Looking for a wedding gift that's a little more unique and personal? Something with a story behind it, rather than just another gift from a big box store?

When I'm choosing a significant wedding gift, there are a few things I look for. Ideally, it's something the couple will love when they first receive it, appreciate more as the years go by, and keep for a very long time.

But perhaps most importantly, it's something with a story and a personal connection.

That's what makes a handmade wooden bowl such a special wedding present.

Every piece I make is individually turned by hand in my workshop on Kawau Island. I work with sustainably sourced timber, much of it recovered from storm-damaged trees. Unlike a mass-produced gift, each bowl is made by one person, from a piece of timber with its own story and character.

For me, that's part of what makes giving a handmade piece so special. You're not simply buying an object; you're choosing something that has been made with care, has a connection to the place it came from, and can become part of the couple's life together.

A wedding marks the beginning of a new chapter, and I think there's something fitting about giving a gift that's made to last.

The New Zealand native hardwoods I work with are incredibly strong, allowing me to turn each bowl to a refined, often delicate-looking shape while retaining the strength needed for everyday use.

Whether it's used to serve a salad at family gatherings, hold fruit on the kitchen bench, or simply sit on display, a well-made wooden bowl can be enjoyed for decades.

I like the thought that a piece given as a wedding present might one day have its own story to tell — perhaps it will have been used at countless family meals and eventually passed on to the next generation.

It's a lovely way for a wedding gift to become part of a couple's shared history.

One of the things I enjoy about turning wooden bowls is that they can sit somewhere between functional design and art.

You might choose a beautifully shaped salad bowl or platter that the couple can use and enjoy regularly, or perhaps a more sculptural wooden art vessel that makes a statement.

You can explore my current collection available for purchase here.

And if you're finding it difficult to choose just the right piece, I also have gift vouchers available, allowing the couple to select something that particularly appeals to them.

For couples living overseas, or those with a New Zealand connection, a handmade wooden bowl can be a particularly meaningful gift.

For an overseas couple, it can be a lasting connection to New Zealand — something made here by hand that they can take with them wherever life leads. And for those who already live in New Zealand, it's a chance to give something that reflects the character and beauty of our own native timbers.

All my wooden bowls and platters are individually made in my workshop on Kawau Island, just off the coast of the North Island.

I primarily work with New Zealand native timbers, using wood from storm-damaged trees or trees that have been removed or trimmed for other reasons. No trees are felled to supply my work.

I feel strongly about making the most of timber that might otherwise go to waste. There's a real satisfaction in taking a piece of wood that has fallen and discovering the bowl or vessel hidden within it.

The bowl you choose has been made by an individual craftsperson, not mass-produced in a factory. It's a personal approach to making that I think adds something important to a gift intended to celebrate a marriage.

If you're interested in learning more, you can read about the process of making a wooden bowl.

I think it's important to know where something comes from.

Each bowl is engraved with my name, the year it was made, the type of timber used and its individual bowl number.

For example:

Gavin Brunton – 2026 – Pōhutukawa – No. 753

This small inscription gives the piece a clear identity, rather than being an anonymous object, it's a piece of work with a known origin and an individual history of its own.

If you'd like to make the gift even more personal, I can engrave the couple's names and wedding date onto the base of the bowl.

A lovely way to personalise the gift and create a lasting reminder of their special day. 

To arrange this, simply add personalised engraving to your order and include the names and wedding date you'd like engraved. I'll take care of the rest.

Of course, not everyone can attend a wedding in person. I'm very happy to send your chosen piece directly to the bride and groom on your behalf.

Just let me know the delivery address and when you'd ideally like the gift to arrive. I can also include a personal note from you, so your congratulations and best wishes arrive alongside the bowl.

When I make a bowl, I never know where it will eventually end up or the role it might play in someone's life. But I like to think that the pieces I make will be used, appreciated and enjoyed for a very long time.

Choosing a handmade wedding gift is a little different from buying something off a shelf. You're choosing an individual piece, made by hand from a natural material, with its own character and story.

And perhaps that's what makes it such a fitting way to celebrate a marriage: something beautiful in its own right, made with care, and intended to last.

You can browse the wooden bowls, platters and art vessels in my online shop, or get in touch if you've got a special request or you'd like a hand choosing something suitable.

Gavin Brunton
Wood artist and woodturner
Kawau Island, New Zealand