Love you can feel: Experiential gifting is replacing traditional wedding presents
From honeymoon funds to bespoke travel itineraries and wellness retreats, today’s newlyweds are swapping material gifts for meaningful experiences designed to create memories instead of clutter.
Wedding gifting is no longer about box-fresh appliances or pristine chinaware. Modern couples are living together before marriage more than ever, meaning kitchen sets and home décor often feel like a repetition of what they already own. The real desire now? To begin married life with something unforgettable. Experiential gifting—personalised trips, unique cultural adventures, or wellness-focused escapes—has emerged as the most meaningful way to celebrate love after “I do.”
Luxury hospitality consultant Ridhaa Kapadi, founder of By The Boutique, sees this shift every day. “There’s a noticeable move away from material gifts toward experiences that create shared memories,” she says. “Newlyweds today already have what they need materially; what they truly value are moments.” Instead of gifts that gather dust, they want stories they’ll tell forever.
Forget things, gift time and emotion
The appeal of experiential gifting stems from intention. Wedding planning expert Anjali Tolani, Vice President–Celebrations at Tamarind Global Weddings, explains: “Wedding couples are choosing curated holiday destinations, wellness weekends, and personalised travel experiences that allow them to completely decompress after the wedding.” She notes that guests are also catching on, with honeymoon funds and travel vouchers becoming popular gifting options.
The value lies in presence, the chance to reconnect after months of whirlwind planning. As Kapadi puts it, “A journey becomes meaningful when it feels curated rather than commodified. Personal touches and moments of discovery create emotional resonance.” Whether it's a spa day or a once-in-a-lifetime cultural encounter, the experience is designed around the couple, not a registry checklist.
The experiences newlyweds are choosing
Relaxation remains high on the post-wedding priority list. “Many couples choose wellness-first holiday experiences,” says Tolani, “while others prefer immersive cultural travel — exploring cities, local traditions, cuisine, and authentic cultural exchanges.” Adventure-seekers, on the other hand, are requesting safaris, trekking circuits or water-based activities, trips that align with their personalities.
There’s also a growing desire for unexpected destinations. According to Mir Musa Baghirzade, Sales Director at Turalux: “Central Asia is rapidly emerging as a favourite for experience-based gifting, especially heritage routes, boutique train journeys, and culturally rich itineraries.” With ancient Silk Route cities, dramatic landscapes and local immersion woven into every itinerary, these places feel less like a cliché and more like a discovery.
Baghirzade says the magic lies in the uniqueness: “Travel is becoming a meaningful extension of wedding celebrations, and guests recognise that shared moments hold greater value than material possessions.”
The personal touch matters most
If traditional gifting was about function, experiential gifting is about feeling. Couples want a bespoke journey, not a pre-designed brochure itinerary. “Plans that move at their pace, with elements personalised to their story,” is what Tolani says couples expect now. A welcome hamper tailored to their tastes or a private dinner in a hidden corner of the property can turn a trip into a milestone memory.
Kapadi believes thoughtful details define the new honeymoon: “Personalisation is everything. Rituals, handwritten notes, and tailored itineraries are what transform a stay into a memory.” Baghirzade adds that exclusive access, like meeting artisans or attending private cultural showcases, makes an experiential gift truly unforgettable.
The beauty of this shift is that it prioritises love over logistics, intentionality over impulse and connection over consumption. As Kapadi predicts, “Milestone travel will become less about ticking off destinations and more about celebrating meaning and memory-making in thoughtfully chosen places.” For today’s couples, the most cherished gift isn’t something that sits in a cupboard; it’s something that stays in their hearts.
Lead image: Pexels
Also read: Heirloom-worthy wedding accessories that aren’t your mum’s old-school jewellery