Home Gift Giving

[Class n Sass]

What does etiquette say about gift when you are not attending the event. It seems like this year has really been the year of weddings and other formal events. My husband and I have probably been invited to about 10 weddings but we have not been able to attend. We have been good about sending a check even if we couldn''t make it. But now I am starting to wonder...When is enough enough? We also have an anniversary party that we were invited to next week that we also won''t be able to make because of my husband''s work schedule. Do we have to send a gift for that as well? I know that you never HAVE TO send a gift but what would you do? This is getting expensive!

 

[neatfreak]

If they are good friends and I am truly sorry I can''t attend, I send a gift. If it isn''t someone I am close to, I send just a card of congrats. That''s just me though!

 

[Tacori E-ring]

We always send a gift if we can''t make the wedding. Not sure about an anny party...Maybe get them a bottle of wine or something smaller/cheaper?

 

[brazen_irish_hussy]

We only send gifts when it is someone we are close to, otherwise we don''t and I feel no guilt about it. While I appreciate being thought of on their special day and will send a card, I don''t really feel the need to give a gift if I am not going to be there. Of course, my FI and I are starving students, so that might be part of it to.

Is there anything fun that seems more expensive than it is you could give? There is a local ice cream place that sells the greatest kits. The have 4 really lovely ice cream bowls, 4 matching spoons, a scoop and a recipe book for how to use ice cream to make mixed ice cream/alcohol drinks like belinis, bailey''s mixes, apple martinis, etc. It all comes in a lovely wood box and is only $20. It is great because it is local so most people don''t have it and it seems much more expensive than it is.

 

[Haven]

According to traditional American etiquette, it is proper to send a gift to the wedding couple even if you are unable to attend the event. HOWEVER, you do not EVER have to give a gift of any specific amount, so you can give the couple a token that matches your affection toward them. It can even be a very small token, really.

As for anniversary parties and other such events, I do not believe that etiquette dictates you should send a gift. I would send a lovely, handwritten note and perhaps a small token of my affection.

 

[FireGoddess]

Date: 8/26/2008 9:15:51 PM
Author: Haven
According to traditional American etiquette, it is proper to send a gift to the wedding couple even if you are unable to attend the event. HOWEVER, you do not EVER have to give a gift of any specific amount, so you can give the couple a token that matches your affection toward them. It can even be a very small token, really.

As for anniversary parties and other such events, I do not believe that etiquette dictates you should send a gift. I would send a lovely, handwritten note and perhaps a small token of my affection.

Ditto to the whole post!