| Wedding & Engagement Gift Etiquette |
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Knowing what gift to give, how much to spend on a gift, when a gift is expected, when to open gifts and when and how to thank people for their gifts…. Gift giving isn't always as straightforward at it may seem. Here are a few pointers towards getting your gift etiquette right for engagements and weddings:Engagements & WeddingsEngagement Gift EtiquetteNot every couple throws an engagement party to celebrate the announcement of their upcoming nuptials, but may simply let you know that they're engaged. It is not customary to give gifts when an engagement is announced, but it's often nice to make a phone call to congratulate the couple. Try to avoid emails or messengers they're far less personal and you can't have such an immediate and warm conversation. If you're invited to a party, you do not have to bring a gift. If the party is more formal, however, you may want to bring a gift. 'Formal' parties are generally indicated by tone of the invitation, dress code requirements and venue. If you're having an engagement party, make it clear on the invitation what style of party you're having. If you do receive gifts at the party, thank the person but open the gifts later. Wedding Gift Etiquette Etiquette surrounding weddings differs hugely depending on the cultural background of the couple and their families. If in doubt, check before hand. For example, it is quite typical for wedding gifts to be quite substantial amounts of money, which is given to the couple (or pinned to them) in traditional Greek, Irish and Indian weddings. Hopefully, the invitation makes the expectation around gift giving clear, but it's not always the case! If you're wondering what to spend on a gift, spend what you can afford. Don't go into debt, the bride and groom are not expecting you to be made miserable by their wedding celebration. Many couples provide a wedding gift registry, which lists gifts at a wide range of prices. If you can't afford any of their choices, you can choose something else that's more affordable for you. If you feel embarrassed about it, why not phone the bride or the groom ahead of the wedding and talk to them. After all, they're your friends, so they should understand! Saying Thank You for Engagement & Wedding Gifts Firstly, make sure you make a note of who has given you what before you rip the paper of gifts and are left with a pile of presents and no idea of who sent what. Phone to acknowledge the gift given to you as soon as possible after the party or the wedding day and send a hand written thank you note. Include a mention of the gift you were given and a line about how much you appreciate it or what you might use it for. Try to do this within a couple of days, after all if people make the effort to give you a gift, the least you can do is to thank them for it. |