Aug 31 2010
What is the proper gift etiquette for a cousin’s destination wedding that we are not attending.?
We were invited but will not attend due to work commitments. Since we do not have to ‘cover the cost of the dinner’ what would be appropriate.
They are not registered anywhere.
13 responses so far
13 Responses to “What is the proper gift etiquette for a cousin’s destination wedding that we are not attending.?”
A toaster
Candles..everybody loves candles..
i would have to say a toaster… or a spa day gift card
50.00 if you are close 100.00
if you are looking into something diffrent sign them up for a wine club where every month for a year they get a bottle of wine sent to them
$50 gift card to wherever they are registered from all who were invited from your household. Or, I gave my cousin for her wedding that I couldn’t attend a $25 GC for Bed, Bath & Beyond and a $25 GC to Home depot. She thought a “his” and “hers” gift was fantastic. (although I didn’t mean it that way, but, hey whatever works)
Go to her registry, and find something that you can afford and purchase it for her. Send it to her with a card expressing your congratulations. You don’t need to ‘cover the cost of dinner’ but you should at least get her something that you know she’ll like and that is from your heart.
I gave one of my friends a really nice collage photo frame for her new house. It was something I knew she’d want and she has it hanging in her new home with wedding photos in it.
The “cover the cost of dinner” rule of thumb is actually not in the etiquette books, so the good news is you can give within whatever your budget allows.
In the past, I’ve found something from the couple’s registry, like a tea pot or a toaster, and then built a gift basket around it. For example,
I take the teapot and then add muffin mix, special jellies, some kitchen towels, and of course a variety of tea and make a “First Breakfast at Home” basket for the couple.
Simply take something they’ve asked for – big or small – and add a little personality to it.
yes you still have to send a gift. for a couple I’d say a min $100 would be acceptable.
I think sending them a gift before they leave or once they return would be appropriate. I never base my gifts on covering the plate anyway, so I’d recommend giving whatever you feel comfortable with. Our base gift is $100 per couple and up, depending on our closeness with them.
How close are you to your cousin? And I guess you would have given them $100 or so if you had gone to the wedding so, I’d say the same amount or more being that you didn’t have to pay for the destination. It all sums up to what you can afford.
Visa Gift Card
Vouchers I reckon.. Do they have a gift list?
All that etiquette requires is that you send a friendly letter of congratulations. If you WANT to send a gift, then be guided by your own generous impulses and your budget. There is nothing incorrect about enclosing a small gift like a $10 gift card if you want to send more than just a letter but don’t want to spend a lot of money.