Wedding gifts - the polite bride's guide
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Rss- Published Tuesday, 9 March 2010
- 7 Comments
Pretty purple crockery
Let’s face facts – the majority of your guests would like to buy you a gift, and they also appreciate knowing what you’d like. If you feel embarrassed to ask for gifts, here are some simple dos and don'ts.
• Include details of your gift list with the wedding invitation. The key is to keep it discreet – a small card or mention along with any other ‘wedding information’ is perfect. Simply give details of where the list is held, should they wish to buy a gift.
• Don’t include details of your wedding gift list with ‘evening only’ invitations. It’s not polite to ask guests that you’re not inviting for the entire celebration. If they want to buy you a gift, they’re likely to ask whether you have a list.
• Equally, putting together an engagement gift list is a little excessive – the wedding gift list is plenty!
• Asking for money is always a risk. If you’re determined, it’s a good idea to put together a gift list as well. More traditional guests would generally prefer to buy something specific, so give them a guideline.
• If you really can’t stand the idea of having a wedding gift list, it’s still worth making your own list of items you might like. Be prepared as the majority of guests will ask whether you have a list and you don’t want to receive ten shiny new kettles!
• Always say thank you! In this instance, an email won’t suffice. It’s time to put pen to paper and write each guest a personal note of thanks. If you receive any gifts before the big day, it's fine to write a note of thanks straight away.
• Keep a personal list of every gift you receive. That way, there won't be any confusion when you're writing your thank-yous, and you can be sure to show off your treasured present the next time that guest pays you a visit!
Image: Sia
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Reader comments
Add your commentsJuly 21 23:49
Joni-Belinda
the advice is good but still don't feel that i could do a wedding list. it just feels cheeky
March 13 12:22
samantha
I've been trying to find best way to ask for Money/vouchers, instead of a gift list, but can't find any advice anywhere, this helps a little bit, but I would love to hear how other brides have asked this tricky issue! I also feel a wedding list is cheeky, but I would hate to receive loads of 'tat'!!. We really only need cheques/or vouchers because we are paying for all the wedding ourselves.
June 10 22:01
wendy wobbler
a friend of our compiled a poem, this made it personel but fun, they either asked for money but also enclosed a list for Next.
October 16 12:04
Zuki
I'm in the same boat Samantha, as we've already got our home established we don't really need gifts, but money towards the honeymoon would be perfect - just don't know how to phrase it!
March 12 14:02
Ness
I am putting a poem in asking for money towards a honeymoon, I will give a little note about a gift list for next too but there wont be much on it.
July 01 11:22
lucy
I agree, i think wedding lists are so tacky, the day is about celebrating with your family not about how many gifts that you can get.
July 03 22:50
Laura
I have only asked for money as a gift as it is going towards our honeymoon.... i found this poem which i put with all my invites and most people have commented on how much of a good idea it is & polite way to ask...
to save you looking, shopping & buying
heres an idea we hope you like trying
we hope you dont find our request to be funny
but the option is there just to give us the money
now that weve saved you all of the fuss
we hope you will come and celebrate with us!