My family (myself included!) is very non-materialistic and we often don't give christmas and birthday presents, so I'm out of practice. I have also been in graduate school for years with mounting school loans and no income. I have attended several weddings in the past few years which tapped me out financially just to attend, and so I am one of those horrible people you hear about who attend a wedding and don't give a gift! I always intended on sending out a mass of gifts when I graduated and had an income.
Problem is, I just got engaged and will be married this summer. Well, that's not the problem! But I didn't think I would be married this soon and so thought I would have time to catch up on my gift giving before I was in a position for gift receiving. Some of my friends/past brides are close enough and equally nonmaterialistic where we agreed to not get each other gifts, but there is one particular friend I am worried about. We were close in college though have been not as close in recent years. She is very proper and I'm sure she will bring a wedding gift. How do I give her a wedding gift now without it looking like I'm only giving her a gift so that she will give me one? And I don't want to wait until after the wedding b/c then I'm worried it will look like I only gave her a gift because she gave me one... a bit of a catch-22! Any advice?
Much Appreciation.
Etiquette Now
WEDDING ETIQUETTE EXPERT
Jan 15, 2007, 1:30 PM
Post #2 of 2
(815 views)
Re: [070707] Never gave gifts and getting married...
[In reply to]
Dear 07,
At this point, why not just either forget the wedding gift or give a gift just because. We don't typically play catch-up years or even months later. And, there is no 'one year rule'. So, your gift wouldn't really be a wedding gift. If your friend gives you a gift, just thank her with a hand-written thank you note. It doesn't have to be an equal gift giving exchange.
Never gave gifts and getting married...
