Wedding Gifts: What’s the Etiquette?
If you’re worrying about what gift to get once you’ve been invited to a friend’s wedding, you’re not alone. Getting the balance right often makes us a little nervous.
Should you buy something ostentatious and over the top? Or something a little less obvious? Perhaps a gift that’s somewhere in between?
To help you decide, here’s our quick look at wedding gift etiquette:
1. Is There a List?
One of the first things to check for is whether there’s a wedding present list. Many couples have one of these nowadays as it saves a lot of trouble for guests trying to pick and choose the right gift. You’ll normally find items in various price ranges so you can stay within budget much easier.
Our first tip: If there is a list, ignore it at your peril.
2. No Gift Weddings
There are such things as weddings with no gifts and they are more popular than you think. Many couples who are operating on a budget want to make sure that their friends and family aren’t put under pressure.
They might stipulate no gifts or they may suggest you make a contribution to charity if you do want to buy something. Again, stay within the rules set out by the couple – it’s their big day!
3. Couples Who Prefer Cash
It might appear unseemly to ask for cash up front but it’s again not that unusual. Dowries and the like have been part of wedding celebrations going back thousands of years.
There are some pretty sound reasons for asking for money, particularly bearing in mind how much weddings and honeymoons cost nowadays. Put aside your own sensibilities and make a contribution if this is what the couple wish. Or maybe a cash voucher for somewhere they can spend the money like a spa day away together.
4. Personalising Your Gift
Whether you have a lot of money to spend or not very much, adding some personalisation to your gift can make a huge difference. You might want to add a poem to your card or include something like a collage of photo memories. All this shows that you have taken time and effort and thought about your gift. It will certainly be appreciated.
5. Taking Gifts to Weddings
Most people take their gifts to the wedding with them. You shouldn’t wait patiently to give it to the bride and groom personally. There’s usually a spot in the reception where presents can be left safely.
If you have something more personal like a family heirloom, it might be better to give this to the couple before the wedding day. If you have splashed out on a big gift, rather than worry about getting it to the reception, have it delivered to their home at a convenient time instead.
6. Keep to Your Budget
When you get invited to a wedding, you’re not normally included on the guest list because you can afford a big present. Always keep within your budget and don’t spend more than you can afford. If you’ve received your invitation early enough, of course, you might want to save up some money because it’s the wedding of a special friend or family member.
Just remember that gifting is just a small part of the big day and keep things in perspective. If you do want to buy a bigger present, try getting together with other guests and increase your purchasing power together. This is perfectly acceptable and something that is well-appreciated if it gets the couple something they really need.
Wedding Gifts from Gifts from Handpicked
At Gifts from Handpicked, we have a brilliant range of hand-picked wedding gifts that are perfect for the big day, everything from coasters and keepsake tins to elegant photo frames. Again, everything for every budget and for every style of wedding, lavish or seclusive.
