Wedding Gift Etiquette - The Do's and Don'ts Revealed.
Whenever we receive an invitation to a party, we’re always faced with the popular question “What can I give for a present?” As for weddings, preparing a gift is even trickier knowing that you need to consider not just one person but a couple who should be able to see the relevance of your present to their married life.
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If you’re attending a wedding party but you’re burning with etiquette questions, here are some rules to help you come up with a good gift shopping decision.
Buy a wedding gift from the registry.
When buying wedding gifts, there’s no need to be too creative. Most couples create a registry and curate an average of 125 items to choose from. This means you won’t have a problem getting creative within the couple’s wish list. You can search for the registry by going to their wedding website. Remember that the couple set up a wedding registry for a reason. Buying from the registry would assure you that you’re buying something they’d surely appreciate. If, by any chance, you choose to buy an off-registry item, you need to be sure that it is something you know that the couple will really love.
You’ll never go wrong with gifts for the kitchen, bed and bath.
Modern couples want unique twists on traditional wedding gifts from dining, kitchen, bed and bath departments. For dining gift ideas, you can opt for stainless flatware and a set of dishes that you can use with flexibility, either you dress them up for a formal dinner or you dress them down for a backyard barbecue. For the kitchen, you can give modern kitchen appliances, barware, cookware and even cookbooks. For bed and bath, think about a theme that would give a spa-like hotel feel such as a set of soft pillows, thick blanket, and hotel-like towels.
Spend what you believe is an appropriate amount.
The amount that you should spend on a gift depends on your relationship to the couple. Also, consider the couple’s location when deciding on the amount. Urban dwellers may expect a higher price range compared to those who live in the rural area. Here’s a sample of what you need to aim for:
• Urbanite: between $150 and $200 or higher • Close friend or close relative: between $100 and $150 • Relative or friend: between $75 and $100 • Distant relative or friend and coworker: between $50 and $75
Band together with friends for a group gift.
If there’s an item in the wedding registry which is out of your budget range, consider asking some other guests to jump on in and buy the gift together. Couples would normally appreciate how their favorite gifts, which usually are big-ticket items, are purchased by a group of friends. Such luxuries may seem unattainable if the couple purchases it on their own.
Send your gift within two months.
Nowadays, newly married couples don’t really encourage guests to bring their wedding gifts to the party. They don’t like to be bothered with moving the gifts from the party to their home. Instead, guests can take advantage of the numerous online registries available and courier services that offer 2-day shipping. When sending a gift, do your best to send at least within 2 months of the couple’s wedding. Have your gift shipped straight to the couple’s door to make everything else easier.
Cash as a wedding gift
There’s really nothing wrong if you want to give cash as a wedding gift. Most millennials choose to get married later in life and must have fully stocked their homes with essentials. They can use cash as savings or as pocket money for their honeymoon.
That wraps up our do’s and don’ts! What other wedding gift etiquette can you add to the list? Please let us know by hitting the comment box below.
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