite part of the day?

This is a hard one! We had a little private moment to process being actually married just after the ceremony which was pretty emotional and amazing. Don’t think anything will ever beat that feeling.  

Secondly, the karaoke in the evening. It went down incredibly well and everyone got really into it (the free booze might have helped…) and definitely made it a wedding to remember. The sad part is that we were having so much fun, the evening went in a flash.

Patchwork Mauritius honeymoon fund in an ipad

What made you choose Patchwork for your wedding registry?

I firstly tried Prezola but wasn’t feeling it – it was way too focused on ‘stuff’. I then found Patchwork through a trusty online search and reading a few blogs, it seemed like the perfect platform. It stood out because of the clean design, the fact they are UK-based and how socially-conscious they are. The level of personalisation was perfect for the ideas we had.

Laura and Ed on their honeymoon in Mauritius, on a sunset catamaran cruise, both hold glasses of bubbly and look very relaxed. Laura is a white woman with long hair, Ed a white man with short fair hair and a short beard.

What did you invite guests to contribute towards?

The gift-giving part of a wedding made us feel a bit uneasy, but we know it’s expected. We’ve accumulated way too much stuff during our relationship and value experiences much more than things. Contributing towards an unforgettable honeymoon was going to mean so much more to us than a toaster. Suggestions included everything from a ‘pool-book fund’ to ‘Snorkel hire’. We also didn’t want price to be a barrier for those that weren’t in a position to contribute, so we made it possible for our guests to pledge things such as beach cleans, going vegan for a month or giving blood, which meant more to us than the money.

Laura and Ed on their honeymoon in Mauritius, in the sea together, both wearing sunnies and looking very happy and relaxed.

What did you enjoy most about using Patchwork?

It was so quick to build/update our page and I loved the way it looked when it was all done. The level of personalisation really makes it feel like something special and not just another gift list. It was so easy for people to use too, even the most IT-challenged of our guests got the hang of it. 

Laura on honeymoon in Mauritius, a honeymoon funded by friends and family via Patchwork. Laura wears a bikini and a black snorkel mask, and has tattoos on her upper arm and shoulders. Behind her you can see a beach hut with surf boards and a small jetty going in to the sea.

And what did your friends and family think?

They loved it and enjoyed exploring the different options – it made for an entertaining read! They also loved receiving pictures of us on our honeymoon with massive grins on our faces and seeing how much we appreciated their contribution; whilst we loved seeing pictures of our guests fulfilling their wedding pledges!

Laura on honeymoon in Mauritius, a honeymoon funded by friends and family via Patchwork. Laura is in an infinity pool resting her arms on the sides. She wears a bikini and has tattoos on her upper arm and shoulders. Her hair is tied up and she is drinking a long cold drink. Behind her you can see a small island - Coin de Mire off the coast of Mauritius.

What have you done with the wedding gift money you received?

We put the funds towards the most amazing honeymoon in Mauritius. We spent two and half weeks at Paradise Cove Boutique Hotel – highly recommended – on the North of the island which exceeded all our expectations (which were pretty high to start with). It was a very indulgent holiday; a highlight was definitely the private sunset catamaran boat cruise that our aunties and uncles chipped in for via our Patchwork. It meant so much to us knowing our friends and family had helped make our honeymoon even more special than we thought was possible.

And finally.. what’s your no.1 wedding planning tip?

Don’t just deliver the wedding people expect, but do what is going to make you happiest on the day! Oh and avoid doing it all in five months or during a pandemic; unless you really like a challenge.

Thank you SO much Laura and Ed for this gorgeous peek in to your amazing celebration and fabulous honeymoon!

If you’ve been inspired to set up your own honeymoon fund or gift registry come and join us and do good too. Half of our platform fee goes to one of three environmental charities: Friends of the Earth, Client Earth or Survival International.

Here are some of the suppliers who made Laura and Ed’s day even more special:

Venue and catering: Cripps Barn, Cotswolds
Flowers: Cotswold Blooms
Photographer: Ian Jeffery Photography
DJ/Karaoke/Photobooth: Gloucestershire Wedding DJ
Dress: Bridal Reloved Wanstead
Suit: Hackett
Cake: Kimmie’s Cakes
Hair: Andrea Luella

p.s. You can listen to Laura and Ed’s first dance song on our Spotify playlist, made up of lots of our Patchwork Couples’ first dances.

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Black and white image of Patchwork couple Beth and Lukas on their wedding day. Beth is a white woman, with dark brown hair, Lukas a white man with short fair hair and glasses. They look towards each other and are smiling. There is a flight of stone steps and large wooden doors behind them.
Patchwork CouplesWedding Planning

A wedding in Germany and new home gift registry.

by Rosie Hurwitz
written by Rosie Hurwitz

Patchwork couple Beth and Lukas married in an intimate ceremony in Germany last September. Beth is originally from Liverpool and it was there that she met her German husband Lukas during his gap year. He was volunteering at the community café where Beth worked during her first year at uni. They’ve been together almost 5 years now and have lived together in Germany since Beth moved over during the pandemic in summer 2020. The move in to their new home gave them the perfect wedding registry idea: to invite friends and family to help them furnish it from scratch. Read on to find out more about their day and why Patchwork was the perfect gift solution for this lovely couple.

Close up shot of Patchwork couple Lukas and Beth. Lukas is a white man with short fair hair and glasses, Beth is a white woman with dark bobbed hair, she wears a long sleeved white dress with a faint design on. Lukas wears a dark suit. Beth is reaching up smiling and has her hand on Lukas' cheek

How did you get engaged?

Beth: Our engagement wasn’t really what Lukas had planned, because I became seriously ill not long after moving to Germany, which completely derailed our plans. We had been living with Lukas’ parents during my illness, so Lukas decided to propose to me one evening when we had the house to ourselves and planned to have a pyjama party with pizza and movies. It was very sweet and intimate, just the two of us, because we had been through a lot and this time together was really special.

Patchwork couple Lukas and Beth sit beside each other to sign their marriage certificate during their wedding ceremony in Germany. Lukas is a white man with short fair hair and glasses, Beth is a white woman with dark bobbed hair, she wears a long sleeved white dress with a faint design on. Lukas wears a dark suit.

That’s a lot to deal with. But so nice that you could focus on each other and start thinking about your special day. What kind of wedding did you plan?

Our wedding has been split into two, one in Lukas’ home town in Germany, and one in mine. We had a very intimate celebration with just our immediate family when we legally married at the registry office in Germany last September. We all gathered for the small ceremony at the town hall and proceeded with petals thrown and pictures outside the beautiful old building. This was then followed by a lovely meal at our local hotel restaurant. The second part of our wedding is coming this August 2022, where we have planned a church blessing at my family church in Liverpool, followed by a big party with lots of family and friends at Leaf – the café/restaurant where we had our first date!

Patchwork couple Lukas and Beth stand together and exchange wedding rings during their wedding ceremony in Germany. Lukas is a white man with short fair hair and glasses, Beth is a white woman with dark bobbed hair, she wears a long sleeved white dress with a faint design on. Lukas wears a dark suit.

That’s exciting! What was your favourite part of your German wedding day?

Our two families being able to come together and spend this special day with us!

Lukas, a white man with short blond hair carries a loaf of home baked bread that he has just taken out of the oven, he looks pleased.

Why did you choose Patchwork for your wedding registry?

Patchwork was the perfect option for us because we have big families and friends spread over two countries who all wanted to gift us something as we were beginning our married life in a new city. I found Patchwork through an intensive google search as I was looking for a gift list that was flexible and didn’t require our family and friends to ship everything from the UK. The best bit about using Patchwork was the flexibility it provides, it was so easy to use and I could add my own images of the exact items our guests could contribute towards!

A pine dining table in an apartment in Germany, with two grey chairs either side of it. The wall are white behind the table and the floorboards are varnished
Close up of 3 spice shelves mounted on wall in kitchen, with sage green bread bin on counter top

What did you invite guests to contribute towards?

We asked our guests to contribute towards our move to Berlin. Our move was really only made possible by these contributions because we moved into an empty flat and were starting from 0… no couch, no bed, no pots and pans! So we are very grateful both to our friends and family who provided us with the money to furnish and decorate our new flat.

Lukas and Beth's newly furnished living room in their flat in Germany, with furniture and homewares bought with gift money collected from their Patchwork Gift Registry. Image shows Lukas on their new grey sofa, playing xbox, with blue rug, white side table and other modern furnishings around him
A white freestanding shelving unit with a selection of books, storage boxes, photos, vases and other bits and pieces on display

What did your friends and family think?

Our friends and family loved it! Having this option of adding your own photos so they could see exactly what we were going to buy with the money they gifted, was really nice for them as it meant more than just simply sending money.

Lukas and Beth's newly furnished living room in their flat in Germany, with furniture and homewares bought with gift money collected from their Patchwork Gift Registry. Image shows a light grey sofa, a blue rug, and a round white side table

What have you done so far with the gift money you received?

We have furnished our entire flat! From the couch down to the spoons, the money we received covered the majority of items we needed to buy in order to start our married life in our new flat! We are really so so grateful to our family and friends and it means so much to us that they helped us to build the life we are able to have now.

And finally… What’s your top tip when it comes to planning / preparing for your wedding?

Don’t sweat the small stuff! You want it to be a day that you enjoy and make the most out of, so make sure you use your support system whether that be fiancé, parents, friends, and you can get everything done together.

That’s really really good advice thank you! We’re honoured to have played a small part in your celebrations – thank you so much for sharing these lovely words and photos with us and huge congratulations to you both.

If you’d like to set up your own – completely personal and unique – gift registry, check out some of our easy to customise templates and get started! We’ve got loads of wedding gift ideas and honeymoon fund templates so you can choose your favourite and start making it your own. Questions? Drop us a line at hello@patchworkit.com, we’re always here for a chat.

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
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
Gift IdeasPatchwork Couples

A Spring wedding and National Trust membership

by Rosie Hurwitz
written by Rosie Hurwitz

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!

Patchwork couple Hannah and Luke in foreground and out of focus, their wedding day 'timeline' is behind them on a blackboard with Spring flowers in pots and watering can on the ground.

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.

Victoria sponge tiered wedding cake dusted with icing sugar and decorated with brightly coloured spring flowers

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.

National Trust Lifetime Membership Patchwork Gift Registry in an ipad

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

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Bride Zeleka and Groom Ashley during their wedding reception at the RSA. Zeleka looks towards the guests seated on her left and smiles happily. Ashley sits to her right and wears black tie, Zeleka wears a strapless, fitted ivory lace dress.
Patchwork CouplesWedding Planning

A Wedding Co-ordinator’s Gift Registry

by Rosie Hurwitz
written by Rosie Hurwitz

Today on the blog we chat to the wonderful Zeleka Nadine, Co founder of The Wedding Day Coordinators and now a newly wed herself! Zeleka is originally from Birmingham and met her London-born-and-bred husband Ashley at university 18 years ago. They’ve been living in London for 14 years now and have two young daughters. Ashley is a property developer and Zeleka runs The Wedding Day Coordinators, specialising exclusively in wedding day management to take the stress out of on-the-day wedding co-ordination. Zeleka shares her tips for asking for cash instead of traditional gifts and why using a digital gift registry like Patchwork helps couples get what they really want!

Groom Ashley, a young black man with short hair and a beard is flanked by two groomsmen, also young black men, all wear black tie and smile at camera
Beautiful bride Zeleka stands holding a bouquet of flowers, wearing a strapless, fitted, ivory lace wedding dress, on both sides stand her bridesmaids, three young black women with long hair, wearing simple black dresses, also holding bouquets of cream flowers. They lean in towards each other, smiling.

What kind of wedding did you plan?

Our plans changed a lot from the beginning to what we actually ended up with. But it was an organic process which led us to a day which was perfect for us. We initially planned to get married at The Asylum and have the evening reception in the vaults at RSA House which I knew of through referring past couples to the space and our connection to Coco wedding venues. We went for a site visit at The Asylum and Ashley was laughing all the way through – he was like “my dad will think we’re pulling his leg if he walks into this derelict building”. As much as I loved it, it was a bit far to push our guests who aren’t exposed to the more quirky and unique venues that I work with!

So in the end we decided to do the ceremony and the reception at the RSA House. We planned a formal black tie chic city wedding where guests were encouraged to wear white and all decor was planned to enhance rather than transform the beauty of the space. The key focus was on family and all the details pointed to this.

Bride Zeleka and Groom Ashley during their wedding ceremony at the RSA. They hold hands and smile, Ashley wears black tie, Zeleka wears a strapless, fitted ivory lace dress
Bride Zeleka and Groom Ashley are showered with confetti as they leave the RSA after their wedding ceremony. They hold hands and are laughing happily. Ashley wears black tie and is holding a glass of champagne, Zeleka wears a strapless, fitted ivory lace dress.

What was your favourite part of the day?

Our wedding ceremony was my favourite part of the day – 100%. We decided to go with a celebrant, and booked Bex the Celebrant. She was amazing. Before the wedding we had to answer loads of questions – independently and together – giving loads of information about our journey, our stories, how we met. At the time it seemed like some of the information was meaningless, but she incorporated it all in to a really nice story about us that she shared with our guests.

Our daughters did a tying the knot ceremony with black and white satin ribbon. We had a reading from my mum which included an insert from Bob Marley, a self-made prayer from Ashley’s mum. My mum walked me down the aisle as well, so yes our ceremony was really beautiful.

We live streamed our ceremony as well, for those who couldn’t be there. We used a company who let you livestream it yourself which is a really cost effective way to do it.

Close up of table settings at Zeleka and Ashley's wedding at the RSA House, showing cream flowers and folioage and simple white tablecloth and glassware.
Bride Zeleka and Groom Ashley cut their wedding cake, a two tiered white iced cake with white floral design, at their wedding at the RSA. Ashley wears black tie, Zeleka wears a strapless, fitted ivory lace dress.

Why did you choose Patchwork for your wedding gift registry?

I’ve followed Patchwork as it’s evolved and I just love the freedom it gives you to practically build your own wedding gift list, honeymoon fund or whatever you want guests to contribute to. It could even be a loft extension or a rabbit hutch. I know from couples we’ve worked with previously, there’s always a kind of stigma around asking for money and there’s a struggle around getting the things you actually want. So I think it’s perfect for established couples who have been together for a long time. They probably already have a home and a family, and don’t necessarily need a toaster or a cooker or a John Lewis gift list with silver cutlery (do people even still do that?) I think it’s really important to be able to meaningfully ask for what you want. 

For us it was definitely more “we prefer your presence over presents”. But for those who wanted to gift something it was perfect.

A Patchwork Honeymoon Registry in an ipad, showing black and white graphic images of honeymoon experiences that can be funded by guests

What did you ask guests to contribute towards?

We didn’t want to have loads of physical gifts and cards to pack up on the day. We’re planning a honeymoon at some point so we invited guests to contribute towards some activities and treats while we are away. Our invitations were digital, so we were able to add the link from Patchwork to our Paperless Post invites which linked in beautifully. People were able to click and go straight to our Patchwork, and we could be really personal and quirky with it. So for example we had £20 towards ice-creams on the beach, £50 towards a massage by the pool, £500 towards the flights, and people donated what they wanted.
It felt a bit icky putting our bank details on the invite. Patchwork was a nice way of softening it.

Groom Ashley, a young black man with short hair and a beard is flanked by groomsmen and male guests, all wear black tie. They walk down a London street towards the camera, smiling.

What was the reaction to your Patchwork?

People loved the design of it and I’ve used our Patchwork now as a guide for other couples. I showed one of the brides I’m working with on wedding day management how she can use Paperless Post and Patchwork together and she was like “oh my God that’s brilliant; that’s exactly how I want mine done”. So we’ve now used our honeymoon fund Patchwork as a template. It something additional we can add to our service, and at the same time we’re working with a platform which we have tried and tested. It’s nice to be able to say to our couples that from first hand experience we know, love and trust Patchwork. We’re including Patchwork gift registry in an introductory document we’re designing for couples to help them see how they can plan and organise their wedding with ease.

Zeleka, a beautiful young black woman and her fiancé Ashley, a young black man sit outside in the sunshine. Both wear blue and white and are looking towards their left, away from camera. Zeleka sits on a hip-height stone wall and Ashley leans against it.

And what are the plans for your Patchwork gift money?

Hopefully next year, depending on how everything goes with travel and the pandemic we’re looking at Mauritius or Trinidad & Tobago. We’ve got some family and friends in Trinidad & Tobago. It’s going to be a honeymoon with our girls… and maybe a few days on one of the islands for just me and Ash 🙂

Thanks so much Zeleka and Ashley for sharing your story with us. If you’d like to create a honeymoon fund or gift registry you can sign up to Patchwork today and ask for what you REALLY want. Plus, we donate 50% of our sign up fee to your choice of one of three environmental charities. If you need someone to take all the stress out of wedding day logistics, check out Zeleka’s co-ordination services so you can just relax and enjoy your day!

Here are some of the amazing suppliers that made Zeleka and Ashley’s day extra special:

On the day coordinators: The Wedding Coordinators
Decor: The Wedding Coordinators
Celebrant: Bex the celebrant
Photography: Zaki Charles
Hair: Deborah Lola
MC: Travis Jay
Flowers: Ramels florist
Cake: Charlene at Cherry Tree Cakery
Zeleka’s Dress: Love Bridal, Crystal Palace
Venue: RSA House
Caterers: CH & Co
Groomsmens’ suits and Ashley’s tuxedo: TuxLux

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
black and white image of bride Amy (a young white woman with brown hair wearing a lace bodice wedding dress) and her newly wed husband Dom (a white man with fair hair and a short beard) they cross a road hand in hand, there is a large iron bridge structure above them and on either side and an urban street behind them.
Patchwork CouplesWedding Planning

An industrial vibe wedding and ‘Give List’ registry

by Rosie Hurwitz
written by Rosie Hurwitz

Amy and Dom met online back in 2017. Dom’s first message didn’t get a reply from Amy, but his persistence paid off with his second attempt! They live in the north west only 20 minutes from each other but Amy says “I don’t think our paths would have crossed if it wasn’t for Plenty of Fish!” They met for their first date in Liverpool, after accidentally walking past the bar she was meeting him in, Amy eventually found the door and Dom sat patiently waiting for her. After a round of crazy golf at Ghetto golf they enjoyed a few G&Ts to end the night. Amy and Dom got married in August 2021, joined by their large families. Their unique Patchwork registry included mini-moon activities, homewares, National Trust membership, charitable contributions and more! Read on to hear all about their traditional church ceremony followed by a relaxed and industrial vibe reception at the dockside Titanic hotel in Liverpool.

How did you get engaged?

Dom: Amy has a strong connection to the Lake District spending many happy holidays there growing up at their family cottage. I always had in my mind that it’s where I’d propose. A year earlier we had walked up a hill and sat on a tree swing watching the sunset. I knew then that it would be the perfect place to propose.

Along came Covid and lockdown, and as soon as we were allowed to, we headed for a weekend in the Lakes. I’d imagined a glorious summer evening with the sun setting, just as it had the year before but in true Lake District fashion it was grey and raining! I coaxed Amy out for a walk, I think she wondered why I was so eager with it being so miserable outside and about to get dark. We walked up to the hill scaring all the sheep on our way. Amy was a few paces ahead and sat on the tree swing. As she looked up I was in front of her on one knee.

black and white image of bride Amy (a young white woman with brow hair wearing a lace bodice wedding dress and carrying flowers) she walks towards the camera smiling and behind her are two bridesmaids and an older man. Trees are in the background
Bride Amy (a young white woman with brown hair) and groom Dom (a white man with fair hair and short beard) stand in front of the priest at ann ornate church alter on their wedding day with guests in the foreground all facing the couple.
Bride Amy (a young white woman with brown hair) and groom Dom (a white man with fair hair and short beard) leave the church and walk outside in to sunshine after their wedding ceremony as guests throw confetti over them.

What kind of wedding did you plan?

Amy: We both have large families so the most important thing to us was to have everyone there on our special day, especially with what had been going on with the pandemic. We struggled to find a suitable date and eventually landed on Friday the 13th! I’m not a superstitious person at all but Dom was a little more cautious!

We both wanted a traditional wedding with a church service followed by a reception venue to reflect our personalities. We love industrial architecture so we knew the Titanic hotel in Liverpool was the perfect fit as soon as we walked through its doors. Its dock side location, vaulted brick ceiling and stone floors, paired with its relaxed modern vibe.

Dom’s a graphic designer and created all of our stationery and signage, and we’re both real sticklers for detail. We chose the amazing Mary Mary as our wedding florist. They have a real bold and contemporary take on floral arrangements and they really stood out to us. We also added other elements such as lighting that complimented the industrial space.

Bride Amy (a young white woman with brown hair) is carried by her new husband Dom (a white man with fair hair and short beard) they both look towards camera with big smiles. They are standing outside in front of a red brick wall

Did you have a first dance?

Dom: We’re big music fans and have quite an eclectic taste, we walked into our wedding breakfast to ‘Gettin’ Jiggy Wit It‘ by Will Smith and our first dance was to ‘Your Song‘ by Elton John. We made sure this was followed up by a few floor fillers to get everyone else up and cutting some shapes.

What was your favourite part of the day?

Amy: Now thats a hard question! The fact it could go ahead was a miracle. To have all of our friends and family there to celebrate with us really was the best thing we could have ever asked for. Dom arrived at the church in a Ferrari and I was driven to the church in my Father’s vintage Austin 12/4 motor car dating back to 1929 by the best chauffeur in the world – my Dad! That was such a special moment.

As I stepped out of the car I was greeted by the wonderful choir in full voice at the church, it makes me smile even thinking about it now. Our marriage service was so special as it was held at Our Lady’s in Lydiate. Dom’s family have a long history to the church dating back to 1854 when his ancestors were the first couple to get married there. Our marriage service involved both Father Grant the parish priest at Our Lady’s and my uncle the Rev Chris Turner which made it such a personal service. Walking down the aisle was so nerve wracking but as soon as I arrived by Dom’s side I felt like I could completely relax.

Dom: We had kept one secret from everyone which was a firework display. Provided by the amazing Fantastic Fireworks. We got everyone to join us outside on the colonnades overlooking the dock and handed out sparklers. The fireworks launched from a floating pontoon in the water accompanied by ‘All you need is Love‘ by The Beatles and ‘A Sky full of Stars‘ by Coldplay. Such an incredible moment and the perfect end to the evening, although saying that we did carry on partying until 4am!!

Why did you choose Patchwork for your wedding registry?

Dom: We were unsure about doing a wedding list at first as we didn’t really want people to think they were obliged to get us anything. After getting some advice from others we realised we could end up with all sorts of junk we didn’t want if it was something we didn’t do.

I had some friends that had used Patchwork several years ago and had thought it was a brilliant idea, so we knew this was the option for us. We just loved that we could make it so personal to us and that we could add so much more than just standard gifts, such as charitable donations, experiences and even just spending time with us. It was also really useful that we could also split more costly gifts such as a National Trust membership up into smaller chunks enabling it be be funded by several guests rather than expecting one person to gift it.

Image of a Give List wedding registry in an ipad

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

Dom: One of the beauties of Patchwork is the variety of gifts we were able to add. As soon as we set off for our minimoon to Barnsley house in the Cotswolds we were able to start ticking them off the list starting with a beautiful evening meal at their Potager restaurant followed by some cocktails and a morning in their Spa the following day all from our Patchwork.

We had all sorts on there from inviting us round for a meal, a pint in a pub, a tree to plant and even a microlight flight to the more traditional sorts of gifts such as a coffee machine and toaster. Amy has a big love of animals so we also included a donation to Woodlands Animal Sanctuary and Mercy Ships who Amy has served with who is a Christian charity that provides healthcare to those in need across Africa.

black and white image of bride Amy (a young white woman with brow hair wearing a lace bodice wedding dress and carrying flowers) and her newly wed husband Dom (a white man with fair hair and a short beard) they stand on a metal railing bridge over a canal with low-rise urban industrial looking buildings on either side.

What was the best bit about using Patchwork?

Dom: We loved how easy Patchwork was to use with lots of inspiration on the website with templates to inspire us. It was actually a really fun process setting it all up and it was very simple to change and add things as we went along, It was really nice that people could leave messages for us too and that everything was just in one place.

What did your friends and family think?

Dom: Friends and family thought it was a brilliant idea and that it really showed our personality with the different quirky things we had put on there. We had lots of comments about it. We’ve had friends who have since used Patchwork after seeing ours and we even know some of our guests have recommended it to other friends they have that are getting married.

We’d like to say a big thank you to you guys at Patchwork for making our gift list such a memorable one!

Thank you so much Amy and Dom for sharing these beautiful words and stunning photos with us! If you’ve been inspired to set up your own unique Patchwork Gift Registry, find inspiration in our weddings gift ideas collection, and take a look at our Give List template here to add some non-monetary gifts like Amy & Dom did!

Here are some of the amazing suppliers who made Amy & Dom’s day extra special:

Venue: Titanic Hotel Liverpool

Photographer: Nicola Thompson

Stationery: Unfold (designed by Dom!)

Dress: Lulu Browns

Flowers: Mary Mary Florals

Cake: The Red Button Bakery

Make up Artist: Lisa Armstrong

Hair Stylist: Kirsty Wilson

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

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Bride Eliza, (a white woman with dark brown hair), wearing a white long sleeved dress, and groom Phil (a white man with curly reddish hair and beard), wearing a light brown checked suit, both eat ice-cream cones standing in front of a red brick wall.
Patchwork CouplesWedding Planning

A perfectly small wedding and Year of Dates registry

by Rosie Hurwitz
written by Rosie Hurwitz

Phil and Eliza are both from Yorkshire but Phil was working in Birmingham when they first met through Tinder. Eliza says “we always joke that we both must have been desperate to find someone as odd as the other as we were hundreds of miles apart when we matched.” They spent the first few months having weekend holiday dates around the UK. “We had to travel so far to see each other we thought we may as well just go on holiday.” After a drunken night in the pub Eliza’s mum suggested Phil quit his job and come work with Eliza and her mum in their family run deli. Just three months later that became reality! Although Covid meant their wedding plans had to change, Phil and Eliza had a small but perfect wedding for 23 guests. Their friends and family all helped fund a Year of Dates wedding registry and they say they wouldn’t change a thing about their day.

Bride Eliza, (a white woman with dark brown hair), wearing a white long sleeved dress, sunglasses and dried flower headpiece in hair, and groom Phil (a white man with curly reddish hair and beard), both raise a can of drink in the air and are standing with arms round each other next to a little open sided train.

How did you get engaged?

Eliza: Phil booked us a night’s stay in a shepherd’s hut with a hot tub a few weeks before Christmas. He sent me flowers on the Wednesday before, with a list of things to pack along with a note saying he would pick me up from work on the Saturday afternoon. As we work together it was a miracle he managed to keep it a secret from me. Especially as he had to tell my mum and dad so they could help make it happen. 

An elegant white long sleeved wedding dress hangs on the outside of a cream wardrobe in a simple room. A dried flower head garland hangs on top of it.
White iced two tired wedding cake on plain wooden stand. Each tier has dried flowers around the base and two figurines of a bride and groom are on the top.

What kind of wedding did you plan? 

We originally planned an outdoor wedding in Glencoe, Scotland, in December 2020. Our idea was based around a relaxed weekend with our close family and friends; celebrating together with good food and beautiful scenery. We started planning a few weeks before the pandemic started and ended up moving our plans multiple times with different venues and suppliers. In the end we just wanted to get married so we decided to do it locally and have a garden party at home.

It was one of the hottest days of the year so couldn’t have been further from the winter wonderland wedding we had planned but we loved it. We saw penguins at the zoo, went on a train, ate ice cream, made pizzas, drank and danced the night away in our garden. Later on, we watched videos of our loved ones that couldn’t be there on the day. We even had a video from all of Eliza’s Scottish family dancing and singing to “All you need is love” to add to the madness. Everything about our wedding day was bonkers from start to finish and we wouldn’t change a bit of it looking back. It ended up being more “us” than we could ever have imagined thanks to Covid.

Bride Eliza, (a white woman with dark brown hair), wearing a white long sleeved dress, and groom Phil (a white man with curly reddish hair and beard), wearing a light brown checked suit. They walk down steps hand in hand after their wedding ceremony and are smiling and laughing as guests throw confetti.
Bride Eliza, a white woman with dark brown hair, wearing white long sleeved dress and dried flower head garland smiles happily with closed eyes as her mother faces her, smiling back and cups Eliza's face in her hands.

What impact did Covid regulations have on your wedding day?

We always wanted a smaller wedding but never imagined it would be just 23 of us. There are some friends and family that we wished could have been there, but it felt so special being such an intimate wedding. Our ceremony was probably the biggest affected aspect of the day as all the guests had to be in face masks. We were only allowed a super short ceremony – four minutes in total! It made all the worry and fuss seem daft as we were married so quickly in the end.

Bride Eliza, (a white woman with dark brown hair), wearing a white long sleeved dress, and groom Phil (a white man with curly reddish hair and beard), do "cheers" with slices of pizza and hold takeaway pizza boxes on their wedding day.
Bride Eliza, (a white woman with dark brown hair), wearing a white long sleeved dress, gives groom Phil (a white man with curly reddish hair and beard) a piggy back at their wedding party with friends all around them.

What was your favourite part of the day?

It finally happening! It was nothing like we ever expected but that made every second even more special (and bonkers). With all the changes and restrictions due to Covid, we didn’t have a first dance. We really just wanted to go straight into a celebration so just let our band go for it and get everyone together. Neither of us can even remember what the first dance song was but it certainly worked! Everyone was boogieing around for hours. It was an epic party, so unexpected but felt like we all just had a year of celebrations exploding in one day.

Patchwork honeymoon fund "A Year of Dates" in iPad

Why did you choose Patchwork for your wedding registry?

We found Patchwork through Instagram and just loved the idea. We knew early on in our wedding planning that Covid was going to restrict what we could do, so thought the idea of a Year of Dates would be perfect. It’s so easy to use and everything looks great. And Patchwork even let us ask our guests for treats for our little puppy, Aggie.

Bride Eliza, (a white woman with dark brown hair), wearing a white long sleeved dress, and groom Phil (a white man with curly reddish hair and beard), stand together outside. Phil holds their black labrador dog in his arms

What did you invite guests to contribute towards?

All the restrictions meant that we wouldn’t be able to go away on a traditional honey moon so we loved the idea of a Year of Dates. Our Patchwork was a mix of some of our favourite activities and things we have always wanted to do, or places we wanted to stay. We never thought so many people would get involved so think it might turn into a few years of dates!

Bride Eliza, (a white woman with dark brown hair), wearing a white long sleeved dress, sunglasses and dried flower head garland holds hand with her Groom Phil (a white man with reddish curly hair and short beard) Phil wears a light brown checked suit and holds Eliza's bouquet. They are both smiling widely and walking down a lane with red brick walls on either side

What were your favourite Patchwork features?

It was really fun coming up with ideas and designing our page together. We launched our Patchwork a month or so before the wedding so it added to all the excitement for the big (small) day, seeing our messages and gifts from our loved ones. The interaction with people was definitely a big bonus for us. We’ve been able to send our friends and family all around the world photos from the day. It’s made it more inclusive even though we couldn’t have many of our loved ones there with us.

Black and white photo of Bride Eliza, (a white woman with dark brown hair), wearing a white long sleeved dress, and groom Phil (a white man with curly reddish hair and beard), stand together smiling and looking at mobile phone - perhaps on a video call with family who couldn't be at wedding?
Black and white photo of Bride Eliza, (a white woman with dark brown hair), wearing a white long sleeved dress and dried flower head garland looks down and twirls her dress so that the tassles fan out at the back.

What did your friends and family think?

Everyone loved it, so much so we’ve already had 4 friends ask if they could pinch it for their wedding. We had a few people that still wanted to get us traditional gifts but it meant we got the best of both worlds.

Bride Eliza, (a white woman with dark brown hair), wearing a white long sleeved dress, and groom Phil (a white man with curly reddish hair and beard), stand outside in a field of long grass holding smoke bombs aloft
Bride Eliza, a white woman with dark brown hair, wearing a white long sleeved dress, flower garland in hair and sunglasses leans out of the window of an open sided little train to wave and smile at camera

What are you most looking forward to in your “Year of Dates?”

After a year or so of being locked away we are just so excited to get out and have adventures together again. It’s really exciting to be able to carry our wedding on for so long with our Year of Dates.

Thank you so much Eliza and Phil for chatting to us about your (beautifully) small wedding and Year of Dates patchwork. We hope you enjoy lots of fun dates together thanks to your generous friends and family!

If you’ve been inspired to set up your own Year of Dates gift registry, why not start yours now? If you’d like to see what other fabulous gift ideas our couples have inspired, check out our other wedding gift registry templates and have fun playing around!

Here are the amazing wedding suppliers who made Phil & Eliza’s day extra special:

Venue: @sewerbyhall and Phil & Eliza’s home with @floridamarqueesyorkshire

Photographer: @markhortonphotos

Wedding Dress: @ghostorchidbride @andforlove

Veil: @ghostorchidbride

Accessories: @diana_porter_jewellery

Groom suit: @cockofthewalkbespoke

Bridesmaid Dress: @asos

Bouquet and Flower crown: @wildgorse

Venue flowers: @binningtonblooms

Door wreaths: @flowers.rosebud

Cake: @anniesyorkshirecakery @rosehipandwren

Cheese Cake: @godminster @wensleydale_creamery @hunmanbypantry

Rings: @amipepperjewellery @pyramidgalleryyork @markveeversjewellery

Catering: @yorkswoodfiredchef @thecooksplacemalton @yobakehouse_wholesale

Bar: @mcmillansofmalton @thelibrarymalton @woldtopbrew @ravenhillbrew @westow_vineyard

Band: @hyde_family_jam

Favour Flowers: @elkandwolf_

Stationery: @leigh_calligraphy

Napkins: @bornbohohire

Hair Stylist: + Makeup Artist @khmakeupartistry

Beauty: @beauty_by_nats

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
group of friends making a toast over a shared lunch
Patchwork PerspectiveWedding Planning

What do couples really want as wedding gifts in 2021?

by Rosie Hurwitz
written by Rosie Hurwitz

Want to take a peek at what real life couples are including on their Patchwork wedding registry in 2021? With most couples living together before marriage, pots and pans and towels are usually already sorted. In more ‘normal’ times, money towards an exotic or adventurous honeymoon is most UK couples’ no.1 choice of wedding gift, but with travel still looking uncertain for many destinations well in to next year, couples are getting creative about what to add to their wedding registries and the experience of the last year is clear in the gift choices they are making.

three people making a toast with red wine glasses with black man out of focus behind

Wedding gifts of time together

After more than a year of not being able to see friends and family for celebrations and get togethers, couples are making sure they make up for lost time by adding ‘time with friends’ as an item on their wedding registries. 


So rather than asking for crockery sets or saucepans, couples are listing “invite us for dinner” as a gift option on their wedding registries. No money is exchanged, no gifts are wrapped, but instead the couple gets invited round for a home cooked meal and time spent with friends. The same goes for coffee dates and pub lunches… couples are adding “buy us a round at the pub” to their cash gift list. It’s a nice way of catching up with friends and family post-wedding and supporting their local businesses at the same time.


It’s been tough for those with relatives spread across the country or even the globe.. we’ve seen couples asking for money towards train fares or flights instead of traditional wedding gifts so that they can visit family and friends not seen for a year or more. 

old brass tap on stand by orange outside wall

Pay for the plumber

With engaged couples spending so much time at home together over the last year, they – like most of us – have had more than enough time to pay close attention to their walls, floors, and dodgy pipes. We’ve seen a huge increase in couples asking for cash towards home improvements – money to pay a plumber and an electrician featuring heavily. Whilst most couples can easily afford the smaller things like buying their own pots and pans and cutlery, it’s the bigger things like new kitchen units, or even a new boiler that they really want help with.

Other lockdown inspired items we’re seeing on Patchwork gift registries include contributions towards a puppy (are Jack Russells about to replace the Cockapoo?) We’ve also seen a rise in couples asking for cash contributions so they can expand their board game collection – (for pandemic-proofing date nights at home obviously.)

woman's hand planting seeds in pots in a garden

Green fingered wedding gifts

An appreciation for outdoor space has also meant a rise in couples asking for money towards garden furniture, plants and bulbs, and even contributions towards a hedgehog house. For those with a larger than average garden there’s always the option to add a tractor to your wedding gift registry. Or a flock of sheep. Yes this really happened.

Non-monetary wedding gifts include asking green-fingered friends to spend an afternoon gardening as their gift. Then couples get the added bonus of spending time with their nearest and dearest as well as receiving a present.

view across boats in harbour of Cornish fishing town

Date nights and local minimoons

Whilst travel is uncertain, couples still want adventure, even if that’s a bit closer to home for now.

Our “Year of Date Nights” wedding registry has been really popular, with couples adding experiences in their local area to be funded by friends and enjoyed over the first year of marriage. That might be trying out the posh new restaurant on the high street, visiting a local theatre or gallery, a hot-stone massage, a cookery course, or micro brewery tour. Couples get to treat themselves to new experiences and a bit of luxury in their first year as a couple; and also feel good about supporting local and independent businesses, who have struggled so much in the last 15 months.

We’ve seen a surge in couples inviting guests to chip in towards their minimoons to UK destinations, especially the Lake District, Scotland and Cornwall. Asking for money towards getting a campervan on the road (no airports or Covid tests to worry about) has also been popular with couples tying the knot this year. Expect a huge sales boom in walking boots and Kendal mint cake this summer.

Table set for breakfast on beach, overlooking turquoise ocean, The Maldives
Image courtesy of Turquoise Holidays

Honeymoon dreaming

For some couples though, the white sand and turquoise sea combination are still the ultimate honeymoon dream. A cash fund for a “beautiful island of somewhere” honeymoon is still one of our most popular options, with guests treating couples to cocktails by the pool, lunch on the beach, or a hotel upgrade for that “one day” dream honeymoon to no-one quite knows where yet…

However uncertain times are still, couples using Patchwork can feel secure that whatever happens and however plans have to change, their wedding gift money is safe and secure as it’s all sent direct to them to spend as and when they like. And with such organised and resourceful couples, we’re sure they’ll be ready to go as soon as restrictions allow… especially those super-organised couples who have thought of everything and even added quick covid tests to their registries.

Toilet rolls were so last year.

What would you add to your dream wedding gift list? With the Patchwork ‘dream machine’ you really can add anything and everything. Click here to get yours started.

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
woman painting a piece of art on canvas up against the wall
Gift Ideas

Top 10 wedding gift list ideas 2021

by Rosie Hurwitz
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!

view of mountains from back window of camper van

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!

A Patchwork art fund wedding registry in an ipad

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.

Kitchen sink with shelf above with jars of spice and herbs

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!

Autumn woodland scene

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.

A garden renovation patchwork wedding registry in an iPad

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.

apricot cockapoo puppy being held in arms

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!

table set for lunch showing plates of food and drinks

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.

ginger cat lying on cosy looking neutral bed showing wedding registry staycation

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?

sheep standing in field looking at camera

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 hello@patchworkit.com – we’d love to hear from you and share our top tips for how to create the best wedding gift list!




0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
A 'Fund our Wedding Photography' patchwork wedding gift list in an iPad
Gift IdeasWedding Planning

Alternative Wedding Registry: Fund Your Wedding Photography

by Rosie Hurwitz
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?

A bride with beautiful long red hair kisses her new husband. She wears a fish tail gown with a full net skirt. He wears a light beige suit and has short hair. Both are white. They hold a bouquet of flowers between them. The stand in the middle of a country lane and trees overhang them creating a dark canopy.
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.

Image credit: Laura Martha Photography

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

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Rainbow chalked on ground
Gift Ideas

Sunny Day Gifting: Digital Giving During Lockdown

by Rosie Hurwitz
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!

Sun shining from behind clouds in blue sky

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 in an iPad

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!

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Load More Posts

Pin It on Pinterest