Hi! Your very own personal elves here!
We all have that person who smiles politely on Christmas Day and says, “You shouldn’t have.”
And… they might mean it.
This year, we’re making sure everyone finds something they actually love under the tree. How? With a set of honest, helpful Personalised Christmas Gift Guides for the real people in your life — the father-in-law who has everything, the teen who only grunts, the new parent running on coffee, the colleague you drew for Secret Santa… you get the picture.
We need your help
We don’t want generic lists. We want your real people. Tell us who’s tricky, why they’re tricky, and what’s flopped before – and we’ll create a mini guide just for them (aka just for you).
Because if you’ve got an Aunty Karen, a cousin Ross, or you picked Barbara in accounts… someone else has too. So we want to make a guide that’ll sleigh for the many, not the few.
How it works (as easy as 1–2-tree)
- Tell us about them – name, how you know them, age range, likes/dislikes, and why they’re hard to buy for.
- We craft the guide – we’ll share tailored ideas inspired by your brief.
- You gift like a pro – fewer awkward “you shouldn’t have” moments, more “this is so me!”
When to look out for your guide
All through November, we’ll send two emails a week packed with thoughtful ideas to inspire your gifting, make shopping easy, and help make Christmas 2025 memorable for the right reasons. Keep an eye on your inbox for your very own Personalised Christmas Gift Guide.
What to include (so we can check it twice)
- Their name (real or a nickname is fine)
- Who they are to you (Mum’s partner, teenage nephew, BBF)
- Age & vibe (rough age is fine)
- Likes / no-go zones (loves walking, hates clutter, allergic to novelty socks)
- What you’ve tried (and why it missed)
- Budget (optional, but helpful)
Why personal beats generic (yule thank us later)
Because gifts that feel meant get used, loved, and remembered. We lean towards memory-making, low-faff ideas (you know us), sprinkled with practical wins and options you can personalise.
Psst… if you’re new here, A Year of Dates started from a unique Christmas gift which led to a range of gifts that is all about simple, joyful moments together. Expect ideas that create stories, not clutter.
How to share your tricky person
Pop us an email to hello@ayearofdates.co.uk or complete our contact form with your details and include as much information as possible
We’ll do the elf-ort. You take the credit. 🎁
With love,
Kate & John
Head Elves
Handy FAQs (so we can wrap this up)
Can I ask fro help with more than one person?
Absolutely – the more the merrier (and the more useful the guides become).
Will you use their real name?
We’ll keep identifying details light in the public guides (Aunty K is safe with us).
Do I have to buy from you?
No pressure. Our guides are genuinely helpful first.
If one of our gifts fits then great – if not hopefully it will be right for someone else reading the guide
If we can’t help then we’ll also include some other small independent brands we know and love that are relevant
