Our Story

Where did the Idea for this Unique Wedding Gift Come From?

I have found it very difficult to find unusual gifts. The most memorable gift I have encountered was given to a good friend of mine. It was a wooden chopping board, divided in two halves, with a stick nailed to one half and an engraved plaque glued to the board. The plaque was beautifully engraved with a personal message and the wooden stake was designed to be placed in front of a newly planted tree.

I loved the sentiment of this pressent and tried to find something similar, however I could not find anything like it and decided to hand-make a few garden plaques for friends. Each plaque I made, resulted in several additional requests as many people who received the item loved it and wanted to give it as a gift themselves. The enthusiasm I have encountered for the KeepStakes inspired me to professionally produce these garden plaques and make them more widely available as a wedding gift and also for other occasions.

I called the company Tree from Me and it was launched in June 2005. In January 2006, I changed the name of the company to KeepStakes as it is a bit more snappy and memorable. The brands Wedding KeepStakes, Baby KeepStakes and Memorial KeepStakes were launched in October 2006.

I hope you like the plaques, I would really appreciate hearing your comments or suggestions.

Julie Begbie