The World's Most Desirable Gift List From Harrods

Last month I was invited to London’s most famous shopping store to experience a gift list like no other. The Gift Bureau at Harrods provides the ultimate in wedding gifts for discerning couples. Buying something here is not just about buying a present, it is about buying one-of- a-kind gift experience.

The second floor of the Knightsbridge store is where this enchanting journey begins. Over a glass of Champagne, a top Harrod’s consultant will gather all the essential details about your wedding in order to create a profile for your team of personal shoppers. The in-house stylist will then take you through seven floors of luxury homeware, art, perfumery and much more.

Harrods Gift List

During our visit we were shown some of the rare gifts currently available to Gift Bureau clients. Traditional tea lovers would delight in the uniquely crafted pink and white Wedgwood Tea Set of which there is only one in the world. Sushi fans could choose the crystal glass sushi bowl which comes with it’s very own sushi chef to prepare your food for you.

For those looking to personalise their gift, a beautiful silver tray can be handwritten on by a loved one and then engraved in exactly the same way. Fine art is always a popular choice for those wanting to build up their collections or if design is more to your taste then the gold clock that took over three hundred hours to create, would sit perfectly amongst a buyer’s repertoire of one-offs.

Harrods is renowned as a curator of luxury goods and so expect classic brands such as Frette and French designer Hermes to be sitting alongside heirloom pieces from Lalique, Lladro and Christofle. State of the art kitchen gadgets from Kitchen Aid and Espresso Demo, Zahah Hadid crockery, Society linens and Tom Dixon furniture accessories are amongst the many items which have been set out into easily accessible sections across the store.

Harrods Gift List

If, however, one is feeling less indulgent and more charitable, donations to a couple’s preferred charity can also be incorporated into the gift list.

To ensure proper gift list etiquette, we sought out the The Gift Bureau’s ‘Do’s and Dont’s’ for arranging a perfect wedding gift list:

Do

  • Register before sending your wedding invitations. Invitations are typically sent three months ahead of the wedding so start thinking about your gift list six months ahead of the wedding day to allow yourself plenty of time to research.
  • Include more gifts than the number of guests to ensure your guests have plenty of choice.
  • Select gifts that reflect your lifestyle and personalities as a couple.
  • Think less about what you need and more about what you would love as a couple.
  • A gift list is the ideal opportunity to ‘upgrade’ your home but if you have everything you need, charity donations, bespoke works of art, honeymoon and gift vouchers are modern gift list options.
  • Choose a gift list provider that allows you to combine all of these elements.

Don’t

  • Forget to share your gift list number with all of your guests. Most gift list providers will provide cards for you to share details with your invitations.
  • Close your list immediately after the wedding. You may have guests who buy gifts after the wedding day so it’s best to allow a couple of weeks before closing the list.
  • Don’t choose gifts all within the same price bracket. There should be a broad range of gifts in various price brackets to cover all budgets and consider including gift vouchers as a flexible option.
  • Forget to think long term. Whilst you may want to include some contemporary, on-trend items it’s always a good idea to include a selection of more traditional, heirloom pieces that will be cherished forever.

My day at The Gift Bureau was exemplary and full of attention to detail. I finished with a complimentary experience in the Champagne Bar and were informed that couples would also receive delivery of a surprise celebratory gift ahead of the wedding day. It is, by our standards, the fairytale shopping day.

  • The Gift Bureau is available in-store, online and by telephone ensuring complete accessibility and a stress-free, luxury experience for all.
  • For further information visit giftbureau.harrods.com