For better or worse, in people's minds weddings and wedding gifts go together like a horse and carriage. Social reformers in the guise of religious reverends and ministers might rail against the excesses practiced by bridal couples, but their words fall on unheeding ears. Even governments, from time to time, try to curb the tendency by passing laws against luxury and extravagance. Invariably their influence is as transient as their own existence.
Weddings without gifts is a contradiction in terms.
Go back to the early days of carefree village life and you'll see wedding guests entering the room, diffidently or bashfully, making their offering to the bride and groom. Perhaps it might be a cup cunningly wrought out of a piece of wood found in the garden patch. Or a brand new pillow, fat with the down of their own flock of geese.
After carefully examining the offering, the bride and groom would nod their approval at the party organiser standing close beside them, and also known as the keeper of beer or ale or mead or whatever the popular drink of the time. A much appreciated gift would result in a giant tankard of liquid refreshment for the giver. Less appreciated one would generate a smaller container. No gift at all ? and then, as now, there's always a few of those sort of guests ? and no liquid refreshment at all.
You could always tell apart the liberal giver from the scrooge by the way they left the wedding. The former would reel from side to side, almost missing the door on his way out. The latter might pretend that he was almost as under the weather, but no one was likely to be fooled by the act.
As industrialism and time-keeping came into existence, this hit and miss method of gift-giving was deemed inefficient. Enter the gift register. Now the worry of what to give the couple was taken entirely out of the inexperienced hands of the guest. As long as they could read the couple's stated preferences, they could stop worrying about the wedding gift entirely.
It seemed so easy. It should have been easy. But some people insist on creating problems where none exist.
There seems to be a human need to express freedom of choice and at least one quarter of all wedding guests simply ignore all efforts to get them to buy what they couple want and instead buy them something that they'll never use.
Oh, sure, they'll go to the department store where the couple have registered. But instead of the coffee-maker or water purifier indicated on the list, they will immediately go to that wasteland of wedding presents. That place of luxurious magnificent items whose sight will knock your eyes out, whose price will put you in hock, but whose utility is non-existent.
The bride and groom will spend the rest of their life wondering what to do with that half a ton of crystal. Perhaps they might use it for a salad bowl, if ever 30 guests drop in unexpectedly for lunch. Or a vase, if ever they start their own market flower garden and can afford the couple of hundred dollars of flowers which it needs to fill it.
It seems no matter how hard the bride and groom try to make gift-giving simple and easy, guests insists on going their separate intractable way.
"What would you like as a wedding gift, dear?" they'll ask sweetly. "We really want you to have what you need."
"We could do with some money, gran. This wedding is costing us a fortune."
"I'll get you a tea-set, then, shall I? I saw a really nice one at David Jones the other day."
"Weddings are pretty expensive, gran. Money would be nice."
"Then there's that hall-runner I saw advertised. Very reasonably priced."
"Money is what we'd really like!"
"What about a damask table cloth, and eight napkins to go with it."
"Money, gran!"
"You're absolutely, right, dear. Way too expensive. The tea-set was half the price."
The contemporary couple, marrying for the second, or third, or even fourth time, have a real dilemma on their hands. They need another casserole dish like they need another recipe book, but how can you get that through to people?
Of course, where there's a way, and where there's so many wedding specialists around, a solution was bound to surface sooner or later.
Here's the latest gift-register list.
"Tim and I are going to the Antarctic for our honeymoon and have registered with our bank. For your convenience we've made arrangements for you to select your choice of gifts by using any of the following options ? credit card, cheque, money order or electronic money transfer.
Our most desired item is $50
Desired - $20
Less desired - $10
Least desired - $5"
What will those "doing our own thing" guests do now? Give $100? A $1,000? Bring it on!
Vlady is an Australian Civil Marriage Celebrant. She is also an author of "Complete Book of Australian Weddings" and "The Small Organisation Handbook". Vlady is a member of Queensland Civil Marriage Celebrants Association and Celebrants Training Association. She is also a member of Australian Authors and Romance Writers of Australia.
You can visit Vlady at her website: http://www.vlady-celebrant.com
Planning a wedding of any size or budget can have... Read More
We've all been through times in our lives when it... Read More
Taking the hassle out of finding your perfect and unique... Read More
Wedding centerpieces help tie together the look of your entire... Read More
You have made the decision to contact a marriage counselor.... Read More
Henry Vlll and Elizabeth Taylor, who between them had fourteen... Read More
The symbolism of Celtic Diamond Rings is relevant to all... Read More
Save a substantial amount of money on invitations, without sacrificing... Read More
It really doesn't matter if you are planning to have... Read More
Remodels are tough on everyone. The house is out of... Read More
More and more, couples are choosing to write their own... Read More
Many wives cheat on their husbands. This could be due... Read More
Because many men do not discuss feelings as easily as... Read More
My husband and I have a perfect marriage.There. I said... Read More
Being a best man is like many duties you will... Read More
Your true love got down on his knees and asked... Read More
As couples begin thinking about their wedding, they are often... Read More
OverviewI suppose a typical Christian wedding in the UK can... Read More
It wasn't the wedding of the century. Six people in... Read More
Every woman dreams of her own wedding. May it be... Read More
Just as destination weddings are fast growing in popularity, so... Read More
There's an important question that you need to ask the... Read More
I saw real love while working at a cozy, candle-lit... Read More
It's a fact, however odd it seems, that some brides... Read More
Your wedding day is the day when all the details... Read More
Love should not blind a couple to the realities of... Read More
Planning a wedding should be fun and exciting. However, if... Read More
The wedding shower is a traditional party of the marriage... Read More
In a traditional Jewish wedding ceremony, Jewish wedding rings play... Read More
Have you ever had to give a wedding speech? As... Read More
Whether we like it or not current trends in engagement... Read More
Imagine it's Halloween evening and you've just gone to the... Read More
That first wedding was a dream, a gorgeous long white... Read More
Your wedding vows are the words that will forever remain... Read More
Your wedding is quite possibly the most important day of... Read More
Through my personal & professional coaching practice, marital issues often... Read More
These guidelines will help you avoid the three most common... Read More
Each of the dozens of Maui honeymoon resorts can be... Read More
Rose petals will add luxury to a wedding day or... Read More
Selecting a wedding gown is possibly one of the most... Read More
When it comes to decorating your reception tables, the centerpieces... Read More
When two people - destined for each other, come together,... Read More
You are engaged and one of the most important days... Read More
Chocolate fountains, once a rarity at weddings, are becoming more... Read More
Moissanite is fast becoming the new diamonds. The newest jewelry... Read More
It's a fact, however odd it seems, that some brides... Read More
Make your upcoming event the most memorable ever by adding... Read More
If you're looking to the internet for help with your... Read More
If you are considering a beach wedding, the ideas are... Read More
Marriage is a wonderful thing, but planning the wedding is... Read More
You have to start with a thorough to do list... Read More
Your wedding party is a major factor in the success... Read More
Mexico, a country rich in arts and ancient cultures and... Read More
Planning a wedding is an exciting thing, and can be... Read More
As the story goes, a Cherokee elder was sitting with... Read More
"Presence is more than just being there," states Malcolm S.Forbes.... Read More
A wedding is one of life's major rites of passage.... Read More
For better or worse, in people's minds weddings and wedding... Read More
Wedding favors are as unique and varied as the couples... Read More
As couples begin thinking about their wedding, they are often... Read More
Prescription for a happy marriage: one cup of tea or... Read More
Whether you want to add a little extra romance to... Read More
More and more, couples are choosing to write their own... Read More
Not only do individuals who follow Time Magazine's "Eight Steps... Read More
Second marriages can be a tricky situation for a variety... Read More
When I was the owner of a major wedding facility,... Read More
Marriage & Wedding |