It's More Than The Thought That Counts

A look at the neccessity of luxury gift giving and the circumstances where you can get away with a little less.

The wedding season is upon us once again and all guests will be going through that dilemma of what present to give. There will be factors that dictate what kind of present to take, including the budget, but (and I don't expect you men to understand this) if your budget doesn't meet the standard of the wedding, the budget has to change.

Think about it. Turning up to a football stars wedding with a two slice toaster from a catalogue store just isn't going to cut it and the chances of you being asked back for the renewing of the vows (read: more present collecting) is slim. On an occasion of such grandeur a luxury gift is going to be expected. When you see the pink creations that have turned the design of this wedding into one big marshmallow you will wish you could have bought them taste for their wedding but it's not available and it's their big day, so put the smirk aside, keep your smug remarks to yourself and proffer your luxury gift at the altar of the newlyweds.

Of course, if you are attending the registry office wedding of the six months pregnant, sixteen year old unemployed couple off the estate then a two slice toaster will be much appreciated and if this is the best your budget will stretch to then you need feel no shame. A luxury gift given at this wedding will probably be pawned later in the day for a keg of cider and a job lot of Benson and Hedges.

The wedding gift says much about the giver. I appreciate that, once again, the men will not understand this theory but the women will, without fail, see the relevance of the right luxury gift given on the right occasion. When the couple sit and unwrap their presents the day after the wedding, do you want to be seen as a cheapskate? Do you want to be seen as the person with no taste? Do you want your gift to be donated to the next car boot sale?

Something well worth remembering when you give a gift is that you will obtain something of similar worth when you next invite them to any gathering of yours. If we're talking the couple from the estate with the toaster, then barbecues are a good event to bring them to. You can live with a cheap packet of sausages, just give them to next doors dog. But if it's the wanna be celebrities that you intend to invite back at a later date, make sure your luxury gift is well labelled as to who it was from.

I spent years trying to get rid of a hideous two foot tall owl ornament that my grandmother gave me as pay back for a useless Christmas present. It's worth remembering that, with age, you don't get better at faking excitement over a useless present, it becomes harder to disguise the distaste and disappointment. And this can cost you friends. It's better to kick start the luxury gift giving when the chance comes up because, although you may be temporarily skint, you will be repaid with gifts of a similar standard and not subjected to boot fare and a lack of friends. And men don't understand the importance?

About the author: Expert buyer Catherine Harvey looks at the plethora of Luxury gifts on the market today.