When your BFF ties the knot, it hits different. It means so much more than a colleague or old uni pal getting hitched (unless of course, they’re the bestie in question), yet promises to be less stressful than a sibling or family wedding.
Whether they’re the bride or groom, you know them in a way very few people do, and can be there for the fun parts (pre-wedding party-planning) while also being a sounding board and hand-holder for the inevitable mountain of wedmin that’s to come.
It also means that when it comes to finding the perfect gift, the pressure is on - but the options are plentiful. You could reference an in-joke, or get them a little something to enjoy all for themselves, separate from their other half. A wedding may be about two people, but there’s nothing stopping you spoiling your best mate exclusively on this landmark occasion.
If you’re stuck for ideas or could use a little inspiration, we’ve curated an edit of winning gifts to give your favourite pal as they head down the aisle, or to enjoy as a newlywed.
From party PJs that’ll make for excellent ‘morning of’ pictures to chic luggage sets to pack their honeymoon wardrobe into, here are the best wedding gifts for your best friend.
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Liberty Love In The Air Suitcase Hamper
Hampers are a failsafe option for big occasions. Liberty’s version packs various treats into the sweetest Love in the Air-print suitcase that’s themed on romance. Inside is a bottle of champers and a selection of rich chocolate truffles, ready to be enjoyed with a significant other or savoured alone. Hand it over with pictures of your special moments together, and keep the tissues on standby.
Buy now £165.00, Liberty
John Lewis Country Floral Print Filled Willow Wicker Picnic Hamper
On the face of it, a picnic basket, filled with crockery and cutlery, is an excellent gift for newlyweds. And it is, only you can slip a note inside for a picnic date with your BFF once they’ve emerged from the ‘Just Married’ bubble. It delivers big on cottagecore with a cute floral print lining and plenty of space inside to place food and drink. A stealth wedding gift you can get in on as well.
Buy now £65.00, John Lewis
Sleeper Feather-trimmed twill pajama set
Nailing the ‘something blue’, Sleeper’s fancy white PJs are perfect for the night before the big day. Blue plume feathers edge the hem and cuffs of this lightweight twill set - and they’re detachable too, so you effectively get two high-glamour party pyjamas for the price of one. Comes in sizes XS to XL.
Buy now £325.00, Net-A-Porter
Anya Hindmarch Wedding Wow Box Medium
Known for luxe leather goods with a heavy dose of fun, designer Anya Hindmarch makes the perfect choice for wedding gifts. This metallic leather keepsake box is part of the wedding collection and includes silly gifts to make the bride smile: think a sex tips book and decision dice to settle who does household chores. Make it personal by adding a message which the brand can do in your actual handwriting.
Buy now £270.00, Anya Hindmarch
Anissa Kermiche Matte Breast Friends Vase
For your house proud breastie, designer homewares will make their heart sing. Anissa Kermiche may be best known for its love handles vase, but go for something different in the Breast Friends Vase. It’s on the pricier end of the spectrum, so you could club together with a few others and organise a flower subscription too. They’ll smile every time they look at it.
Buy now £410.00, Liberty
Katie Loxton ‘Bride’ Perfect Pouch, Pearlised White
If you haven’t got the deep pockets for designer goods, you can still find pretty bridal pieces on the high street. Accessories designer Katie Loxton is known for its pouches, handy little pockets to stash the essentials. This one is made for weddings with ‘bride’ in script on one side. Use it to stash another present - say spa or travel vouchers, or perhaps a silly card - for a cute gift she will cherish. When the day is done, she can keep it as a momento to hold her invites or casual wedding snaps.
Buy now £17.00, John Lewis
Oliver Bonas Jasmine Orange Champagne Saucers Set Of Four
In anticipation of all the romantic meals and dinner parties to come, Oliver Bonas’s set of orange-tinted Champagne saucers are what happy hours were made for. There are four in the set, packaged carefully in a box and ready for wrapping.
Buy now £24.50, Oliver Bonas
The White Company Scallop Edge Duvet Cover - King
Fresh sets for the matrimonial bed are the perfect wedding gift, and where better than The White Company, known for delivering on luxe homeware and furnishings? This set jumps on the scallop trend, adding fancy frills to pillowcases and the duvet edge for extra loveliness.
Buy now £85.00, The White Company
Watchify Custom Pearl Denim Jacket
A denim jacket is part of everyone’s wardrobe, but why not have one made up for the afterparty to ward off any chills? It’ll also make a non-naff gift for the hen party too.
Available at Amazon, this jacket comes in sizes 6 - 20 and is finished with a speckle of pearls and her new name in elegant script across the back. Cool doesn’t cut it.
Buy now £32.99, Amazon
Katie Loxton Oxford Weekend Holdall
As well as pouches, Katie Loxton also offers rather chic holdalls in its collection. Perfect for packing wedding essentials to take to the venue or using for newlywed mini breaks, the bag can be personalised with their new initial too, offering a thoughtful touch. Comes with an adjustable carry strap.
Buy now £119.99, Katie Loxton
The Portland Co. Personalised Mr And Mr Civil Wedding Papercut
A lovely piece of artwork to display in their newlywed home makes a wonderful memento of the most important day of their lives. This lasercut design can be made for same-sex and straight couples, adding personalisation like their names, wedding date and other wording underneath. Available in various colours and framed by an expert.
Buy now £38.00, NOTHS
Paul Smith Sunseeker candle
If your best pal burns all their cash on candles, now’s your turn to add one to their collection. Paul Smith’s Sunseeker candle is a thing of beauty, housed in a beautiful blue and yellow glass holder and with a scent that’ll remind them of Mediterranean holidays: think Italian bergamot, mandarin, and basil.
Buy now £65.00, Paul Smith
Hotel Chocolat The Dark Cabinet
Got a chocoholic on your hands? For something more special than the corner shop regulars, head for Hotel Chocolat where you can find this Dark Cabinet loaded wth smooth, rich, sweet treats. There are two trays of the brand’s finest chocolate to eat, with gourmet options like chilli-spiked truffles and blackcurrant rich bombes. One to hand over once the wedding diet is safely out of the way.
Buy now £65.00, Hotel Chocolat
Antler Clifton luggage set in taupe
Send them off to honeymoon in style with some of the smartest-looking luggage around. Antler’s Clifton luggage comes as a three-piece set (cabin, medium and large), with hard-case options that are perfect for the long as well as short haul. It’s available in a selection of colours, but we think a neutral taupe is perfect for newlyweds.
Looking for something less spendy? A Clifton vanity case will keep the essentials safe and is just £80.
Buy now £527.00, Antler
Boohoo Bride Silver Sequin Festival Trucker Hat
The wedding party bus has begun, and your gal is the captain. Deck them out suitably with this fun festival-style hat, festooned with white sequins, clear plastic crystals and letters spelling out ‘bride’ front and centre. A welcome change from a net veil to add a hedonistic edge to the hen or reception party that won’t break the bank.
Buy now £25.20, Boohoo
Roku Streambar
By connecting this Roku Streambar to their TV, you will gift your loved one the power to stream just about any TV show or film at the touch of the button, while also giving them the gift of superior room-filling sound.
It has HD, 4k Ultra HD and HDR built-in as well as a huge roster of entertainment, web and streaming apps like Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, Prime Video, Apple TV and many, many more.
Buy now £129.99, Argos
Ninja Woodfire Electric BBQ Grill & Smoker
Best for: BBQ Kings and Queens
Cooking functions: 7, Grill, Smoker, Air Fry, Roast, Bake, Reheat, Dehydrate.
Weight: 12kg
Dimensions: H34 x D46 x W46cm
Timed just ahead of the BBQ season, Ninja has launched this incredible machine, the Woodfire Electric BBQ Grill & Smoker. It combines the high-crunch, low-fat charms of air frying with another cooking method favourite - barbecueing.
Using real wood pellets, the machine can flavour all sorts of meats and veggies in the smoker, alongside six other cooking functions - including air fry. It’s made to be used outdoors but the 1.6m power cord will mean you need to stick pretty close to mains power, unless you’ve got a generator for camping trips.
Still, for big entertainers and throwers of garden parties its a gizmo that can do all your cooking for you. No more to-ing and fro-ing to the kitchen and hauling trays out of the oven: the Woodfire can sizzle sausages, crisp up chicken wings and make pork ribs extra tenders all in one machine, and make the potato wedges and charred corn too.
Most persuasive review?: “This grill is SO much less faff than a bbq, its so much easier and quicker to clean which is a big deal to me as I hate the clean up after a bbq. It’s quicker to heat, safer to use, has more control (no more food charred on the outside and raw on the inside) and more cooking options than any other outdoor cooking option I know of.”
Buy now £349.99, Ninja
