Including the Whole Family: A Wedding Gift Commission in Glass

Some commissions begin with a very specific design brief. Others begin with a collection of ideas that need to be brought together into a coherent piece.

This wedding commission started with a request for something Scottish and personal. The client was considering a number of possible directions, including a portrait, a clan crest and personalised engraving. Rather than developing these elements separately, the final design was created as a coordinated presentation set centred around the couple and their two daughters.

The completed commission comprised an engraved spirit decanter, a pair of wine glasses for the bride and groom, and two personalised highball glasses for their daughters. Although commissioned as a wedding gift, the design developed into something broader, becoming a keepsake for the whole family rather than simply a gift for the couple.

The decorative framework was based on our Chantilly lace inspired design, adapted to suit each piece within the set. At the centre of the decanter, the traditional circular medallion was replaced with an engraved portrait prepared from a family photograph supplied by the client. Rather than dominating the design, the portrait was integrated into the existing decorative structure, allowing the family itself to become the focal point while maintaining the balance and symmetry of the overall composition.

The accompanying wine glasses carried matching lace inspired motifs together with the couple's names and wedding date. Separate highball glasses were then prepared for each daughter, personalised with their own names so that every member of the family was represented within the finished set.

To reinforce the Scottish theme requested by the client, the phrase Tha gaol agam ort ("I love you") was incorporated into the designs, providing a simple and personal message that connected the individual pieces together.

As with many bespoke commissions, the final design differed significantly from the starting point. What began as a discussion around portraits, Scottish heritage and personalisation evolved into a coordinated family presentation set, prepared specifically for a wedding celebration and engraved by hand in our Fife studio.

It is often these projects, where several ideas are carefully combined into a single design, that best demonstrate the role of artwork preparation and design development before engraving begins.