Selecting the Perfect Gift: The What, When, and Where of Buying a Wedding Gift.
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It is fairly common knowledge that it’s customary to send a gift upon accepting a wedding invitation. What’s not as well known however, are the particulars of what to buy, when to buy it, and how to get it to the bride and groom. The pointers below should clear things up.
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Register This:
One of the best ways to purchase a wedding gift is to buy something from the couple’s Bridal & Gift Registry. You will be able to do so by visiting the store(s) where the couple have registered or possibly by phone or online, and have the gift sent directly to the bride and groom. If you aren’t sure where the couple has registered, you can either ask them directly or ask someone else involved with the wedding, such as their parents, siblings, or bridal party.
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Dollars Make Sense:
Money is always an appropriate and appreciated wedding present. You may present this evergreen gift in the form of a check, gift certificate, contribution to travel (honeymoon) or mortgage registry fund, U.S. Government bond or stock certificate, or cash. It is also perfectly fine to present your monetary gift to the couple personally at the reception. If you are giving your check before the wedding, make it out to either the bride or groom (depending on who’s "side" you are invited from) and send it - in a wedding card - to that person’s home. If you are giving your gift at the wedding or after, make it payable to both the bride and groom.
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Do you really have a year?
Although traditionally a gift may be sent up to a year after the wedding, you are much better off getting it nearer to the event, usually letting no more than a month go by. The longer you wait, the more likely you’ll forget about it completely.
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The Postman Rings:
Gifts are traditionally sent to the bride at her home, or to the R.S.V.P. address on the wedding invitation. However, if the guest is a close friend of the groom’s parents and wants them to see the gift, it is acceptable to send the gift to their home. Also, consider the address that will be most helpful for the couple. If they already live in a city other than the site of the wedding, sending the gift to their actual address will give them one less item to transport. Check with the couple’s Bridal & Gift Registry. There should be a preferred delivery address listed as a part of their computerized registry. In some instances, it is customary to bring the gift to the reception. However, for the most part it’s better to send it. That way the bride and groom don’t have to worry about gifts getting lost or damaged at the reception, or cards falling off the gifts. They also won’t have to deal with figuring out who is going to take the gifts to their home after the reception.
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A note on additional gifts:
Many guests choose to give the couple a present to congratulate them on their engagement, especially if they are invited to an engagement party. Either way, this gift is optional. If a guest accepts an invitation to a shower, however, a separate shower gift is expected.
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