I just got an invite to a friends wedding, and it asked for cash gifts.
Right on the attached reception card.
In a cutesy poem.
With a
after it.... A smiley emote, seriously! Like, "We know this was totally rude, but please accept this sheepish punctuation smile. That makes it better, right?"
And then gave 2 choices of charities we could donate to instead if we preferred.
I'm sort of let down because I thought friend's FI was a real class act and I guess I'm dissapointed in her, stupid as that sounds. Also, now I feel like I
have to give cash since they made their preference SO clear. I know etiquette doesn't require it, but I don't want to send the message that I completely disregarded their clearly stated desires.
I hate giving cash because
1) A cash gift CLEARLY states in dollars how important I think they are, at least for those who wish to analyze it that way. (The ones who ask for cash outright are usually the only ones who do, in my experience.)
2) This couple is invited to my wedding a few months after theirs. So I'm going to give them a check for $100 and then they're going to give me one back? I would assume that's the plan since they clearly think cash is the most appropriate gift. Seems awkward and pretty pointless.
They aren't blatantly strapped for cash/struggling and haven't been living together for many years or anything, so I don't really know what's up with it, anyhow.
....... At least it wasn't a honeymoon registry, I guess.
(YES, I am absolutely making a big fat deal of this for dramatic/silly effect. But it is a true story and pretty tacky if you ask me.)