The wedding is over, and it’s time to relax. You might be looking forward to the honeymoon, but there’s one more thing to get excited about before that: the presents! Now it might sound tacky, but let’s be honest: no matter how old you are, everyone gets excited about opening wedding gifts. Plus, with how expensive weddings are, it can be a relief to know a few of your relatives pitched in to cover some of the cost with a cash gift.
But how do you go about doing it? Some families have a tradition where the bride and groom meet for brunch the next morning and open presents in front of their closest family members. This allows people to be there firsthand as they unwrap something handcrafted. Your Grandma has been working on that quilt for an entire year. She deserves to see the look on your face when you first lay eyes on it. Of course, some would argue that this is insensitive and disrespectful, and it mostly focuses on the gifts, not the couple themselves. Plus, not every gift is interesting. Watching people unwrap toasters, gravy boats, and cash cards isn’t an exciting afternoon.
Others, on the other hand, opt for a more private setting. The gifts are opened (with no one else present) after the couple returns from their honeymoon. In a more private setting, the couple can organize gifts as they come and map out their thank-you cards accordingly. Plus, they won’t have to deal with a Mother-in-law’s judging eyes as they open a gift from the groom’s fraternity.
Whichever route you decide to take, we thought we might put together a list of dos and don’ts that apply in either situation.
Do Opening Wedding Gifts:
– Remember, it’s the thought that counts. If your grandpa gives you a handpainted mailbox, be excited about it. When you move back home, take a picture of it standing in your driveway to send to him and take it down if necessary. If he shows up unexpectedly, say there was a string of mailbox vandalizations, and you were too worried something would happen to it.
– Refer to money as the gift you’ll use it for. This gives the gift more weight in the eyes of all the other handcrafted gifts.
Don’t:
– Forget the thank-you notes no matter how late you are. Things happen, and life catches up with you. Everyone knows that. A thank-you note is still a thank-you note, whether it is received three days or three months later. You’ll want to write them as soon as possible, but don’t slack off just because time has passed.
– Use generic terms. Send a handwritten note, no matter how insignificant you may feel that it is. Don’t just print the message and sign your signature; talk about how happy you were to see them there (or how much you missed them) and, of course, reference how much you love their gift!
Lily’s Bridal is Maryland’s Premier Bridal Boutique offering Exclusive Wedding Gowns and Prom Dresses. We cater to all sizes from 0 to 30. Call to book your appointment today!