I've been through four weddings out of our five kids. The money some folks spend on weddings is just ludicrous.

Nobody I know can afford to give 300 dollar wedding gifts to non family members so if the prospective bride and or groom expects such a gift I guess they better not invite me.

Just because they want an extravagent wedding does not create an obligation to me to take out a mortgage on my house to provide a "suitable" gift.

It is always my pleasure to attend weddings to witness folks commitment to each other. I will always give a gift I can afford though.

But I am not an extravagent person and will be very happy with them if they provide spagetti and a home made cake at the doings.

The witnessing and sharing of the blessed event is the main thing.

I read an article recently which suggested the more expensive wedding the less likely the marriage is to endure.

__________________
[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

That's good news...My wife and I were married in the pastor's house, and we had two people in attendance as witnesses. Just the four of us plus the pastor and his wife.

Total cost...$50 donation for the pastor, and the two that witnessed it covered our dinner at Red Lobster that evening.

Looks like I'll stay married for a looooong time.

__________________
1987 560SL
85,000 miles

I agree. A good friend of mine came alone to my daughters wedding in Oct. His gift was $100.00. (He certainly could afford to give more.) His son got married in June in Ontario. He had a party locally last Fri. nite for those who didn't make the trip to Canada. My daughter informed me that I should give $100.00 per person. Me & the g/f attended, so I gave them 100 x 2. Around these parts, I guess the rule of thumb these days is 100 a head minimum.
(Of course, if he had given my daughter $300 or $500, I would have matched it without giving it a second thought. He's a good friend.)

How about a gift certificate to a session with a marriage counselor. Unique, practical, and useful; and some may consider it prescient.

Fire Extiguisher

__________________
Ben
1987 190d 2.5Turbo

yeah, by that standard my first marriage should have been excellent. But really, only the sex was but that finally petered out too and we ended up split up.

My second marriage we had at a friends house and did a cook out ourselves. A friend baked the cake. She did get a real wedding dress though....that was the biggest investment by far and she looked fabulous. 37 years so far. I think it may last.

__________________
[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Giving money seems to be the prevalant gift at weddings now. Or it is what I at least have observed and we practice.

Give whatever you think you can afford, not what others think you should give!

People of means don't actually expect others to reciprocate...unless your last name is Corleone!

My wife and I came from families of varying income...most from my wife's side were of modest means. One of the guests gave us a plastic pasta strainer as a gift!

20 years later, we STILL have that plastic strainer and in fact, just used it last night!

__________________
2009 ML350 (106K) - Family vehicle
2001 CLK430 Cabriolet (80K) - Wife's car
2005 BMW 645CI (138K) - My daily driver
2016 Mustang (32K) - Daughter's car

Thanks for all the replies! I'm leaning towards money because it's the most useful, and besides, you can't regift that! That 100 a head is new to me and sounds like good advice. Wonder if Benhogan was kidding abiut the fire extinguisher. That would make a funny gift. I can imagine the bride and groom opening it and saying wtf! Laughing as I imagine that.

Someome suggested a juicer, may lok into that, but I don't have much time.

A gift card for a good divorce attorney, statistically it will probably get more use than a blender...

__________________
2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Couples sometimes view their wedding as a chance to get everything on their gee-I-want-that-so-badly list,” says Black, meaning they limit the items to make sure they receive them all. Or some couples do this hoping for money instead of gifts. Regardless of the motive, this means that your choices are wide open. Note: It’s probably still a good idea to choose something classic, not quirky.

I think since they were thoughtless enough not to have a convenient registry of what they wanted, an outrageous and useless gift at the 50 dollar mark is in order here. What this couple needs, is a ceramic lawn ornament with at least a 50% tastlessness factor.

__________________
This post brought to you by Carl's Jr.

YES! The witnessing of the event is supposed to be the main thing. My wife watches some of those wedding shows, and it is inconceivable to me what some people spend on a ceremony that marks the beginning of what has all prospects of being a brief marriage.

The winner of extravagant/brief marriages--at least in my personal experience..... Some years ago ( before digital cameras), a guy I worked with decided to get married to a girl he met at NA. ( NA is a fine self-help organization--but populated by a greater number of co-dependent types than the general population.) Wedding was spectacular--full black tie event, string quartet, rented a local mansion and grounds for the event. Invited nearly everyone from the local building trades, probably 200 guests.
Marriage was OVER before the wedding proofs came back from the photographer!!

As far as the gift goes. If they didn't provide a registry, then they get what you give them. Poor planning on their part, or maybe even a bit of arrogance that demands you give a more substantial gift--maybe not, I do not know the people involved. A gift card to a popular store might be good, if you worry about cash. My son and his wife love Crate 'n Barrel, but that may not work for this couple.
The gift is not supposed to be a competitive event.

__________________
1982 300SD " Wotan" ..On the road as of Jan 8, 2007 with Historic Tags

I think the blender could be used for the same. May need to give it to her parents though !

There are plenty of kitchen gizmos these days. Just get one of them.

__________________
Grumpy Old Diesel Owners Club group

I no longer question authority, I annoy authority. More effect, less effort....

1967 230-6 auto parts car. rust bucket.
1980 300D now parts car 800k miles
1984 300D 500k miles
1987 250td 160k miles English import
2001 jeep turbo diesel 130k miles
1998 jeep tdi ~ followed me home. Needs a turbo.
1968 Ford F750 truck. 6-354 diesel conversion.
Other toys ~J.D.,Cat & GM ~ mainly earth moving

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

You cannot give less than $200. if you attend as a couple unless you wish to appear as a cheapskate.

The norm is closer to $250.

If you can't pay............don't go.

Gotta laugh at those who believe they can give $50. and call it a day.