Community Chat

[LilacTree]

On 5/22/2014 abbeythe8th said:

On 5/22/2014 Ford1224 said:

I am about to sign off for the evening, but this caught my eye. So I haven't read the whole thread (I will tomorrow). It was probably 15 years ago and I was at my brother's son's wedding with my girls, who were still young and struggling. I gave $100, and my girls gave $50 each (which totaled $300 from my family). I'll never forget my brother saying to me, "$100 is nothing anymore." I was really offended and wanted to say "then I'll give nothing." But I didn't. However, I did say that I didn't make six figures like he did, and why was her whole family seated near the bridal table while we were seated near a very cold exit door? It was actually two rooms separated by a long bar, and we couldn't even see the bride and groom. While I've always loved my nephew, he let her family make all the decisions, so I never blamed him. I was very surprised and taken aback at what my brother said though and it took me a while to get over it.

I can't imagine what the going rate is now, but I will read it tomorrow.

Was her family seated near the bridal table because her family paid for the wedding?

I have no idea. Fortunately, we had our own good time.

[Catitude]

On 5/23/2014 VanSleepy said: When did fancy weddings start getting such a bad rap? It's most likely the biggest party you will ever host, so why not go all out if you can afford it.

[lulu2]

A wedding reception is a party to celebrate the union of 2 people. It's a joyous occasion shared with family and friends. How much you spend (or do not spend) is nobody's business except for the bride & groom and whomever is footing the bill. I hear people complain, it's too far away, the venue was too hot or too cold, the food was awful, the drinks were too weak, the band was too loud, I didn't like the music, the centerpieces were too big, and so on.

I have been to many weddings. If we've chosen to attend, I try to share the joy of the day and be the best guest I can possibly be. It is about the bride and groom and not about me.

[Emma bunting]

On 5/23/2014 lulu2 said:

A wedding reception is a party to celebrate the union of 2 people. It's a joyous occasion shared with family and friends. How much you spend (or do not spend) is nobody's business except for the bride & groom and whomever is footing the bill. I hear people complain, it's too far away, the venue was too hot or too cold, the food was awful, the drinks were too weak, the band was too loud, I didn't like the music, the centerpieces were too big, and so on.

I have been to many weddings. If we've chosen to attend, I try to share the joy of the day and be the best guest I can possibly be. It is about the bride and groom and not about me.

Very well said, lulu!

[Lipstickdiva]

On 5/23/2014 Opurrra said:

I will go on record stating $50.00 is a cheap gift for a couple to give as a wedding gift.

Seriously, a couple can't go out to dinner these days for that little. Open up your wallets a bit. It doesn't matter if the bride is a greedy "bridezilla" or they made be divorced down the road. Do the right thing and be generous and stop making excuses for your cheapness.

2 people in my area can go to dinner for $50.00 or less and I'm not talking fast food either. Stop making blanket statements when you obviously have no idea what you are talking about.

People can and should give what they can afford to give and are comfortable giving. I guess the difference is when we got married, we had only people on the guest list who we truly wanted at our wedding so it was important that they be there to share our special day. What they gave didn't matter.

If you are inviting every Tom, D~ick and Harry, you are looking for gifts.

[birddrops]

On 5/23/2014 LipstickDiva said:

On 5/23/2014 Opurrra said:

I will go on record stating $50.00 is a <em>cheap</em> gift for a couple to give as a wedding gift.

Seriously, a couple can't go out to dinner these days for that little. Open up your wallets a bit. It doesn't matter if the bride is a greedy "bridezilla" or they made be divorced down the road. Do the right thing and be generous and stop making excuses for your cheapness.

2 people in my area can go to dinner for $50.00 or less and I'm not talking fast food either. Stop making blanket statements when you obviously have no idea what you are talking about.

People can and should give what they can afford to give and are comfortable giving. I guess the difference is when we got married, we had only people on the guest list who we truly wanted at our wedding so it was important that they be there to share our special day. What they gave didn't matter.

If you are inviting every Tom, D~ick and Harry, you are looking for gifts.

Really, what is it to you if myself and others think $50 is cheap? This is not personal, but you seem to be taking it that way. Customs across the country are different, I get that. You are in the midwest, I think. Well, not all of us are.

You have no idea what kind of weddings we may have had or who may have been invited or if every Tom, D*ick and Harry were invited or not. Stop making it personal.

[Catitude]

On 5/23/2014 LipstickDiva said:

On 5/23/2014 Opurrra said:

I will go on record stating $50.00 is a <em>cheap</em> gift for a couple to give as a wedding gift.

Seriously, a couple can't go out to dinner these days for that little. Open up your wallets a bit. It doesn't matter if the bride is a greedy "bridezilla" or they made be divorced down the road. Do the right thing and be generous and stop making excuses for your cheapness.

2 people in my area can go to dinner for $50.00 or less and I'm not talking fast food either. Stop making blanket statements when you obviously have no idea what you are talking about.

People can and should give what they can afford to give and are comfortable giving. I guess the difference is when we got married, we had only people on the guest list who we truly wanted at our wedding so it was important that they be there to share our special day. What they gave didn't matter.

If you are inviting every Tom, D~ick and Harry, you are looking for gifts.

Give what you can afford is right.

If someone can afford to give $200.00 per couple, then they should do so.

Not sure where you're dining out. Are you ordering appetizers, salads, fish, chicken or beef as well as dessert and wine? That's what you're likely going to get served at a wedding. No way can 2 people eat for $50.00 or under unless it's a place along the lines of the Olive Garden or a TGIFriday's, yuck.

And who is inviting every Tom, Mary and Harry? Talk about a blanket statement. Some of you sound so angry at the bride and groom. You really should stay home if you're going to be so judgmental about the happy couple. Nobody wants a miserable guest.

[missy1]

I vote a potluck wedding, and the couple include they only want cash gifts on the invite. Cheap....

[gidgetgh]

After looking at the pictures of Kim Kardashian and Kanye West's reception table (posted on our fashion forum) and seeing the reception menu (posted on TMZ or US), most of which I didn't even understand what it was, I'm glad I didn't need to get them a gift to "cover the cost of my plate." Whew! I dodged a bullet by not being invited to their wedding-LOL.

[Preds]

On 5/25/2014 gidgetgoeshawaiian said: After looking at the pictures of Kim Kardashian and Kanye West's reception table (posted on our fashion forum) and seeing the reception menu (posted on TMZ or US), most of which I didn't even understand what it was, I'm glad I didn't need to get them a gift to "cover the cost of my plate." Whew! I dodged a bullet by not being invited to their wedding-LOL.