There are few greater pleasures in life than surprising someone special with a wonderful gift, and that smile on their face when you get it right is worth more than any amount of money. Whatever the occasion happens to be – from birthdays to Christmas, anniversaries to ‘just because’ – a well thought-out gift is a great way to show them just how much you care, and the more meaningful it happens to be, the better.
Whilst there’s no denying that expensive material items like luxury cars, designer watches and diamonds are almost always gratefully received, a gift that you’ve really taken the time to think about will often go down even better – so instead of simply splurging on something eye-wateringly expensive, opt for a personalised gift that is tailored just to them and their tastes, and is something that is guaranteed to stand the test of time.
Need some inspiration? Then we’ve put together four thoughtful gift ideas that are almost certain to go down a treat.
A curated photo book
A photo book might seem a little old fashioned when we’re so used to sharing all of our favourite pictures online these days, but it’s a wonderful way to capture memories and preserve stories in a way that social media and digital photo apps simply can’t.
Instead of just buying them an empty photo album to fill themselves, take the time to pick out some of your best loved shared memories and have them printed into a photo book they can keep – you can carefully curate your chosen images inside and play with a range of layout options, layering them up or creating collages to tell the desired story. You can add special messages and choose from a range of decorative touches to make it even more personal, and create a memento that is certain to be cherished and that they’ll be able to look back at whenever the mood strikes for many years to come.
From a special trip you took together to a significant occasion that holds great meaning to them, a personalised photo album shows thought and effort on your part, and is guaranteed to make a winning gift. And best of all, you can create and design it all from your mobile phone and send it straight to be printed and delivered to your chosen recipient – making a photo book an accessible and convenient gift to give, too.
Customised jewellery
Giving a more thoughtful gift doesn’t have to mean skipping the jewellery all together – in fact, quite the opposite. You can still shower that someone special with sparkling stones and pink diamonds if you know it’s something they’ll love – but the key to choosing something that really has that ‘wow’ factor is by again, adding a personal touch.
Choose a pair of earrings or a bracelet that features their birth stone, pick a pendant necklace with their initials on it or have a meaningful message engraved on the inside of a beautiful ring for an endlessly elegant and equally sentimental gift that will leave them speechless for all the right reasons.
An experience gift
Sometimes, the best gifts aren’t material at all, because the most meaningful thing you can possibly give someone is your time. With this in mind, organising an experience that you know they will love and that you can both enjoy together – from wine tasting or pottery making to a flight in a hot air balloon or a private jet – is an excellent alternative to more traditional gift choices, and will allow you to create memories together that will last a lifetime.
The trick here is to ensure that it’s something that they would really love to do, rather than something you would! And if that means participating in something that wouldn’t usually be your cup of tea, then so be it, because going the extra mile to make them happy will show them just how much they mean to you.
A subscription box
For a gift that keeps on giving, a subscription box is a great option, and over recent years, they’ve become increasingly popular, with boxes available to suit almost every taste and cater to every niche. From cheese and wine to books and stationery, beauty products to cooking kits, anything goes – so think of something they’d really love to receive in the post each month and that aligns with the things they enjoy, and go from there.
The arrival of each monthly box will serve as a delightful reminder of your thoughtful gesture, and the anticipation and excitement of what is to come each month will bring them joy time and again.
