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One of the best wedding presents I have ever heard about was given to a couple who were moving to Paris. After changing jobs, relocating home and then paying for a dream wedding, their financial resources were beginning to run dry. Sensing this, one bright- guest pooled a group of friends together to find them a place, right on the Left Bank, put the deposit down and had everything organised for their arrival.

As it turned out, the new bride became pregnant within a few months and their gift- apartment was no longer idyll, so they moved again within the year, the couple still appreciated the thoughtful, as well as useful, present.

Of course, it's not every day something like this will be desirable, but there are always ways to give gifts which can be that bit more original and thoughtful. A friend of mine told me how she fell hook, line and sinker for a cousin of the groom at a recent wedding when she heard the present he had given the couple. It was salsa lessons - and created such a stir and wave of approval that everyone at the wedding party got a kick out of it -not least the Latino-loving couple!

While researching this piece, other suggestions such as a year subscription to The Irish Times newspaper (particularly good for couples living abroad), a "bicycle made for two" (for those romantic day-trips to be made) or an idyllic weekend in a beautiful Irish castle were ideas passed on to me. Another unique thought is to pay for caterers to visit the newlyweds in their home and create the gourmet meal of their choice. Classes to take together could be fun too - consider wine tasting or golf, or even a Ballymaloe cooking course. For the more daring duo, flying lessons, a trip by Concorde or a trip up, up and away in a hot-air balloon over-looking the Irish countryside are also wonderfully different - and you can be assured they won't be receiving duplicates!

There is a Swiss wedding tradition of giving a newly planted olive tree to a bridal couple, signifying how they will grow and flourish in unity and strength. Bearing this in mind, remember that whatever you give is a significant way of passing on your best wishes and good intentions - so make it special!

Salsa Lessons
What could be sweeter than stepping out to a few tunes together? Now that salsa is becoming more and more popular there are classes opening up all over the place. In Dublin, one particular venue is Tuesday nights at The Temple Bar Music Centre. The cost is £6 per class, per person, but a course of 10 can be arranged. Phone. 670-9202.

A Feast Fit for Kings
Before there's time for the couple to start bickering over cooking and cleaning duties how about treating them to the decadence of being catered for in the comfort of their own surroundings? The trend for gourmet home-dinners has never been so good. Contact Rachel at "Elite Dining" for more details. Phone 086-233-0904.

The Concorde Experience
After a champagne reception at Heathrow, the couple will fly in the manner of the world's best-known ambassadors: Concorde style. The trip takes a full day (as you have to fly to Heathrow first) and is priced from £995, which includes the return flight from Dublin. Call 'Amazing Days (01-846-4144) for a brochure of visit their website at www.amazingdays.com

Flying High
This is the chance to give a gift they'll never forge a birds-eye view by chopper or hot air balloon. By helicopter each hour is £55. Hot air ballooning costs from £153. Helicopter flights depart from Dublin airport and are run by Celtic Helicopters (phone 01-890-1349.) The balloon takes off from various sites in Co. Meath and Co. Kildare. For further details contact Amazing Days (01-846-4144).

And The Top 5 Things NOT To Get Newlyweds
Baby clothes
Self-help books
Smelly cheeses, smoked salmons or any perishables (for obvious reasons)
Paintings and most 'objets d'art'. (Unless you really know the artistic taste of the couple)
Holy pictures (enough said)