How long to give wedding gifts

The gift serves as a tangible representation of your affection and support of the marriage. The 1 gift etiquette rule is: If you're invited to a wedding, you should send a gift, whether or not you are able to attend.

With that established, "When should I send a gift? It's traditional and the best practice to send the wedding gift before the wedding. If you purchase from the couple's wedding gift registry, the gift will be sent to the address the couple provides, so you don't have to give it a second thought. In some areas it may still be the tradition to take a gift to the wedding reception, but I strongly discourage this practice. It creates extra work for the family, attached cards can be lost, and it's sad to say, but there have been reports of gifts being stolen.

Now the wedding date has come and gone, but you didn't get around to sending the gift before the wedding. Maybe you were busy, maybe you were strapped for cash, maybe you weren't sure what to buy so you put it off.

Whatever the reason, the question is: "If you aren't able, or don't send a gift before the wedding, how long after the wedding do you have to send the gift? There is a popular myth that you have up to one year to send the couple a gift.

You were granted a guest to ensure that you'll enjoy the evening with a friend or loved one, and you shouldn't feel you owe the couple anything additional. If your guest knows the couple and would like to provide a gift of their own, that is of course acceptable. Martha Stewart Weddings. By Alyssa Brown July 11, Save Pin More. Credit: Stephen Kent Johnson. View All. Comments Add Comment. Back to story Comment on this project.

Tell us what you think To answer these questions and more we turned to etiquette expert Elaine Swann. Meet the Expert. Swann has a simple rule: the amount you spend on a wedding gift varies based on your relationship with the couple.

There are situations when it is ok to skip the wedding gift and therefore spend no money. If it is a destination wedding, especially somewhere expensive or a place that requires flights and hotels, there is no need to get the couple a present.

Budget constraints are also a perfectly valid reason to not get a gift. While it's better to have your gift arrive sooner rather than later if you leave it to the last minute, don't fret. The couple will still be happy to get your gift even if it arrives after their big day. Some people still bring gifts to the actual wedding , but that practice is quickly going out of fashion. She said if you want to bring a gift to the actual wedding check with the wedding party first to make sure there is a gift table set up for that.

You don't want your present to have the unintended consequence of stressing out the couple on their big day! There is no rule that you have to buy a gift the couple has selected for themselves. But there are times to stray from the registry that are better than others.

If you know the couple well and are familiar with their tastes and preferences, feel free to pick out something for them.

This is particularly true if you see something special that reminds you of them or if you are having something unique made. Another time to go off the registry is if all the gifts listed are outside your budget or they are all taken by other guests.

If you don't know the couple well or at all , it's always safer to stick to the registry. Also, if you don't have a particular present in mind, don't just buy something random off the registry like glassware or a cooking bowl. If your gift doesn't have significance to it, pick something off the registry instead. Swann said to treat virtual weddings the same as in-person affairs.

Whatever you plan to give as a gift for an in-person wedding, give the same present for a Zoom wedding. Whether they have a virtual wedding or an in-person one, the couple will still be sharing their lives together. The gift is a gesture towards that union. If the couple is having a virtual wedding now but plans to have an in-person wedding later, it's better to go ahead and get them a gift now who knows what might happen in the future!