Invitation Etiquette – Gifts of Money
Invitation specialists help brides create the wedding invitation of their dreams. They know that the invitation sets the tone for the wedding it announces and is an early indicator for the guests as to the type of celebration to which they are invited. Couples today are blending historically formal with contemporary feel in their wording, but there seems to be one question that is asked more often recently of invitation experts…”Is it ok to ask for gifts of money on the wedding invitation?” The clear and consistent answer…”NO”!
There is no socially acceptable or tactful way to include in invitation copy the fact that couples prefer cash in place of gifts. Even though the reasons for such a request are worthy, the invitation is not the place to spread the word. Word of mouth would be the way to go, beginning with parents and friends, explaining that if anyone asks about gift preferences, the preference would be cash. We recommend that if you are asked directly what you want for a wedding gift, say something like, “We’re saving for a down payment on a house, so if you’d like to give a check, that’s how we would use it. But whatever you decide will be terrific…thank you for thinking of us.”
Emily Post reminds us that
“There is no dictating to guests what they must give; it’s their prerogative to choose.”
Not everyone is comfortable giving cash, but giving something tangible instead…which is great! Therefore we suggest that brides set up a traditional gift registry to accommodate those who enjoy this aspect of wedding attendance.
Happy Planning!
~ The New Beginnings Team
- Posted in: Etiquette ♦ Gifts ♦ Invitations
