Is a gift card alright to give as a wedding gift or should I give money instead?

Question

My fiance' and I have been invited to a wedding. We will be attending.. The couple have been living together for 6 years and also built a new home a few years ago. They have everything they want. They are not registered with any store and it did not say "NO Gifts" on the invite. We have no idea what to purchase them as a gift. Any ideas?

Answer 1

Yes, that's good.

Answer 2

cash over a giftcard.  for these reasons:

1. its rude to go to a wedding without a gift.

2. if they are not registered anywhere,and already have everything choosing a store for them is not the best way to go

3. just b/c they have been living together and built a home doesn't mean that they don't have expenses from this,the wedding,and the honeymoon.  afterall, many ppl use cash from their wedding to do these things, they did not.  could be in need of cash.

4. cash could also be a nice bonus for the honeymoon

Answer 3

yep gift cards are perfect then they can buy what they what and will not make you feel bad if they have to return the actual gift itself

Answer 4

I would not do a gift card with the economy and the risk of stores filing for Bankruptcy, then if they don't use it for a while the risk of loosing the money is there, it might not happen but it also might, you don't want your money going to some store with no product for your friends in return.

I would say a pre-paid credit card, like others have suggested or just plain cash in a very nice card.

Even a couples massage for them after all the stress of the wedding and travel after the honeymoon? If they are having one of course. Massage Certificates for couples are always nice. After a long wedding and stuff who wouldn't want it?  

Answer 5

Since they have not been specific whatever you decide to give us solely up to you.

Answer 6

When choosing between a gift card and cash, I would say cash. I once saw a Dilbert cartoon with the punchline "Oh, it's like money but less useful" that pretty much sums up my position.

Answer 7

I would give money.

Answer 8

It is a social faux pas to give either money or gift cards -- this despite the mercenary comments you may have heard that "money is always acceptable". It isn't -- not always.

Very polite people may take offense at being given cash, or gift cards which are the equivalent of cash, because such a gift suggests that they are in need of charity. Also, if you give cash, it leads automatically to comparing the value with other gifts of cash; and when you get married in turn they may feel obliged to give exactly the same amount back -- which makes the whole exchange rather pointless, doesn't it? From the unavoidable temptation of comparing and matching monetary values it's a short step to just deciding not to bother exchanging gifts and each keep your own money.

The true value of a gift is the time, imagination and insight that goes into choosing the perfect gift. These things cannot be duplicated, and the monetary value is incidental. Do you know the lady's china, crystal, or silver pattern? An unusual serving piece to match is always appreciated. Or, can you offer a luxuriantly better-quality of some every-day item: Egyptian cotton bedsheets to replace every-day percale, or linen tea-towels to replace cotton ones from Target; or a Henckels carving knife to replace a generic one? Or, consider the convenient things that people don't realize they could use until they have them: serving trays, or vases of different shapes,  

Answer 9

I have been to weddings where gift cards were the suggested gift.  Cash is always good.   Gift certificates are available from garden centers as well  if they are still getting the yard together.    Somethings people don't even know they want until they see it.   Bees' wax candles, for instance, a total luxery that you might not buy for yourself.    

Answer 10

i say money because they can buy watever they want with money.                                                                                              

Answer 11

you can give them money or american express...something that they can use to buy pretty much whatever they want from wherever they want. Preferably money, since american express isn't accepted in a lot of places.  

Answer 12

I think a gift card is an excellent idea!  There are so many out there these days too - the restaurant gift cards, department stores, Visa, American Express.  I'd be thrilled to get something like that myself.