Last year I had the great pleasure of meeting and working with the founders of the luxury wedding gift list service, BLUE RIBBON – Zsofia Jamieson and Esther Rulli. Zsofia was the former Global Head of Retail at the NET-A-PORTER Group and kindly gave a fabulous talk at Wedding Planning Excellence on “Improving your clients’ experience through upping your customer service game”.
Today I’m delighted Zsofia has answered a few questions for the blog about BLUE RIBBON and their premier wedding gift service and website that offers its customers a beautifully edited selection of timeless classics and unique, hard-to-find gifts from 50 contemporary designers and legendary brands.
Waterford, from £50
What inspired you to launch BLUE RIBBON?
I had a very long engagement and planned out every small detail with our wedding planner, months ahead. I was so excited and looking forward to our magical day. Since I had a destination wedding, I was very conscious of imposing on our guests, some of whom were travelling from far away places, and many were young professionals. I put together a small gift list and did not want people to think that we were expecting lavish gifts from them. And then … we were overwhelmed by our friends’ and family generosity!
Once the wedding was over, I started thinking, given my e-commerce background at the UK’s top luxury fashion website, how would I go about creating a perfect online gift registry that is easy and convenient to use for the bride and groom and their guests.
Waterford from £50
What services do you deliver to your brides?
When you are planning your lifetime together with someone, you want gifts that are timeless, and you want to combine it with a seamless and fun experience for you and your guests – just like you intend to for your big day. With BLUE RIBBON we have tried to do all the hard work for our customers. We’ve scoured the world for the best collections and most beautiful pieces that are hard to find online. And then we’ve added that personal touch by offering best-in-class customer service which includes handwritten notes in every order as well as complimentary monogramming and engraving. It’s very encouraging to hear people exclaim – why wasn’t BLUE RIBBON around when I got married?!
We aim to make every touch point for our couples an enjoyable experience, as the excitement builds up ahead of the wedding day: we offer complementary consultations to the couple, we consult the guests as to the best gift to get for the couple, we offer free delivery and can even hold the couple’s gifts until they are ready for their delivery – for example, if they are moving house or chose to take an extended honeymoon.
Dinnerware Tea & Coffee: Christofle Malmaison Coffee Pot, £1,541; Christofle Malmaison Tea Pot, £1,541; Christofle Malmaison Creamer, £806; Christofle Malmaison Sugar Bowl, £895; Christofle Malmaison Rectangular Tray with Handles, Large, £1,243; Gien Filet Bleu Coffee Cup and Saucer – Set of Two, £56.00; Gayle Warwick Whitework Napkin – White, £80.00; (just seen) Gayle Warwick Siena Placemat and Napkin Set – Blue, £140.00
Any advise for couples on how to choose items for their gift list?
I would always suggest that the couple pictures where they may live and what they may need in five or ten years time, so they don’t have to change or upgrade their furnishings only a few short years after getting married; I would suggest to focus on getting quality pieces that would last. I would get the best foundations for the kitchen, which would be the sturdiest cookware, an amazing and high-performing set of knives, and I would advise getting two sets of china: one to be used every day, even with kids running around one day, and another one for special occasions to wow your guests when you have them over for dinner parties. And of course a few sets of sumptuous forever-bedlinen.
We know so much about our brands and products and I have seen so many couples’ lives evolve from their wedding day to living together, to starting a family, so we know exactly how to advise them on their wedding list so it will keep on giving for many, many years to come.
Glassware:Christofle Malmaison Wine Carafe, £945; Versace by Rosenthal, Medusa Champagne Flute – Set of Two, £305.00; Gayle Warwick Filigree Placemat and Napkin Set – Light Blue, £120.00
What trends do you observe in the wedding gift lists at the moment?
We see a real desire to have personal and bespoke things, a nostalgia for the very exclusive and private nature of the trousseau of the past. Monogramming is one way to achieve that. When it comes to monogramming, there is something so special about receiving gifts with your new name, even before you get your new passport! It is thrilling – and personalised linen makes for a wonderful gift. Dhould you decide to keep your name, there is always the “his and hers” option, or a reminder of your your wedding date, which also work so well.
Because we are talking about things that will last you a long time, it is nice to keep it understated, almost like a secret that only you two know about – there is something very elegant about that.
Renaissance, POA
What is key when putting together a gift list that’s right for you?
Have fun with it and don’t overthink it! With a helping hand, this is a really fun experience to put your gift list together and our amazing stylists can help identify personal style and find gifts that are ideal for you and your home. We can then curate a gift list that is tailor-made for your tastes and needs; every single item will be used often and every single one will bring you joy as you use them. These will be the items that you will be delighted to receive and that will be treasured for a lifetime.
Blue Ribbon certainly know wedding gift lists and I can see why they are fast becoming one of the most exciting luxury players in the wedding industry, they have featured in multiple magazines and blogs, and were nominated in the UK Wedding Industry Awards, recognition for bringing exclusive high-end brands to the UK market. Thank you Zsofia for all your great advice and top tips.
