Everyone talks about the stress on the bride during weddings, but what about the guests?! There is just as much etiquette and formality in place for guests as there is for the couple, and one important tradition is the wedding gift.
For many people this is a bit of a mystery, just where do you start?! This guide should make the big day a little less stressful..
..
for the guests.
Do I have to buy a wedding gift? Of course, no one is going to force you into a shop and make you buy a gift, but it is considered to be the norm.
We recently ran a survey to find out the shopping habits of wedding guests and found that 90% of people do take a gift to every wedding, so chances are that if you don't take one then you'll be in the vast minority.
It is important to remember that no one is forcing you to spend above your means and in this situation it really is the thought that counts.
Personalisation is the key, so if you can find something affordable and that is personalised for the couple then you will be on the right track.
Do I Have To Stick To The Gift List? Most couples will compile a wedding list either with a shop or independently to try and avoid people buying them the same gifts, but this does not mean that you should never stray from it.
If you want to choose a gift from the list, the couple will often tell you which shop it is with on the invitation.
If not, just ask them.
If you want to steer away from the gift list and buy something that you have chosen then it will be very well received.
Our survey showed that 65% of couples' favourite gift was something that wasn't on the list, so if you do veer from the list then you could end up buying a gift that will go down very well indeed.
It is always worth checking the list though to make sure that your gem of an idea isn't something they have already asked for and is already being bought.
What Should I Buy? Ahhh, the magic question! If you decide to steer away from the list, the next big problem is deciding what to buy.
Personalised gift items always make a good impression and an engraved wedding gift with your message will always be one of a kind.
If you know the couple well and know what their interests are then buy something that they can enjoy using when pursuing their hobbies, or if they have a favourite shop then you can always fall back on vouchers if you are completely stuck.
Remember, the most popular gifts are those that have been personalised for the couple.
It is those that are kept and treasured for a lifetime Can I Just Give Money? The subject of giving money is always a delicate one.
Often if a couple already live together and have a small house then they may well ask for money, but this can have the affect of seeming impersonal and demanding.
For the wedding guest, just giving money can come across as lazy and as if no thought has gone into it.
If you are really struggling for ideas and thinking of giving money, the obvious alternative is for gift vouchers for a shop that they will enjoy.
At least that way your contribution will go on something they will enjoy using.
Better still, a personalised wedding gift item will always be a popular item, and even if you don't know their interests, it can still be personalised by engraving it with your message.
If I'm Travelling A Long Distance To Attend, Do I Still Need To Buy A Gift? Weddings are those occasions that anyone close to the happy couple do not want to miss.
It is often the case that a loved one will have to travel a long way to attend the wedding and in this instance it is perfectly acceptable not to get a gift.
If you're travelling a long distance to attend then your presence will be more than enough.
Obviously if you want to bring a gift then that is up to you, but you should not feel obliged in the same way you would if you had not travelled.
For many people this is a bit of a mystery, just where do you start?! This guide should make the big day a little less stressful..
..
for the guests.
Do I have to buy a wedding gift? Of course, no one is going to force you into a shop and make you buy a gift, but it is considered to be the norm.
We recently ran a survey to find out the shopping habits of wedding guests and found that 90% of people do take a gift to every wedding, so chances are that if you don't take one then you'll be in the vast minority.
It is important to remember that no one is forcing you to spend above your means and in this situation it really is the thought that counts.
Personalisation is the key, so if you can find something affordable and that is personalised for the couple then you will be on the right track.
Do I Have To Stick To The Gift List? Most couples will compile a wedding list either with a shop or independently to try and avoid people buying them the same gifts, but this does not mean that you should never stray from it.
If you want to choose a gift from the list, the couple will often tell you which shop it is with on the invitation.
If not, just ask them.
If you want to steer away from the gift list and buy something that you have chosen then it will be very well received.
Our survey showed that 65% of couples' favourite gift was something that wasn't on the list, so if you do veer from the list then you could end up buying a gift that will go down very well indeed.
It is always worth checking the list though to make sure that your gem of an idea isn't something they have already asked for and is already being bought.
What Should I Buy? Ahhh, the magic question! If you decide to steer away from the list, the next big problem is deciding what to buy.
Personalised gift items always make a good impression and an engraved wedding gift with your message will always be one of a kind.
If you know the couple well and know what their interests are then buy something that they can enjoy using when pursuing their hobbies, or if they have a favourite shop then you can always fall back on vouchers if you are completely stuck.
Remember, the most popular gifts are those that have been personalised for the couple.
It is those that are kept and treasured for a lifetime Can I Just Give Money? The subject of giving money is always a delicate one.
Often if a couple already live together and have a small house then they may well ask for money, but this can have the affect of seeming impersonal and demanding.
For the wedding guest, just giving money can come across as lazy and as if no thought has gone into it.
If you are really struggling for ideas and thinking of giving money, the obvious alternative is for gift vouchers for a shop that they will enjoy.
At least that way your contribution will go on something they will enjoy using.
Better still, a personalised wedding gift item will always be a popular item, and even if you don't know their interests, it can still be personalised by engraving it with your message.
If I'm Travelling A Long Distance To Attend, Do I Still Need To Buy A Gift? Weddings are those occasions that anyone close to the happy couple do not want to miss.
It is often the case that a loved one will have to travel a long way to attend the wedding and in this instance it is perfectly acceptable not to get a gift.
If you're travelling a long distance to attend then your presence will be more than enough.
Obviously if you want to bring a gift then that is up to you, but you should not feel obliged in the same way you would if you had not travelled.
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