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AIBU?

To actually want to be able to choose 'something' for them

48 replies

FlutterShyPinkiePie · 10/09/2013 21:03

I have just spent the last 30 minutes carefully choosing from a wedding gift list for my friends.

The list was only of things for the honeymoon eg trips, meals etc

I was about to make the payment and realised that the whole list is actually meaningless, the cash can be given on the day or is just transferred to their account, to spend on whatever they like. I would not actually be choosing and buying them 'anything' and its all a bit of a farce!

I do appreciate that money is probably all they want but it feels like a bit of a sneaky way to do it. I have no problem giving cash if requested but don't make me stare at a list of nice things that I'm not actually buying!

AIBU to think that if I take the time to choose something off a wedding list then that is what the couple should actually get!!

OP posts:
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CoffeeTea103 · 10/09/2013 21:10

It's rude to ask for cash as a gift or even offering the bank details. To even expect gifts is a bit much. Why should you fund their honeymoon.
Yanbu

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MimiSunshine · 10/09/2013 21:19

I doubt they'd go to the effort of putting a list together if it was all just a sneaky way of getting money to spend on whatever they like.
Just give / transfer the money and if possible put in the reference "champagne at sunset" or whatever they've put on their list.

The only problem with wedding gift (money requests) lists is that the giver forgets its not about them. All you ever hear on theses threads is "I don't / wouldn't..."

And I speak for myself as well, the last wedding I went to had a really boring list of practical homeware. I was really looking forward to picking something lovely from the nice shop but was really disappointed by what my friends had put on their list. I still bought something off it though as I was definitely going to buy a present so made sure it was something they'd identified rather than something I wanted to buy.

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Haggischucker · 10/09/2013 21:25

I disagree. My best friend got married and did not have a traditional gift list as her and husband move around a lot for work. They had a list of honeymoon activities and people chose what activity they would like to contribute too (they did not ask for specific amounts) they then took photos of themselves enjoying said activity and sent as a thank you for the contribution. I thought it was a fabulous idea! I would much rather contribute to creating a special memory rather than buying a traditional gift that they really didn't need/want. They didn't ask in a cheeky way at all and as a friend I was more than happy with going with whatever they wanted :)

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JRmumma · 10/09/2013 21:29

If you don't have a list or ask for cash etc, You are going to end up with a load of crap you don't want or need. What a terrible waste of money for everyone!

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DontmindifIdo · 10/09/2013 21:30

I bet what you pick is what they will do, unless there's one thing on there that they really want to do and noone goes for. i wouldn't be surprised that they've done it this way so that they'll get a note saying who's paid for what, and you'll be able to get photos of them doing what you've paid for, or they will on the day think "oh we're off to do XXX, FlutterShy treated us to this! Must tell her all about it when we're back."

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JRmumma · 10/09/2013 21:33

Posted too soon! Just want to add that its so annoying when people give gifts of things that THEY think is right, regardless of the wishes of the person they are giving to. Thus applies to all occasions not just birthdays.

I'm a nightmare to buy for, i only ever get book vouchers or cash as presents as everyone knows i don't like 'stuff'

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WafflyVersatile · 10/09/2013 21:34

Unless you have a special insight into their tastes and desires then why would you want to get them something they haven't asked for?


Maybe a couple of personalised gifts that have meaning between the giver and the receiver then either get them something from the list, even if it is just money or don't. You're not obliged to buy a present at all.

I don't think it's sneaky, I think it's a way to help the givers visualise where their money is going rather than just thinking, cash, especially as some people seem to find 'cash' offensive.

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WafflyVersatile · 10/09/2013 21:38

I also don't get 'why should we fund their honeymoon/wedding'? People seem to say this a lot.

Why do people never say 'Why should we fund their 44 piece cutlery set'?

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lifesgreatquestions · 10/09/2013 21:39

I think it's awkward, best to not ask for gifts at all a far add I'm concerned, but personally I would hate being given loads of stuff I don't want. Likewise I would hate having to take pics of all my honeymoon activities so I could send grateful photos later... it's a lose lose situation from my pov!

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Cupcake1985 · 10/09/2013 21:39

I think you are. It's a normal thing for people to ask for honeymoon money - we did. They are actually going the extra mile by showing you examples of what they will do, presumably so you can give a preference. Weddings are stressful enough without the couple wondering if they're offending friends and family by asking for a helping hand.

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MelMack · 10/09/2013 21:40

Lots of people spend an absolute fortune on their wedding, and if they have already lived together/have a house and contents, there's no point buying them a traditional wedding present that they may not like or may not go with what they already have.
If they've asked for help with the honeymoon, it's what they want and may need help with after all the other expenses.

You don't have to buy them anything if you don't agree with it, you could put in the card that you'd prefer to do/buy something special and when they're settled in after honeymoon you'd like to go to their house and fill any gaps they realise they have- but I think presents that they specifically haven't asked for risk being a waste of money.

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BrokenSunglasses · 10/09/2013 21:42

Yanbu.

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FlutterShyPinkiePie · 10/09/2013 21:56

I don't know, I mean I obviously I don't want to waste money on something meaningless they'd hate so I always go off lists and if they want money towards the honeymoon, great, easy.

However I just find it odd to spend the time to choose eg 2 of 8 'cocktails on the beach' and then give or transfer cash. They may have that cocktail, they may not, they may spend it on souvenirs which is fine but its not what I chose for them IYSWIM.

I have no idea why it bothers me but it does, will probably have forgotten all about it by the wedding though!!

OP posts:
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raisah · 11/09/2013 03:08

Within the asian community it is expected to give cash or gold jewellery. There is usually a sentence at the bottom of the invitation which usually says something along the lines of:
"We kindly request that no boxed gifts are given" something like that but nobody is offended by it because atleast you know thst your gift won't be gathering dust in an attic.

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AngusAndElspethsThistleWhistle · 11/09/2013 03:26

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SmallBee · 11/09/2013 03:36

Wedding gift lists are a tricky one as its a touchy subject to make a list at all for some people.
However I do find with any type of gift giving, people are often very reluctant to buy something the other person/couple likes if they don't like it themselves. They want to buy a gift they would like rather than what the person/couple actually want.
For our wedding we did a mixed gift list of charity donations, material items & 'experiences' for our honeymoon. We used the money exactly what we said we would use it for, it never crossed my mind not to, it's just lying to loved ones otherwise. That was also the part of the list we got most excited about & the most pleasure out of.
We had a lot of people but things from off the list. As a result we ended up with 22 champagne glasses (I'm not sure what this says about us) some lovely one of a kind items which mean a lot to us and also one or two one of a kind items that I'm sad to say have never seen the light of day as they were so horrendously not to our taste. They live in a box, in a cupboard, in the attic.

I don't know if this helps but maybe it provides some insight from the other side of the fence?

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LouiseD29 · 11/09/2013 03:46

OP - we did what you're talking about. We're both in our thirties and really didn't need or want lots of stuff, so decided this was the best way for us (and we clearly explained in the invite that we didn't expect a gift, but this is what we'd prefer if people really wanted to give us something). On the honeymoon we took pictures of all the activities we did and included the relevant one in the thank you card to each person, showing how their gift was used. We had an incredible honeymoon and yes, always think of the people who enabled us to have such a special and memorable time.

That said, plenty of people went off list and got us something personal, or didn't get anything at all which was equally fine. If they are you're friends then you should be able to judge what's appropriate for your friendship rather than feeling obligated to do something you're not comfortable with.

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SlangKing · 11/09/2013 04:55

Like Louise touched upon - I'd like to think that if somebody knew me well enough to invite me to their wedding, I'd know them well enough to have some idea about an appropriate gift for them. I can appreciate that people want a flawless ceremony and botulism-free vol-au-vents,,, but all this planning stuff to the nth degree?! Not too long ago, people used to find it funny when they got 3 sandwich makers and half a dozen coffee perculators. They'd give the spares to people who didn't have them (i.e. People who hadn't had a wedding yet). It was the things that went wrong that provided the X-factor,, the MEMORIES. What's to remember about these over-planned do's? "Was that the one that was the same as the the previous three?" "The boring, predictable one? I think so, I'm not sure." Cancel the local, very kewl DJ and bring back Sharon's dad and his mobile disco,, the one with the dodgy strobe light and the coloured oil pattern projectors. I wouldn't buy a gift from a pre-planned list on principle. (I won't expect a rush of RSVP's in my inbox anytime soon).

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nooka · 11/09/2013 05:07

dh and I really loved putting our wedding gift list together. We went up to John Lewis early one Saturday morning and browsed for two or three hours and fantasized about our new home together. Almost 20 years later we still use most of the things on our list, and that reminds us of the people who gave us each gift. We tried to include all sorts of things to appeal to the different tastes and budgets of our family and friends.

I've two family members getting married this year both over 40 and neither of them have lists because they have been living together for a long time and have established homes, so very different needs (dh and I were 25 and just about to move in to our first home together). I'd still like to give them both a physical memento, but it will be much much harder.

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nooka · 11/09/2013 05:09

Oh, ad our wedding was totally planned by my very traditional parents, and none of our friends got married for at least another five years, so no wedding fatigue, plus I'm sure my parent's ideas as to what a proper wedding should be like was rather different to our contemporaries!

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ifink · 11/09/2013 05:13

I hate the whole contributing to honeymoons/flashy holidays etc...if the bride and groom can't afford their 'dream honeymoon' then they should go somewhere cheaper or save up and do it later, not ask their guests to fork out for it....bah humbug!

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lastnightiwenttomanderleyagain · 11/09/2013 05:20

OP... We had a honeymoon list and also sent little cards to people afterwards saying this was what we did. I'm on no way casting aspersions on.your age as some of our younger friends did this too, but generally there was a generation split between who was comfortable with this. Our peers really understood that we define our life by experiences we've had, places we've been and people we meet along the way.

Parents and older seemed very intent on helping us accumulate 'stuff' regardless of whether we'd actually use/need it. MIL was intent on buying us a clock for reasons I don't really understand and we managed to divert this to a new bed.

In response to.someone who.said people invited to your wedding should know you well enough...yes and no!

One of my work friends and his wife gave us a tiny Barbour jacket for the dog they knew we were planning to get. We were quite taken aback with how thoughtful this was! My.own father on the other hand who knows I work in design and have a bizarre obsession with the 'correct' shape of wine glasses bought us some hideous flared silver champagne flutes that are destined to be relegated to thr back of a cupboard yet we feel obliged to keep as he obviously thought they would be special.to.us. (i'm aware I.sound ungrateful, I really cannot verbally convey how hideous these are!)

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lastnightiwenttomanderleyagain · 11/09/2013 05:28

PS. We were taken aback by people's generosity overall. We really didn't expect much and I really mean this when I say it was enough having people there. We didn't book our honeymoon.until we knew how much we would have to.play with and were astonished when we got enough to.do our dream honeymoon and spend a fortnight exploring an active volcano!

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GreyWhites · 11/09/2013 05:40

I have heard of this too and I think it's s great idea. If there were 'things' they needed your friends would have asked for them. As it is they would like to give you the opportunity to help them enjoy some activities together. From what I know of people who have taken this approach to gifts they have really appreciated it and do send pics and thank you cards afterwards. Obviously this list is just a way of giving you the opportunity to give then a gift they know they will want and enjoy. You're also free not to get them anything. Or if you're a good friend I'm sure you can think of an item which they will appreciate.

I really don't think it's a "sneaky' way to get money at all. Any more than asking for "things" is a sneaky way of getting new items for your home.

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nooka · 11/09/2013 05:41

I wonder if it's also to do with your expectations of what a wedding and honeymoon should be. It seems that as couples are generally older when they get married and therefore organising their own bash so weddings have become much more elaborate and honeymoons more lavish. dh and I spent a week in a cottage for our honeymoon and it was lovely, we've great (but quite ordinary) memories of the week. I don't think that things need to be extraordinary to be remembered. Plus I think that many of our wedding gifts are likely to last longer than my memories!

I do like the photos of the events your friends have contributed toward as an idea though.

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