A wedding gift list is a lovely opportunity for family and friends to give a present that will last a lifetime.  But all that mass-produced shiny paper and glittery tags can pose a dilemma for couples planning an eco-friendly wedding.

Don’t despair!  Encourage your guests to wrap your wedding gifts in reusable or recyclable materials using some of my top tips and advice on greener ways to wrap presents.

Wrapping with fabric

The Green Giving Company produce a beautiful selection of kerchiefs that can be used to wrap presents.  These kerchiefs are handmade in the UK and come in variety of fabrics.  They provide easy-to-follow instructions on how to tie your kerchief which can be downloaded from their website.

Also known as furoshiki, these traditional Japanese wrapping cloths can be used to wrap all kinds of gifts.  Mandy at Persimmon & Pine, who is based in Seattle, handcrafts artisan furoshikis in eco chic designs which she sells in her Etsy shop.

Another lovely idea is to ask each of your guests to wrap their gifts in a scrap of fabric that you can then have sewn into a beautiful keepsake patchwork quilt.  Not only will your quilt be a lovely memento of your wedding day, but it will likely become a treasured heirloom that can be passed down the generations.

Some great ideas for natural and eco-friendly present wrapping

• Brown paper
• String, twine and raffia
• Recycled tissue paper
• Homemade cloth tote bags
• Luggage labels
• Handmade paper
• Hessian bags
• Old maps or sheet music

Top Tips for greener gift wrapping

• Sticky tape is not recyclable, so why not fasten your wrapping paper with twine or string
• If you want to use wrapping paper look for recycled options or support a good cause and buy it from a charity
• Avoid using metallic and glittery papers that are not always recyclable
• Brown paper, used newspaper, or old magazines can be a lovely alternative for wrapping presents – tie them with colourful ribbons or raffia
• Natural foliage like ivy, hawthorn berries and pine cones can spruce up an ordinary parcel
• Why not skip paper altogether and use a pretty tin, bow or willow basket to package your gift that can be used again

Images from top: The Natural Wedding Company; Persimmon & Pine; The Natural Wedding Company; Red Stamp; Survival International