A bride and groom have been slammed online after they demanded their wedding guests hand over gifts before the beginning of September – for their ceremony next year
When you’re invited to a wedding, it’s customary to bring a gift with you to the reception.
Traditionally, these gifts would be household items the newlywed couple can use in their home, such as small kitchen appliances or decorative furnishings. In recent years, however, it’s become increasingly more common to give cash or vouchers so the bride and groom can buy whatever – and so they don’t end up with five different toasters.
But one couple who are set to tie the knot next summer have been slammed as “tasteless” online after a wedding guest shared their bizarre demand for their wedding gifts.
The couple stated that instead of people bringing gifts with them on the day of the wedding, they would like guests to “make a cash donation” before September 1 this year – almost 12 months before they’re actually getting married.
One of the guests shared the message she received on Mumsnet, which read: “To our lovely guests. We really hope you can join us on our special day. We ask you don’t bring any gifts on the day, but would prefer for those of you that choose to give a gift, that you make a cash donation ahead of September 1, 2024, which will help to contribute towards the celebration. All our love.”
And the woman added afterwards: “I usually do give cash these days so not sure if I’m being unreasonable to find this offensive. I think it’s the fact they’re having what seems to be an expensive wedding and asking the guests to pay towards it – is this the done thing these days?”
Although the couple were self-aware enough to state this rule only applied to those who “choose to give a gift” instead of demanding every guest donates, many commenters on the post still branded them “tasteless” and “embarrassing”.
One person said: “I know people give money as gifts these days but the invites that basically request it make me cringe, receiving this would make me pass out. What on Earth were they thinking, if they can’t afford the wedding they need to cut back on things. This is awful and embarrassing.”
Another added: “No, it’s not the done thing. It’s the tasteless, grabby thing. They should have a wedding they can afford. The kindest reading is they underestimated the wedding’s cost and are now short on funds.”
Other commenters stated it “sounds reasonable” knowing how expensive weddings can be. However, some sceptical people pointed out the cash situation could get messy if the couple didn’t end up getting married and had to refund each guest’s donation.
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