Do you send a gift anyway for not attending a wedding?
I will not be attending a wedding for a couple, who I barely know, out of town. I would have to take 3 days off of work; the wedding is an 10 hour drive, plus gas, food, hotel, someone to watch house and dog, not in my budget. They are from Burbank California getting married on a stage where they met long ago (how romantic!) Send a gift? The cheapest gift on their registry is $349.00! WOW!!!!
Thanks everyone. I really do appreciate the invite and them thinking of me. I do not know the groom, but the bride to be is step-family and I have not seen her in over 15 years. They are prosperous and both work in the entertainment business (talent agent and actors.) so that explains the registry.
Yes, it is considered proper etiquette to send a gift, even when you cannot attend.
It is not required that you choose something from their registry. Send cash in a thoughtfully written card. Money is always an acceptable wedding gift.
No gift for people I barely know.
I might send them a card (just a card, not a gift card).
For family or for a close personal friend I'd send a gift but if everything on their registry list is out of my budget then I'll send them a little something that IS in my budget - a crystal vase, candle holders or candy dish.
Friendship (or even family) should not demand that I must bankrupt myself in order to acknowledge their happiness.
If you hardly know them and you're not attending the wedding, I don't think you need to give a gift. I think all you need to do is send in the RSVP with your regrets and be done with it.
I'm surprised to hear that simply receiving a wedding invitation is cause to have to send a gift. So does that mean one can send invitations to everyone they've ever met, suspect they won't attend, but may very well send a gift? I wish I'd known - I'd have sent out way more invitations to my wedding! No, I'm kidding…but you get what I mean.
A close family friend would get a gift regardless.
Just send them a card with your congratulations. You barely know them, I'm surprised you got an invite. Why would they expect you to go to such lengths to see them get married?
If you're not close to them, then just RSVP "Regrets" and don't worry about sending a gift.
Happily, it isn't illegal or immoral to choose not to use the wedding registry. You could send a nice card or note of congratulations along with an affordable gift card from the store at which they are registered, or else a "generic" gift card (e.g., Visa). The newlyweds could put your gift toward one of the expensive items. Or you could just send the card.
I'm usually all for sending "real" gifts rather than GCs, but you say you barely know the couple.
How do you know them and why were you invited to the wedding? It doesn't sound like you were very close, so I'm surprised you're on the list. In any case, no, you certainly do not have to send a gift. If you want to give something, send money or a gift card to one of the stores where they are registered. That way, they can get some of the things that no one purchases off their list.
Many of the people who were invited but didn't attend my wedding did not send gifts. A few did, but many didn't and I was ok with that because I didn't expect them to.
I would not send a gift to a couple I "barely know". And you are under no obligation etiquette wise to send a gift to a wedding you are not attending.
I would say send a heartfelt card of congratulations and regrets that you can't attend... I don't think if it's a couple that you barely know you should feel obligated to send a gift of any kind.
If you hardly know them, how did you end up on the guest list unless of course, they are inviting anyone and everyone so they can collect a nice stash of gifts...
It is a lot to ask someone to use THAT much personal time to come be a part of a wedding when you hardly know them.
As for the gift, YES, I would send a card and a small gift.. you are under NO obligation to get something from a registry (especially one like that... sounds like they have a bad case of feeling entitled). A simple frame, vase, coaster, etc would be just fine.
It's nice to send a gift, though you don't absolutely have to. But by all means, don't buy off the registry if it's all astronomical like that. (That's a big no-no on their part, registering only for crazy-expensive things.) Just get them some random something (say, a picture frame) and call it a day.
I'd send my regrets and not worry about a gift. That's ridiculous. They have unreal expectations.
No need to send a gift unless you feel moved to do so. A card of congratulations would be nice, but again, not required. Your obligation is to promptly decline the invitation with regrets. That is all.
Yes send a gift. You can send whatever you want. Does not need to come from registry.
I always find it rude to put gifts on the registry that are ALL high in price range. When I throw a party, I know the cost and don't expect my gifts to offset my expense.
Just the regrets.
You should send a gift, but I would find something much less than $349, even if it weren't on their registry!
Yes...send a card and a gift card--denomination of YOUR choosing!
Gifts are not required in any wedding scenario.
Are they family or just friends of friends of friends? If they are family and you feel you need to send a gift then send a check in a card. But if you dn't really know them then why are you getting an invite at all lol. I would just send a card and be done with it.
If you received an invite, you should send a gift. If you can't find anything on their registry, just send a gift card.
You do not need to send a gift when you are not attending. It would be nice to send a card. And of course RSVP immediately.
