How times have changed! When my wife and I planned our wedding in 1951, our family and friends, knowing that we had already collected numerous household items in our “bottom drawer”, asked us to give them a wedding gift list.

The items on this list omitted the more expensive requirements, such as bed linen or a canteen of cutlery or a wireless (which we hoped our respective parents would buy for us), and the range of objects would extend from individual kitchen utensils to an electric iron.

I have just received wedding invitations from a grandson and a nephew, both of whom have lived with their partners for years and have amassed possessions (such as the latest in hi-fi equipment) that most of us can only dream of.

Each of the invitations tactfully point out that the two couples have already set up their homes and they don’t have traditional wedding lists. However, one invitation says they would be pleased to receive vouchers towards their honeymoon in the Maldives.

The other invitation says travel vouchers would be nice and a facility has been set up with “thomascookhoneymoons.com”.

We have David Cameron telling us that his government will make it beneficial for couples to marry – perhaps his slogan should be “Get married and get a free exotic honeymoon”!

Alan Coombe Portisham Place, Strensall, York.