It is almost five years since Mintel last reviewed the retailing of wedding list services in the UK, and since then there have been a considerable number of developments in the sector. The proportion of bridal couples choosing a professional wedding list service has risen strongly, as has the average amount spent on gifts. There has also been an increase in the number of couples choosing more than one gift list provider, with one perhaps covering more basic household items and another for more aspirational items or lifestyle experiences. One of the most important trends has been the impact of technological developments, particularly the emergence of the Internet over the last few years.

The top four department/variety store retailers of wedding list services - Debenhams, John Lewis, Argos and Marks & Spencer - have increased their dominance of this market, driven by technological developments, flexibility and ease of use, their strong brand reputations and marketing campaigns, and their strong national presence. The market is increasingly polarising between these main volume players at one end and a number of small-volume, high-value specialists and online players at the other. With a few exceptions, other department stores, unable or unwilling to invest in the technology that is now key to success, have witnessed a decline in share, with some exiting the market altogether, while others have moved into wedding account services rather than operating gift lists.

The concept of wedding presents has really changed over the last few years. People tend to get married later, and both bride and groom will, in all likelihood, be equipped with at least the basics. This means that guests have quite a challenge when it comes to choosing a present that they can be confident the couple will welcome. In the not-too-distant past the typically conservative British consumer would have felt embarrassed about giving or sending out wedding gift lists, but these have become much more acceptable nowadays - most people see them as the practical and sensible way of buying a present that the couple actually want.

The compilation of a list and registration with a reputable wedding list service has the benefits of giving the bridal couple peace of mind and enables guests to choose the gifts they know the couple want without fear of duplication. The days of receiving two or three toasters or the same number of randomly chosen tea/dinner services that are not to the couple's taste should be well and truly over. Many couples now opt for a professionally managed list as managing it themselves can be very time-consuming and it can be difficult to keep track of who has bought what. One industry respondent went so far as to say that guests buying something not on a gift list, which the couple had spent a great deal of time and effort in putting together, were actually insulting the couple in spurning their choice.

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