WOW: Wedding Etiquette

Are you invited to a wedding? Has it been a while since you last attended one?

While some things remain the same, many couples are choosing non-traditional elements for their wedding.

Sometimes today’s guests just aren’t too sure of proper wedding gift etiquette.

Young couples just starting out will almost always register their gifts at various stores. Don’t be surprised if you find they are registered at Home Depot or Canadian Tire! This is becoming popular.

It is a good idea to find out if and where they are registered. A call to their parents or to the couple directly will give you the answer. If they are registered, most stores allow you to purchase your gift by phone or by internet if you are unable to shop in person. This is ideal if there is no store in your area. The stores will also take care of gift wrapping and shipping to the couple’s home. All you have to do is ask. The advantage here is that you don’t have to carry around a gift the day of the wedding. If you are traveling by air or train, there is no need to worry about the gift being damaged or arriving late.

Not every couple registers at stores for their gifts. You may see this with couples who are getting married later in life, are living together before marriage or if it is a second marriage. In these situations they likely have most of their household items already. This can make gift giving more difficult. It never hurts to contact the parents to see if they know what the couple wants. Failing this a monetary gift is always appreciated by the couple and sometimes helps them with the honeymoon or offsets the cost of the wedding when they are paying for it themselves.

If the couple is not registered and you are not comfortable giving money here are some other ideas:

Talk to other guests and see if anyone is purchasing a large gift. It is not uncommon for more than one person to contribute to the purchase of a larger gift such as a BBQ, Television, etc.
A gift certificate to an upscale restaurant in their area.
A gift certificate for a weekend away at a bed and breakfast.
Theatre tickets (if you know the type of shows they enjoy).
Of course giving a very personal gift such as at hand made blanket or throw, is most precious and you can be guaranteed the couple will be happy with your thoughtfulness.
Keep in mind that you should only purchase what you can afford. Ultimately, the couple just want you there to share their day with them.

Article provided by Julia Martell, Occasions Event Coordination. Visit her website at www.occasions.ca

printer friendly

Email this article