The unspoken truth about getting married is that organising a wedding day is very hard work indeed.

For some it can be the most stressful event of one's life and with so much riding on a single day it's easy to see why. From organising venues, seating plans, menus and photographers through to wedding favours, invitations, honeymoons and bridesmaid dresses, the modern wedding can seem like a never-ending ‘to-do' list with a deadline that looms with every passing day.

The spiralling cost of staging a wedding only serves to heighten the levels of anxiety with even the most modest affair often running into thousands of pounds. More elaborate weddings can end up costing the equivalent of an average annual salary and for those planning the full works, even the calming presence of a professional wedding planner may not be sufficient to offset the stress of parting with a sum of money similar to that required to buy a good sized house.

Of course, come the wedding day itself the months of preparation, deliberation and family diplomacy will all seem worthwhile and money worries can be put aside for a week or two whilst a well-deserved honeymoon is enjoyed. But during the run up to the big day is there any respite from the relentless planning and organisation needed to pull off the ‘day of your life'?

Many couples may find some relief in choosing their wedding gift list together.  When organising a wedding it can often feel as though it's all about the guests and less about the bride and groom. But picking a wedding gift list can be a relaxing, self-indulgent occasion which encourages couples to think closely about their lives together and consider the type of things they might need to set up home for the first time. A well chosen gift list starts to define the common interests and shared values of a couple and can be a timely reminder of what's best in a sharing partnership.

As you'd expect with anything to do with planning a wedding, selecting the right gift list can itself be a complicated affair with a huge range of options available including gift lists operated by department stores and specialist retailers. A good starting point would be a gift list based on retail gift vouchers and gift cards covering a range of interests and tastes for both partners including DIY and home improvement vouchers for setting up home together.

Deciding which gifts to add to a list may still prove an anxious process but when compared to the stress involved in designing a table seating plan or choosing the perfect wedding flowers, then putting together your wedding gift list may very well seem like the best part of organising a wedding.