Gifts at a wedding?

missbiggles1

Abbafan1972 wrote: »

I thought it was only the Bride and Groom that signed the register?

Two witnesses also sign it. IME, that's the best man and (chief) bridesmaid.

jackieblack

Person_one wrote: »

Nearly every wedding I've been to as an adult. The only exception being the one where the reception was in an all you can eat buffet restaurant and there were no speeches, cake, first dance or any other general wedding bumf.

It might be fairly new, but its definitely the norm now.

There seem to be a lot of things that have become 'the norm' in weddings these days, most of them completely pointless and unnecessary :cool:
No wonder the average cost of weddings has spiralled! :eek:

Person_one

jackieblack wrote: »

There seem to be a lot of things that have become 'the norm' in weddings these days, most of them completely pointless and unnecessary :cool:
No wonder the average cost of weddings has spiralled! :eek:

Out of all the pointless wedding stuff that's sprung up in the last few years though, this is surely one of the better ones? At least it's not completely self serving or self important like so many new 'traditions'.

Gloomendoom

Abbafan1972 wrote: »

I thought it was only the Bride and Groom that signed the register?

You need two witnesses also.

Gloomendoom

missbiggles1 wrote: »

Two witnesses also sign it. IME, that's the best man and (chief) bridesmaid.

At my first wedding, it was two old ladies plucked from the street.

At least they didn't get locked in the lavatory.

pleasedelete

Traditionally:

Groom pays for bridesmaid dresses
Brides family pay for her dress
Groom /best man get their own clothes

Small gift for bridesmaid from the groom- often in the past a prayer book or more recently a small silver item.

No gifts required for anyone else.

missbiggles1

TBagpuss wrote: »

Perhaps it is a regional thing? I have never been to a wedding where there have been gifts or flowers for the mother of the bride or groom, so while it may be becoming common for some I think it is a long way from being the norm.

OP, do you think that you and your partner's mothers will be expecting this? Or will be upset or disappointed if they don't receive them?

I agree, never heard of it before.

I don't suppose there's a confusion and people are talking about buying corsages for the mums, because I'd agree that's quite common.

missbiggles1

TheSicilian wrote: »

No, of course they won't be expecting them

It's just a token gesture for the advice, and help they've given to the day.

We've decided we're going to minimalise the people getting a thankyou with more than words.

Will be best man - pocket watch (may never use but nevermind eh?) he's getting married next year, may be nice for him to have for that day.
Mum, and MIL will be getting a small personalised gift to remember the day, a trinket of some sort.
FIL will get a cigar, along with the BM.
Our LO's will get a smallk gift for their contribution toward the day, and so they don't feel left out.
No bridesmaids to worry about!!

You mean they won't remember their children's wedding day if you don't give them a trinket?

Person_one

missbiggles1 wrote: »

I agree, never heard of it before.

I don't suppose there's a confusion and people are talking about buying corsages for the mums, because I'd agree that's quite common.

Which of the posters who've said they've seen this frequently do you think are that stupid? :cool:

Gloomendoom

TBagpuss wrote: »

Perhaps it is a regional thing? I have never been to a wedding where there have been gifts or flowers for the mother of the bride or groom, so while it may be becoming common for some I think it is a long way from being the norm.

I've been to a few weddings where it has been done and they weren't centred on any particular region. My own, for example.

We felt it approriate because my mother had spent weeks drastically altering (re-making) my wife's wedding dress to fit and her mother (and the rest of her family) had spent the previous week getting the venue ready.

I think they were the only 'gifts' that we handed out. There were no bridesmaids.