Check for a gift list before buying anything, most UK couples put one together specifically so guests don’t have to guess, and buying from it is the expected default, not an obligation but the norm.
If your budget doesn’t match anything on the list, buy something similar in style rather than going off-list entirely, a comparable item at a lower price is a completely normal substitute. For a pricier item you can’t cover alone, teaming up with another guest to split the cost also works.
- A personal, off-list gift is fine, just not the default — a couple will still appreciate the thought behind it, but expect it to be treated as the less common choice rather than an equal alternative.
- Don’t expect a thank-you right away — proper etiquette gives couples until about a month after the honeymoon to send thank-you notes, so a delay isn’t a sign anything went wrong.