Present advice please

Meant to add, I think under the circumstances a "token" present to mark the occasion would be the thing, and speaking personally, I would have loved the personalised wine/champagne thing!

Yep, Moonpig do personalised bottles of wine and champagne

www.moonpig.com/uk/WinesAndSpirits

How about "buying" them a book in the British Library? You can choose a subject that suits them and the cash preserves their book. They are invited to visit their book! Present given, but not present in their house

I agree about the roses, but unforfunately they both hate gardening and have only a small 'back yard'!

Think it will probably be something donated on their behalf - I'm rather taken with Send a Cow, but not sure we can manage a whole cow!

Can see I'm not the only one thinking of something nice for the garden. If they dont have a garden how about somthing from your grandchildren? Get them to do a picture or a large Wedding card.

There is a lovely climbing/rambling rose (can't remember which) called "Wedding Day" and also one called "Congratulations. I believe it is a good time of year to but and plant roses, but of course bear in mind if they have a garden or indeed actually like roses!

I also like the idea of champagne or wine, I think Moon Pig do them with personalised lables?

My dgc gave me a rose called Special Occasion for my 80th birthday.

A rose bush from David Austin.

When one of DD's friends got married, her DH- to- be had lost both parents to cancer so they asked for donations to Cancer Research instead of wedding presents. A lovely gesture and I imagine a meaningful amount.

Or plant a tree -The Woodland trust does this I think.

When a cousin who had worked for a NGO in Africa married her long-time partner who isn't short of cash, I donated some goats for Tanzania (I think) through Save the Children. The family donated chickens for me one Christmas.

What about a luxury hamper you can have them delivered suitably wrapped.

Thanks for the suggestions. I like the idea of a charity donation but will have to give some thought to what might be suitable.

If they really mean no presents how about a donation to a charity close to their hearts? I did that for a friend (MacMillan) who had BC a few years ago. Alternatively theatre or concert tickets, a rose bush with a suitable name or voucher for dinner somewhere nice?

Jo Malone do some wonderful scented candles,you can get them for different occassions and they last such a long time a beautiful present.

In a similar situation, but with a slightly younger couple I sent a boxed set of a bottle of pink champagne and two glasses. I cannot remember where I bought it but a good search online might locate such a set.