Wedding Gift Trends 2025: What Couples Really Want

Planning a wedding is not just about the ceremony, the décor, or the destination—it’s also about the thoughtful details that surround the big day, including one of the most traditional aspects: wedding gifts.

At Brightside Group, we bring over 15 years of expertise as a wedding planner in Geneva, crafting bespoke weddings, private celebrations in Switzerland, and memorable destination weddings across Europe. We’ve seen trends shift over time, and today’s couples often favour gifts that are modern, meaningful, and practical rather than traditional.

So, what’s trending for wedding gifts in 2025? After reviewing international wedding publications such as Brides, Axios, People, and The Knot, and observing the preferences of couples we work with across Geneva and Switzerland, we’ve narrowed it down to three main trends—plus a bonus insight on price expectations for guests.

1. Experiences Over Objects

In 2025, couples are placing a higher value on shared experiences than on material possessions. Instead of a toaster or another crystal vase, many brides and grooms prefer contributions toward activities that create lifelong memories.

• Honeymoon funds: Contributions toward a dream trip—be it a romantic road journey through Tuscany or an African safari—remain a favourite. For destination weddings in Switzerland, guests often gift Swiss experiences: mountain spa days, Lavaux vineyard tours, or private cruises on Lake Geneva.
• Subscription gifts: As highlighted by Brides, curated coffee, wine, or gourmet cheese subscriptions extend the celebration well beyond the big day.
• Curated travel experiences: Publications like Axios showcase concierge-planned culinary and cultural itineraries. As a luxury event planner, we see couples light up when guests contribute to something experiential rather than material.

Experiences don’t clutter a home—they enrich a couple’s journey together.

2. Practical, Beautiful, and Thoughtful

The second big trend is the shift toward meaningful practicality. Couples appreciate items they can use daily—elevated by quality and craftsmanship.

• Handmade homeware: Ceramic mugs, woven throws, or unique tableware are becoming registry staples because they’re functional and emotionally resonant.
• Local, refined essentials: In Switzerland and France, retailers such as Manor and Galeries Lafayette curate gourmet products, homeware, and lifestyle essentials that blend usefulness with elegance.
• Our local favourite: Feels Lake Home by Charlotte Amar—beautiful pieces that feel personal and enduring.

The key here is not extravagance, but thoughtfulness. A beautiful set of serving dishes a couple will use every holiday dinner is often more cherished than a flashy gadget that rarely leaves its box.

Charlotte Amar’s West sky story

3. Compact & Smart Living

Another major trend in 2025 is practicality adapted to modern living spaces. Couples often live in city apartments—Geneva included—where space is a premium. That means compact, high-quality appliances are favored over bulky ones.

• Small-but-mighty tools: Publications like Axios and the New York Post point to knife sets, rice cookers, and compact espresso machines among the year’s most sought-after items.
• Minimalist & elegant: The new standard is sleek, space-efficient appliances that make daily life easier without dominating the kitchen counter.

As wedding planners in Geneva, we guide couples to think about real-life usage—because great gifts should serve them beautifully for years to come.

💡 Bonus: How Much Should Guests Spend?

A common question for guests is how much to budget for a wedding gift. In 2025, sources like The Knot and David’s Bridal suggest an average of $100–$150 (approx. CHF 90–140) per guest, adjusted for closeness:

• Coworker or acquaintance: $50–75 (CHF 45–70)
• Friend or extended family: $100–125 (CHF 90–115)
• Close friend or relative: $150+ (CHF 140+)

If attending with a plus-one, it’s customary to increase your contribution—often 1.5x or double. That said, as experts remind us (and we agree!), thoughtfulness matters more than the price tag.

Final Thoughts from Brightside Group

Wedding gifts should reflect the couple’s values and lifestyle—whether that means unforgettable experiences, beautiful and practical items, or smart essentials for modern living. These 2025 wedding gift trends highlight a move from material to meaningful, thoughtful, and lifestyle-aligned choices.

For guests, the key is balancing generosity with personal connection. For couples, planning your registry should revolve around what matters most: memories, functionality, and sustainability.

If you’re planning a celebration—be it a bespoke wedding, a private celebration in Switzerland, destination weddings in Switzerland, or high-end corporate events in Geneva—our Brightside Group team is ready to help. With 15 years’ experience as a luxury event planner in Geneva, we ensure every detail reflects your story—from décor to gifts you’ll treasure for years.

Plan Your Perfect Registry with Brightside

Ready to curate a gift list that truly reflects your lifestyle? Contact us to design a registry aligned with your vision—whether you’re hosting in Geneva, the Swiss Alps, or beyond.

At the end of the day, a wedding gift is more than an item—it’s a way of saying, “I’m part of your story.”