Whether you have limited space in your home or simply don't need any more stuff, it's perfectly acceptable to decline gifts at your next event.
No Gifts Wedding Invitation Wording Samples
"We would prefer our guests don't bring gifts. We feel blessed enough that you're choosing to spend the day with us." "We don't have room for a lot of wedding gifts, which is why we'd rather you gift us with your presence."
"Buy a wedding present? Never!" You may be surprised, but it happens more often than you'd think. Most couples will have at least one or two attendees who never give a present.
Here's how etiquette experts handle this common conundrum. If the invitation says no gifts, “it's most polite to follow their request,” Gottsman said. This applies to any celebration, not just kids' parties. “Bringing a gift will make others feel uncomfortable.
This might be something like 'We have everything we need and your attendance is the cherry on top! Please no gifts,'" she says. Whitmore adds that you could also say something like, "Your presence is our present" or "The gift of your company is the only gift needed."
Bottom line: There's no hard-and-fast rule on how much cash to give as a wedding gift. Wedding experts do, however, advise starting at $100. From there, you may want to adjust up to $500 based on factors such as your relationship with the couple, your budget and the cost of your attendance at the wedding.
“Just because you were invited to an event, you are not obligated to give a gift,” says Smith. “Gifts are given as a token of your warm wishes and should be given as such.” That being said, if you do choose to attend the wedding, or are particularly close with the couple, a gift is most certainly expected.
In fact, it's been estimated that between 7 and 10% of guests at a wedding fail to give a gift. If, like me, you're: a) petty AF and/or b) someone whose love language is receiving gifts, you may be wondering WTF is wrong with these people how to handle this situation.
Guests — Respect the Request
The most common instance for a couple to request “no gifts” for their wedding is when older individuals are getting married — likely entering a second or even third marriage.
“No gifts, please. Your presence is enough of a gift. If you wish, you can make a donation to [charity].” You can request donations instead of gifts without directly asking for money.
It means please do not bring any wedding gifts to the wedding. You can always send them to the bride's house. You may bring an monetary gift (money). No box gifts means cash or vouchers.
The average wedding gift amount hovers right around $100, which is a great place to start, and you can increase or decrease that based on how close you are.
For a colleague or acquaintance, $50 to $75 is acceptable. You can work within that range at your discretion. For family or someone close to you, $75 to $100 and even as high as $150 is perfect. Then if you're going as a couple, it's routine to double the amount or keep it at $200.
For a co-worker or acquaintance: $50 to $100. For a friend or relative: $75 to $150. For a close friend or relative: $150 to $250. And if you're a young person with limited budget: $50 to $75 is reasonable.
Unless it's a shower (and even then some etiquette experts cringe), an invitation to an event shouldn't say a word about gifts because events are about people, not presents. Mentioning gifts turns them into obligations. The best thing to do is to say nothing about presents on an event invitation.
“No gifts, please.” “Only the presence of your company is requested.” Once considered a manners no-no because it assumed the guest of honor was expecting you to bring a gift to his or her birthday party, it's now perfectly fine to let your wishes be known.
“Your presence at our wedding is enough of a gift, but should you wish to buy us something, we'd greatly appreciate a contribution towards our dream honeymoon/house deposit/renovation.” “Please do not feel obliged to buy us a gift, all that we are expecting is you.
She says if the invitation says “no gifts” you are not obliged to bring a gift and should not feel badly about it, even if others do bring gifts.
it means that you should respond if you plan to attend. This helps a host or organizer plan the event by knowing how much food to order, etc. If you can no longer attend, it is polite to let the host or event organizer know your change of plans. If you do not respond, it is assumed that you are not attending.
If you're close with the couple, you may send a gift to events you can't attend simply because you want to. Though there's no obligation, it might be that you had something in mind you think they'd love, or you saw something on their registry you'd want to get for them.
They suggest the following breakdown: coworkers or distant relatives should spend 50 to 75 dollars. Friends or relatives, 75 to 100 dollars. For close friends, family, or if you are in the wedding party, you should spend 100 to 150 dollars—or more.