REGIFTING presents, is it the height of rudeness or a guilty secret? And what do you do if someone buys you a chainsaw as a wedding present?
Three quarters of couples who took part in a recent survey said they had received at least one 'unusual' wedding present, including the chainsaw, a garden fence, banjo, children's clothing vouchers and a box set of Father Ted DVDs.
Half of couples also admitted regifting a present, with cutlery sets, wall art, ornamental statues and photo frames top of their list.
Victoria Square in Belfast asked couples to complete a survey and found that gift giving has changed over the years. In the eighties it was toasters and towels, while in the nineties mugs replaced toasters. The noughties saw bed sheets and wine glasses being gift wrapped and handed over on a couple's big day and in recent years photo frames have taken over as a the gift of choice.
In the past five years the most common gifts received were money (65 per cent) and home furnishings (36 per cent).
Presents that were regifted included cutlery sets, dinner sets, photo frames, champagne bottles, ornamental statues, kettles and wall art.
And here's the list of the more unusual gifts received:
A garden fence
Children’s clothing vouchers
Back scratcher
A banjo
Paper napkins
Personalised doormat
A book of popular children’s names
Hair brush set
Chainsaw
Teeth whitening kit
Hair straighteners
Box set of Father Ted
Orthopaedic pillow set
A spade
Kitchen bin
Fluffy lamps
Personalised clock
Chocolate fountain
12 dates - one for every month of the first year of marriage
Salt and pepper shaker
Lawnmower
A wooden spoon
Victoria Square is holding a wedding event on September 5 and 6 when it will launch its wedding gift list service which allows friends and family to contribute towards an online gift card, meaning a couple can choose how to spend the money across the shopping centre, in stores and restaurants alike.
For more information visit www.victoriasquare.com