Attending a Wedding Without Gift Giving

That is so incredibly rude. We just attended a wedding this weekend and prior to, had sent them $300 worth of gifts. The gifts were delivered to the bride's parents house so they did not yet know what we got them. When we got to the wedding I realized I'd forgotten to buy them a card (when I buy a gift, I reference it in the card) and was so mad at myself! I felt awful for not even getting them a card so I seriously cannot imagine people who do not give a gift. There is no excuse for that rudeness in my opinion.

I have never not given a card with a check/cash in it, but a couple of years ago FH and I attended a friends wedding and did not bring a gift with us. We had some major financial surprises and just couldn't scrape the money together. We mailed them a card with a check about 3 months later when we were able to. I felt absolutely terrible for those 3 months every time I thought of them.

What I'm getting at, is maybe some of the gifts are still coming?

I think @Casey put it perfectly.

We invited 200 people to our wedding. About 100 people came. At the wedding, we got 7 cards and one physical gift. About 10 people shipped gifts to us (since we live in Florida but got married in Oklahoma). Either way, we're past the wedding now and less than half of our guests have given gifts. I don't know if this is just a thing in my circle of people, or not, but those are the stats.

I was raised that you don't go to a wedding (or somebody's house) without something, so I either ship a gift to the couple before the wedding, or bring it with me if it's local. Even when I was in grad school and super broke, I at least gave a card with a letter to the couple.

A gift would be nice, but everyone is not able to bring one. Hopefully you will get one down the line, but I would not be mad. I also factored that into the guest list.

Unfortunately not all people are as awesome as us and assume to send a gift or bring a card to the wedding, that's just how it is.

Don't people have a year to give a gift technically? Sometimes people send you stuff afterwards I wouldn't stress. Also, in case yours was a destination wedding sometimes those tend to break the bank

This happened to us and honestly, I'm still shocked. Some people gifted us too generously so we're definitely lucky but I will not understand people who show up empty handed. I was raised to never go to something like this empty handed. Even when I was broke I would get SOMETHING. I think for my sister's wedding I got her a $12 wine bottle opener from the registry (cheapest item) because I was poor in college to the point I was skipping meals but I still couldn't justify attending empty handed. I know people technically have a year to gift couples but an empty card would have still been better than the alternative, honestly. I love cards (trying to find a creative way to display them) so the gesture that someone took the time to go get us a $1 card and write a nice note means the world to us.

I'm invited to a wedding and I just got a new job, but I'm using that to pay off my credit cards. I had to go out and buy new suit pants because I lost weight and dress shoes, hat all alone was $230. I have to book a room (split with a friend) for $55. Gas $70. It's been a struggle and I have felt a lot of anxiety as of late, but felt the need to go since he's a friend I really like a whole lot.
I'm torn on buying a gift. I feel those $50 can go towards my credit card. I never eat out so I know I won't spend it on frivolous stuff. I just feel bad not showing up with a gift. What to do.

I understand how you feel, and why you questioning. I don't think it's normal. The way I was raised up it was customary to bring a monetary gift to a wedding on the day of the wedding plus gifts for the shower ect. I usually give between 100-250 depends on the relationship, location, and travel costs ect, and I honestly wish I could actually do more.. regardless of my financial situation. I think the least I gave was 50 but I also gave a gift that cost 100 on top of that. Usually weddings are announced way I ahead of time to allow people to save and prepare ect.. I never understood how people could not bring a gift. btw I am not from a rich family and at times we greatly struggled with finances so I know what it is like not to have much, but if I choose to attend an event regardless of my finances I need to make sure I am prepared for it. Weddings are expensive and couples spend tens of thousands dollars on them. The area where I live average plate price is $150 a person plus all the other cost like decorations, drinks, band photographers, tips. Plus weddings symbolize new beginnings and why wouldn't the guests not want to bless the couple?! at least thats how I feel. Its feels very rude and disrespectful not to give. My husband and I just got married we had a lot of relatives send us gifts who did not attend the wedding at all, and that was very kind of them and we didn't expect that at all, and then we had 30 people come to our wedding with nothing at all not even a card. Which is very strange to me and honestly hurtful. Even though we are not fishing for gifts but it feels inconsiderate and disrespectful knowing how much finances, effort, and planning is being put into it and not bring anything at all feels kinda sour. We did have several people tell us they forgot our gifts, If I forgot a gift I would of been so embarrassed and sorry.. But i guess there are different cultures and I am old school. I am choosing to focus on the good! because overall those who did give gave above and beyond what we ever expected and were extremely generous toward us.

I just got married this last weekend. I didn’t have a shower or bachelorette party. I’m amazed by how many people didn’t even bring a card let alone a gift. I would never do such a thing! I don’t even go to someone else’s house empty-handed. Seems quite rude to me!

Gifts are always optional. It’s not a faux pas to not bring a gift or a card as sometimes people forget and others may not have the budget. Guests do have 12 months from the wedding day to give a gift if they choose to.

As begin someone who attended a wedding or 2 I have always given a gift