Do most guests usually bring gifts to the reception?

rasp.berry · June 2012

Using your experience with your wedding and past weddings you've attended as a guest, do a large portion of guests usually bring gifts to the reception? Or do most bring cards with a monetary gift instead? We've only received 1 wedding gift to date and I got it early (at my shower) because it was an OOT aunt. I'm curious whether or not I should leave more room than I planned for boxed gifts on the card table or if most will just bring cards. I've personally only been to a few weddings, but have always just brought a card with a monetary gift as opposed to a boxed gift.

GretchenLaRoux · June 2012

I almost always bring a physical gift to weddings, but mostly because I can afford something nice for not much money if I'm thrifty, whereas throwing $20 in a card doesn't seem like much.

On the other hand, I got far more cards than physical gifts at my wedding.

HobokensFury · June 2012

It depends on your area. Around here no one brings physical gifts, everyone bring cash or checks.

librababy · June 2012

I never really noticed. In my case, I assume I'll get more monetary gifts from my family that are coming from oot. As for fi's family, most will be inivted to the shower, so I don't really expect another physical gfit from them... I figure they will gift $$ too but it is not expected. That said, I am not having a table designated for gifts. If we do get boxed gifts, they wiil be set down on the table where the card box will be and then can take the place of the escort cards once that space is freed up.

meganb1977 · June 2012

We only received a few boxed/bagged gifts at the wedding. Most were sent beforehand, and we got a few cards. It's better etiquette for a guest not to bring a boxed gift to a wedding, but people do it anyway.

Wiscisbliss · June 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_registering-gifts_do-most-guests-usually-bring-gifts-to-the-reception?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:34Discussion:bb38c8f3-42ea-4949-a86b-996334faf36cPost:09523cc5-8a9f-4b48-8f32-91c8843fc92a">Re: Do most guests usually bring gifts to the reception?</a>:
[QUOTE]We only received a few boxed/bagged gifts at the wedding. Most were sent beforehand, and we got a few cards. It's better etiquette for a guest not to bring a boxed gift to a wedding, but people do it anyway.
Posted by meganb1977[/QUOTE]

<div>Ditto all this. </div>

AurorasEnvy · June 2012

I'd say I got 75% cards w/ money and 25% actual gifts. And of those physical gifts, I'd say 50% of them were sent to my house instead of being brought to the wedding.

BTCarolus · June 2012

As Hoboken Bride says, this is a very regional thing. In the New York area, it is my understanding, guests bring money to the wedding, or have a gift shipped (and almost nobody ships a gift). In my circle outside of LA, everybody brings a gift to the actual wedding. The best way to find out is to ask somebody you know who has attended many local weddings.

JCM10 · June 2012

At my wedding (South Texas) it was about 75% boxed gifts, 25% cards. Luckily we got married in the same town we lived in (along with my husband's parents). Otherwise those boxed gifts would have been a pain.

RebeccaB88 · June 2012

Around here (Oklahoma) most people bring gifts to the wedding, and if they are giving money they mail it to the home ahead of time. Card boxes aren't common, and most people give physical gifts.

At my sister's wedding it took 2 full sized SUVs and one sedan to bring home all the gifts brought to the reception.

Avion22 · June 2012

At our wedding (which had guests from all over the country), people really didn't bring anything to the reception. A few people brought cards with no money in them, and one person brought a physical gift that was a family heirloom and she wanted to give directly to us instead of risking mailing it.

Everyone else either sent a physical gift or card with check to our house, or gave us a physical gift or card with cash/check some other time during the wedding weekend so we woudln't have to worry about it at the reception.

As a wedding guest, I don't like bringing things with me to the actual reception -- a lot of venues have theft problems and it can be difficult to ensure the security of a gift table or card box. And it's just a hassel for the B&G to have to bring things back home after the reception.

cwaggoner07 · June 2012

Ditto to weddings in the south. I usually take a gift to the wedding if I didn't go to a shower ahead of time.

rlavach · June 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_registering-gifts_do-most-guests-usually-bring-gifts-to-the-reception?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:34Discussion:bb38c8f3-42ea-4949-a86b-996334faf36cPost:5789d008-42a4-488d-b531-4469c472c031">Re: Do most guests usually bring gifts to the reception?</a>:
[QUOTE]It depends on your area. Around here no one brings physical gifts, everyone bring cash or checks.
Posted by HobokenBride2012[/QUOTE]
Yup, we got all cash/checks and only ONE gift. The gift giver was from CA, so we cut her a break :)

cpm1223 · June 2012

I'm in MA, and physical gifts are usually given at the shower, and then cash is given at the wedding.

I'd say we received 95% cards/$, and 5% physical gifts at our wedding.

egm900 · June 2012

As PP said, this a such a regional thing. In New Orleans, most people will give gifts for the wedding, probably 75%+, and 25% will give money/gift cards. I've never seen more than 3-4 boxes/bags brought to the wedding, but almost all the cards with money/gift cards are brought to the wedding.

hoffse · June 2012

My circle has large gift tables - we're hoping most will get shipped beforehand, but we're prepared for a large table just in case - we're planning on looking at the registry the day before and see how many things have been shipped of the things purchased. My circle really doesn't do much cash.

ElisabethJoanne · June 2012

Here in California, we see a lot of boxed gifts at wedding receptions. The younger the guests, the more boxed gifts. That is, the percentage of boxed gifts has declined the longer my circle of friends has been out of college.

Mindyerbiz · June 2012

I have never given a check or cash. I usually put the money im giving in a gift card to the place they were registered. That way I know they will use the money to put towards house related items, instead of using it to pay bills.

MangoSong · June 2012

I personally prefer to give cash at the wedding for two reasons. One, it's what is done here. Two, it's a PITA for the bride and groom to have to pack up the gifts (along with everything else) and lug it home.

If I was getting them a gift for the wedding, I would have it shipped directly to their house instead of bringing it.

Do most guests usually bring gifts to the reception?

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