There are only two stressful things about being invited to a wedding, deciding what to wear and what to give the happy couple. Finding the right gift can be tricky, especially if you don’t want to spend and arm and a leg in the process. The amount of money that you will spend should depend on how close you are to the couple. If one of them is a distant cousin that you have met twice in your life then you should not have to spend hundreds of dollars on the wedding gift. If the couple has registered their gift list somewhere you can see if you can buy them one of the smaller items. If you are worried about looking cheap consider buying a few of the cheaper items, that will make you gift look bigger and more expensive. If the couple does not have anything cheaper on their registry you can always get them a gift certificate to a great restaurant. This is something that they will be able to enjoy together.

Some couples request that no wedding gifts be given. Older couples who already have everything or that have been married before are usually the ones that ask for no gifts. If you cannot stand the thought of not getting the new couple a wedding gift you could donate to a favorite charity in their name. If you are friends with one or both of them and you know that a family member or friend has suffered from a disease you may want to choose that charity because it will have that much more meaning. You can ten send them a nice card wishing them well in their new life and telling them that such and such amount of money has been donated in their name. This is a great wedding gift for those who have everything.

What if the happy couple wants cash gifts? How much are you supposed to give? They most likely did not put this on the invitations but it is a well known fact among would-be guests that the couple does not want any of the usual gifts, they need money. Does your wedding gift have to be cash? No, your gift does not have to be cash, but if that is what they need maybe that is what you should give. Deciding on the amount of money to give can be difficult and the easiest way to decide is to figure out how much you would have pent on a wedding gift. Then give them that amount. Of course if it is a close family member that is getting married you will want to give more money than if it was a coworker. And you will also have to take into consideration your own personal finances. You do not want to give a gift that will keep you from making your mortgage payment no matter who is getting married. Choosing the right amount to spend on a wedding gift to give can be confusing at times but all you need to do is spend what you can afford. No one would want you to break the bank for their gift.

Wedding Gifts

Featured Article: Create Beautifully Wrapped Wedding Gifts - by Abigail Beal

Weddings are always such special days. Gifts are often given not only at the wedding – but often at an engagement shower and a bridal shower. How can you make your gifts look special?

Many people wrap gifts for weddings in white, but this is not a strict rule by any means. You could also select gift-wrapping and accessories that complement the theme of the wedding. So a winder wedding gift could look lovely in silver paper with silver ribbon tied in a bow with a snowflake ornament as an accessory. A summer wedding gift could look stunning in deep pink paper with a thick pale pink ribbon topped with fresh pink roses (use white roses for a different look).

Another choice would be to select gift-wrap that somehow compliments your gift. Are you giving the bride and groom part of their china place settings? Select gift-wrap that has one or two of the colors from their china plates.

Different cultures have different meanings when gifts are given and received. Red is often a color used in China to celebrate weddings, and many wedding gifts in China are wrapped in red paper. In Italy, roses are a sign of love and happiness but carnations are a flower signifying a funeral. Pay attention to any special cultural meanings when you are giving and then wrapping gifts for a wedding or any other special occasion.

Weddings are a special time and with a little care and attention you can select beautiful gift-wrapping that will compliment this festive occasion.

About The Author

Abigail Beal © 2004 Abigail Beal a.k.a. “the Gift-wrap Goddess” teaches gift wrap in suburban New York. She is the author of 2 ezines: GiftWrapGoddessWraps and CreativeCraftsTeachers. To subscribe: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CreativeCraftsTeachers/ or http://groups.yahoo.com/group/GiftWrapGoddessWraps/

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