Skip to main content

Post content has been hidden

To unblock this content, please click here

Meredith
Expert October 2011

Gifts before the wedding

Meredith, on August 26, 2011 at 9:10 AM Posted in Etiquette and Advice 0 11

What is the etiquette behind opening gifts before the wedding? I received a package from Macy's yesterday and I assumed it was a wedding gift. My mom said I should go ahead and open it. I felt like I was breaking some rule. I told her I would wait until after the wedding and she was like "JUST OPEN IT!" Err so I did. It was a gift my my aunt and uncle who are coming from out of town. (awesome gift btw!) But is it bad form to open it now and send a thank you right away? Or should I pretend I didn't open it until the wedding and send a thank you later? We are having a gift opening party the day after the wedding but we are having 300 guests at our wedding. I doubt that people will want to stand around for hours while we open 100 gifts or whatever (I'm exaggerating but you know what I mean) Thanks,

11 Comments

Latest activity by Meredith, on August 28, 2011 at 1:05 AM
  • Shana
    Master October 2011
    Shana ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    Nope, you should open gifts as soon as you get them and send thank you notes right away. People want to know that you received their gift. Theoretically, you should wait to use the gifts until after the wedding, as a just in case. But you should definitely go ahead and open anything you receive, cash any checks, etc. Just make sure you send those thank you notes ASAP. Before the wedding, I think you have two weeks to get those thank you notes sent out.

    • Reply
  • NJ Bride
    VIP September 2011
    NJ Bride ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    You should write thank yous for anything received before the wedding, before the wedding. Smiley smile (2 weeks to write thank yous before the wedding!) So open it! Some people wait to use things though. If people want you to wait, they'll either send it last minute or after the wedding or bring it to the wedding themselves.

    • Reply
  • Mrs♥In♥September
    Master September 2011
    Mrs♥In♥September ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    We have gotten a few gifts and we've opened them to know who they were from and sent out thank you notes. We just told them we couldn't wait until the wedding to use them at our new home and were grateful for their thoughtful gifts!

    • Reply
  • Meredith
    Expert October 2011
    Meredith ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    Thank you! I just didn't want to appear greedy or focused on the gifts if I sent out a thank you card now. I would definitely not use it until after the wedding. (But I can't wait to use my keurig coffee maker!)

    • Reply
  • J
    Master November 2011
    J&R ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    Yup, open the gift but keep it in "returnable" condition until you tie the knot (just in case...). This is so you can write a thank you note, but if anything should happen, you can also return the gift.

    • Reply
  • Mrs.Williams
    Expert July 2011
    Mrs.Williams ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    I think it's best to open gifts as you receive them and send them a thank you right away. We received gifts by mail that were ordered from our registry from those that were mainly not able to attend our destination wedding. I had two bridal showers, the wedding, and a at home reception. I didn't want run the risk of forgetting to send anyone a thank you card. So anything we received a thank you card was mailed no later than a week later. Opening gifts as you receive them and sending the thank you card also let's them know that you did receive their gift.

    • Reply
  • Celia Milton
    Celia Milton ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    Open them as the arrive so your guests aren't worried about them. Don't use them, but write that note right away; less to write later!

    • Reply
  • Shana
    Master October 2011
    Shana ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    I've actually enjoyed the process of writing thank you notes ahead of time, because I can spend more time making them personal. I told the couple that gave us a $100 check that we'd use it on our Caribbean honeymoon, but we'd have to decide if we wanted to stick to snorkeling or go all out for scuba diving. I've been having a good time with it for now. I'm sure when I have a ton to do it won't be so fun!

    • Reply
  • Elizabeth
    Master October 2012
    Elizabeth ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    Open gifts as they arrive.

    • Reply
  • B
    Master January 2011
    bluedaisy ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    Open gifts and write thank you notes as they arrive...otherwise people will worry you didnt recieve it. you are though, technically supposed to wait to use it until after the wedding. whether you actually do that though, is up to you, just word stuff in the thank yous as though you are waiting

    • Reply
  • Meredith
    Expert October 2011
    Meredith ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    Thanks ladies. I received 2 packages this week and promptly mailed out my thank you's. It is nice to send a few thank you's out early before the mass of thank you notes begin. Smiley smile

    • Reply

You voted for . Add a comment 👇

×
WeddingWire celebrates love ...and so does everyone on our site! Explore how we embrace diversity

Groups

WeddingWire article topics