Wedding invite - no pressies

FiFi_Mad_Mum

Hi, I'm looking for ideas. DH and I have just received an invite to his friends evening wedding reception and they have requested no presents, the reason I presume is because they live in China and are getting married there, coming here for a reception and they don't want to take back loads of gifts. Any ideas of alternative gifts, please.
FiFi

wishiwasarichgirl

give a donation to a charity

LilMissEmmylou

money would be easiest i suppose - or perhaps order something they want/need to be delivered to their home address?

reehsetin

a donation to a charity on their behalf instead, or something like http://www.greatgifts.org/

tpsjrm

How about planting a tree to offset their carbon footprint travelling from China? There are some charities that will do this for you.

In a similar vein, Oxfam have lots of eco-friendly presents that you can buy on behalf of others, anything from a goat to a new water well.

Or you could take some photos at the 'do' and email/post them a collage, which they would probably appreciate.

Alternatively, do exactly what they ask and don't get/do anything. Just go and enjoy yourselves, but remember to write them a lovely letter afterwards, telling them how much you enjoyed yourselves etc - and keep in touch.
:beer:

Pisces

I would respect their wishes and also do nothing. My boyfriend and I have a similar dilemma - we are getting married and don't want a gift list, but feel pressured to do one because people feel they 'have' to get something (they absolutely don't as we've got everything and it's more than enough that they will make the effort to attend)!

Your OH's friends have clearly thought about it and have decided that the company of their friends/family is more than enough..

I would echo the thought about writing a lovely letter afterwards though, and perhaps include a nice photo of the couple if you take one at the wedding.

Waxy_Bean

We went to a wedding in Thailand where the couple requested no presents as they were living in Singapore. We didn't buy them anything - nor were we allowed to spend any money at all while we were out there. In the end we went to visit them about six months later in New York and treated them to a night out on Broadway as a belated wedding present (dinner, show & drinks).

Could you give them tickets to a show or something else? Some sort of activity so that they don't have to take it back with them?

RoxieW

you could offer to pay for a part of the day - ie the cake, the car (or join forces with others guests to do this). My friends arranged my wedding car as I was just having a taxi as couldn't justify the expense to go 10 mins up the road. My dad also arranged us a pink limo to take us to the airport (much to hubbys dismay!!!)

steveo3002

could you treat them to a stay in a nice hotel or flash meal out while theyre here? or some currency they can spend when they get home

does anyone like amazon do gift certificates for where they live

FiFi_Mad_Mum

Waxy_Bean wrote: »

Could you give them tickets to a show or something else? Some sort of activity so that they don't have to take it back with them?

Thanks for all your replies. I have already thought of the theatre idea as we sometimes get West End productions in Glasgow and as the bride is Chinese I think it will be nice to go to the theatre (I think she speaks English, will confirm before booking). I have emailed the groom and asked him to fill me in with his plans - when they come home and go back etc.
FiFi

chocolatechipcookies

Give them money. But instead on GBPs give them Chinese money (sorry don't know what it's called.)