Wedding Gift Etiquette

Wedding Gift Etiquette – A Few Pieces of Advice

 from Bridal Fantasy

Wedding gift etiquette. Guests want to know how much, and what is appropriate. Parents of the happy couple, or the bride and groom themselves, wonder if a formal gift opening is an expectation. And when should thank you cards be sent?

As an authority on all aspects of wedding planning, Bridal Fantasy is pleased to provide some insight into wedding gift etiquette. We even toss in some unique wedding gift ideas.

Wedding Gift Etiquette: For

 the Bride & Groom

• Do not include gift registry or "cash only" notes on your invitations. While it may seem a courtesy to provide suggestions for wedding gift ideas, it is considered rude to print this information on the invitations. It places too much emphasis on gifts, rather than the honour of the guest’s presence.
  Gift registry information, however, is acceptable as an insert in shower invitations or spread by word of mouth. Another great way to provide guidance for wedding gift ideas is on a personal wedding website or blog.
• The bride and groom are not required to open wedding gifts at a formal (or informal) gathering. It is perfectly acceptable for this exciting venture to be a private affair.
• Send thank you cards immediately after the wedding, or within 3 months at least. If, however, more time has passed (up to one year), it is better to send thank you cards late than not at all.
• Re-gifting is never advisable.

Wedding Gift Etiquette: For Guests

• How much is appropriate to spend on a wedding gift? Wedding gifts are an expression of well wishes; the closer the relationship to the bride and groom, the more expensive (and often personal) the wedding gift. A typical rule for how much to spend is an amount that is reasonable and that conveys the appropriate sentiments.
• Is it OK to buy a gift that is not on a registry? It’s acceptable, but be careful; if it’s something you love, make sure it will suit the bride and groom’s tastes. In fact, here are a couple of unique wedding gift ideas to consider (again, be sure it suits the couple):
  • personalized sheets, glasses or towels
  • "just married" personalized Christmas ornament
  • cooking lessons
  • event tickets
  • if the couple is heading off on a tropical honeymoon, flip flops that leave "just married" imprints in the sand
  • camping gear, if they are outdoorsy-types

These guidelines address only a few issues related to wedding gift etiquette. If you have questions that have not been answered on this page, click here to "Ask Gay". We’d love to hear from you!