[hcfulton]

My wedding is supposed to be in a week and a half, but my fiance and I mutually decided last week to postpone the wedding for a few months. I already had a shower and set up our gifts in the apartment. I know I should have waited to use them, but I was so excited! :)
We are rescheduling--probably for the beginning of next year, but we haven't decided yet, and we won't know for sure for a couple of months. We told our guests the wedding was postponed, "date to be announced."
My mom says I need to return all the gifts--even the ones I already have opened and used. I'll just have to register all over again for them in a few months, and people will have to buy them all over again when that happens. It seems like a lot of work for no reason.

If we are still getting married, just not right now, can I keep the gifts?

This post has been edited by TWQadmin: 11 June 2025 - 09:34 PM

[Etiquette Now]

Dear Hcfulton,

I'm sorry you had to postpone the wedding. But, this is one of the main reasons we don't use shower and wedding gifts before the wedding. You are expected to return all gifts, even if you have used them. If you feel that the gift is unreturnable due to you using it, you would be expected to pay for the gift.

Your guests are not obligated to give you another shower gift in the future, so they wouldn't "have to buy you the same gifts all over again". In fact, it wouldn't be polite to host another shower for you.

Best wishes,