Hi, I've been engaged since Dec 2004. My fiancée and I's wedding was set for last July 15, 2006. He got sick and was hospitalized 2 days before the event (for 5 days). We had the rehearsal dinner and reception (without the wedding obviously) since the guests (200) were already there. Thank you cards had been sent for all of the gifts received.
Well, we decided to break up this past week, one year later. Do we return the gifts? We've had some of them for over 2 years and a lot of them had been used since we were not expecting the hospitalization.
Thanks for your help.
Jessica
(This post was
edited by TWQadmin on Jul 15, 2007, 5:42 PM)
Wedding gifts should never be used until after the wedding for just this reason.
I find it odd that you went ahead and enjoyed the rehearsal dinner and reception with your fiance in the hospital, but, even more odd that people gave you gifts when you never got married. The gifts should never have been accepted in the first place. But, that is all water under the bridge now. You should try to return all of the gifts, used or not. Top Wedding Questions Forum Moderator - "Write your sorrows in the sand, your blessings in stone".
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Post #3 of 3
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Re: [jsligar] Should we return used wedding gifts?
[In reply to]
Dear Jessica,
Wow! The gifts were 'wedding' gifts, not reception gifts. There should have been no gifts if you two did not marry. So, you should have returned the gifts when there was no wedding. Now, it is appropriate to either return the gifts or give each guest the dollar amount the gift is worth.
No wedding gift should ever be used before the wedding. And, if a wedding is delayed the gifts should be returned, unless we are talking about a very short delay.
Should we return used wedding gifts?
