How to Choose a Wedding Gift
Choosing a wedding gift can easily feel like an overwhelming process. Not only are there rules of etiquette to follow, but you also want the gift to be meaningful to the specific couple. When you are choosing a wedding gift, it is useful to consider your budget and determine if the couple has a registry. Many couples prefer for people to stick to their registry, so that they can ensure that they actually get things that they want or need. However, the circumstances can be somewhat more difficult when there is no registry and you have to decide on a wedding gift without this guidance.
If the couple is planning their wedding with us at The Little Vegas Chapel (and you don’t live in Vegas), you will also want to ensure that the wedding gift will be safe to travel with. This may mean that you will have to avoid fragile gifts. Here are a few tips for choosing a wedding gift.
How Much Should I Spend?
There are no set rules regarding how much money you should spend on a wedding gift. Some people think that it is ideal to ensure that the gift is of equal value to attendance to the wedding, but this can be misleading. After all, should you spend more on a coworker’s gift for their extravagant wedding than you would on your sister’s more modest affair? When you are deciding how much you should spend on a wedding gift, you will first want to ensure that you consider your own financial situation. You shouldn’t break the bank for a wedding gift, so ensure that you decide on a budget that won’t put you into debt. In general, the closer you are with the couple, the more money you will want to spend on their wedding gift.
Many people recommend that you spend $50 on a wedding gift for someone that is a more distant connection. This can go up to as much as $200 for your closest friends and family members. However, these are not hard and fast rules. If you can’t afford to spend $50 on a wedding gift, then don’t spend $50 on the wedding gift. These considerations can help you to determine your particular budget for your gift.
Can I Give them Cash?
There’s nothing wrong with giving a couple cash for their wedding. While many people feel obligated to purchase a tangible object as a wedding gift, cash is perfectly acceptable. In fact, many people prefer to receive cash as a gift, even more than gift cards that may only be used at a single location. This enables the couple to leverage the cash in whatever manner they choose, whether they put it through a down payment for a house or to splurge on their honeymoon. It also prevents you from accidentally giving them a gift that they have no use for.
In some situations, a couple will ask for cash in lieu of gifts, especially if they have already been living together for some time. They may already have all of the household objects that they need, so they will benefit more from cash than any gifts. This can be an extremely beneficial strategy if you are unsure about the right wedding gift to give to the couple.
Are Wedding Gifts Required?
In general, no, wedding gifts are not an absolute requirement to attend a wedding. If you are in a particularly difficult financial situation, you may want to explain this to the couple. It is good form and polite to ensure that you bring a wedding gift whenever you attend a wedding. The gift doesn’t have to be large or particularly expensive, but it is usually expected, despite not being required.
Check for Registry
The majority of couples will have a wedding registry in place specifically for wedding gifts. When you purchase them things from their wedding registry, you will be able to ensure that they are obtaining the things that they actually need and want. Keep in mind that if you can find the same item somewhere else for less money, there is no harm in trying to save money. However, if you do this, you will want to send it to the bride’s home prior to the wedding. This will allow them to remove it from their wedding registry and prevent duplicate gifts. Whenever you give a wedding gift, you will want to ensure that you include a gift receipt. This will enable the couple to exchange the gift if necessary, without causing any awkward situations.
Purchase a Gift from The Little Vegas Chapel!
When the couple in question is getting married in our chapel, you can purchase your gift directly from our chapel! Guests at our chapel can purchase extra photos, a video recording of the special day, a marriage license holder, and extra flowers for the wedding!
Be Considerate of their Preferences
Every couple is unique. Their wedding will be unique, and their preferences are unique. In order to choose the best wedding gift, you will want to ensure that you consider their specific personal taste, religious preferences, and traditions. Something that may be appealing to you may not necessarily be appealing to the bride. For example, you will not want to give an expensive espresso machine to a couple whose religion prohibits coffee consumption. This can help to prevent substantial problems and ensure that your wedding gift will be well-designed for the specific couple. When you are aware of their own preferences, you will be better-equipped to choose the right gift to meet their needs.
What if they have Requested No Gifts?
Sometimes a couple will request that their guests not bring gifts. This may be because they feel as though they don’t need anything or may be because they don’t want their guests to feel obligated if they can’t afford to bring a present. In these situations, you will have multiple options. You are certainly able to give them a gift if you want. Alternatively, you may want to consider making a donation to their favorite charity. If they have requested that guests don’t bring gifts, you may want to consider having the gift sent to the bride’s home before the wedding. They may not be planning for the transportation of gifts when they have requested that gifts are not brought. This may also mean that they haven’t set out a specific location for gifts, as well.
How Should I Give Them their Gift?
In most situations, you can just bring the wedding gifts to the wedding. There is usually a designated table that is set aside specifically for wedding gifts. However, you may want to consider sending the wedding gift to the bride’s home prior to the wedding. Sending them to the bride’s home is a traditional thing, though you may be able to send them to the groom’s home, if that’s the address that you have. When you send them the wedding gift directly, you will be able to reduce the number of things that they will have to transport and worry about on their busy wedding day. It will also ensure that the gift is safe because it won’t be left unsupervised in a crowded room. If you choose to bring the gift with you to the wedding, simply ensure that you place it in the designated area.
Consider Something for their Wedding
It may be useful to purchase a wedding gift for the actual wedding. This can help to reduce their stress levels during the wedding planning process and can even make their special day much more memorable. Consider helping to pay for the decorations or things that can be saved to help create memories. For example, you could create a scrapbook of the couple’s relationship and display it at the wedding. If you intend to purchase something for the wedding specifically, you will likely want to ensure that you consult with the couple prior to the wedding. This will ensure that you can be as helpful as possible on the actual wedding day. It will also help the couple to plan accordingly.
Contact Us
When you choose the right wedding gift, you will be able to feel confident in your attendance at the wedding. These same tips can also be implemented to help you choose the right gift for a vow renewal ceremony. When you are planning your own wedding, it can be useful to understand what to expect regarding wedding gifts. In most situations, it is completely acceptable to ask for what you need or want for your wedding. This is the entire concept behind wedding registries. Some couples are wary of asking for money, because they may feel as though it may come across as “tacky.” However, if you would rather have money than gifts, you should simply include it in the invitation!
Our team at The Little Vegas Chapel can help you to make the appropriate steps to plan for the wedding of your dreams. We can help you to plan carefully to ensure that your wedding will meet all of your expectations. For more information about how to choose the right wedding gift or how to ask for the wedding gifts that you want, contact us at The Little Vegas Chapel today!
