Wedding season is upon us, and not just that wedding

Wedding season is upon us, and not just that wedding. While certain high profile couples have asked for donations to their favourite charities instead of setting up a wish list, there are plenty more who haven't.

What's worse is, it's the ones that you are actually going to be invited, where presents will be required.

Wedding lists from major stores certainly help with the perennial question of what to buy, but if the couple in question are close friends or relatives you may want to get something a little more personal or thoughtful than another toast rack. Besides does anyone have time to use toast racks these days?

Gifts with Heritage

One thing that the princess-in-waiting will probably not be short of is antiques. But antiques can be a great and unique wedding gift for any bride and groom. Obviously if the couple you are buying for have no taste for such things, then they are not the best idea.

But in terms of interior design an occasional antique can fit well into any home. If you know the couple well enough, then this kind of gift may just be the right one to surprise and delight

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Vintage or Antique?

Vintage lamps are generally the ones reflecting the different styles from the twentieth century, with stylish designs from just about every decade of the 20th century. If you are buying for a retro-chic lover, then the choices are wide.

Design classics from the fifties, sixties and seventies are all good choices and should be very well received indeed. Antique lamps are the older styles from previous centuries and for couples who are already passionate about antiques; this is a good place to start the search. Classic Georgian Wedgwood styles make stunning and often subtle design statements.

These can easily be incorporated into a range of interiors, creating subtle ambient lighting effects in an understated and stylish way. Other possible styles include Japanese and Chinese porcelain and earthenware lamps. Japanese style is often simple and minimalist, creating a look that can find a home in even the most modern design.

Chinese antique lamps are often based on highly decorated porcelain, detailed, colourful and visually strong in impact, these can be incorporated easily into a period home, but used in the right way will fit into any scheme.

Buying Antique Lamps

Sourcing antique lamps is no hardship, like so many things today, they are easily found from specialist suppliers on the internet. They can of course be found in antique stores and auction houses, as well as specialist shops. The advantage to using specialist suppliers, either on line or off, is simply that they should be able to find specific models and designs while also offering services to ensure that your purchase will be adapted for use with electric fittings.

In addition find a supplier who can help you to choose the shades for your piece, or create bespoke lamp shades to suit the colouring and design of the antique lamp itself. There are a range of sources and suppliers and costs and services vary, so it certainly pays to shop around. It is, without doubt, necessary, to have an antique or vintage lamp rewired by a licensed electrician, before the pretty wrapping paper and the ribbon!

Design Classics

In terms of design, antique lamps could be considered to be the 'little black dress' of interior design. For this reason they are popular with period home owners and lovers of modern design alike. In the former they fit seamlessly into the design scheme and yet can sit comfortably in the midst of modern minimalism making a bold, unique statement.

Getting the atmosphere of our homes right is crucial, we spend much money investing in them, and creating the right atmosphere in them is the secret that turns a house into a home.

Antique and vintage lamps provide the finishing touches to subtly displaying our unique taste and creating a cosy, homely feel.

As a wedding gift an antique lamp can be a wonderful gift, whether this is first time or second time wedding, the couple will be looking to create a new home, which is going to be very much their own.

With a little help you're your unusual gift they will be well on the way to establish their own nest, whatever the style they settle on. As a wedding gift they are an unusual idea, but for the right couple they will be a firm favourite.

For antique enthusiasts antique lamps can be a great and unique present. Sourcing the right gift for the rechargeable tool lamp manufacturers right couple is not always easy, but as wedding season rushes upon us, consider this unusual gift, which for the right couple could be the perfect present.