How to handle guests who didn’t gift?

Let it go. Weddings are expensive to attend and gifts are not required. They were there to celebrate your love.

We had a good handful or two of our guests not give gifts at our wedding. Ended up getting a few from them in the mail since. Even if that doesn't happen, like PP said: just let it go. Your wedding wasn't about gifts, it was about celebrating your love with those close to you. Be grateful they were able to afford to attend! That in itself can be a burden on some.

You have to move on. Do not dwell on this and do not treat anyone any different. Hopefully you didn’t just invite them for gifts so why would you be thinking about how to deal with it?

You should invite them because you want them to celebrate you getting married not to get a gift. I don’t even care about gifts I just want ppl to come!

I don’t think I’ll care either way if people gift or not. Their presence is enough, so I would let it go and not hold it against them.

I read an article, and I can't for the life of me find it... As many as 20% of guests don't typically brings gifts, and numbers can soar to about 50% with a younger crowd. (I swear I read this on brides.com or something when trying to figure out the appropriate amount to gift friends at their wedding)... I have been guilty of not getting gifts at weddings I am a bridal party of (unless i bring a plus one)... Anyway it is hard. I feel like gifts aren't as customary. I agree let it go, but to answer your question yes it is common.

Very common. I had a handful of people I was very surprised to get nothing from, but all you can do is move on and be grateful for the time and love they shared to celebrate your marriage.

Yes, I have attended weddings before and didn't gift.

I currently live in the US. I went to a wedding in England. That was expensive and time consuming.

I currently live in the US. I went to a wedding in Turkey. That was expensive and time consuming.

When I lived in Detroit, I rented a car and drove 9 hours out to Bethlehem, PA on Friday for a Saturday wedding, and then I drove 9 hours back on Sunday. Expensive and time consuming.

They all invited me, and all are close friends. I did bring a card to both and wrote them my well-wishes. Both wrote me a thank-you letter and said they were really happy that I was able to come.

Yeah. It's common. Your guests may indeed have good reasons for not gifting. In that getting to your wedding was expensive and time consuming.

Even if the non-gifters live down the block, the correct etiquette would be to send them a thank-you for attending your day. Plus, again, some people wait a long time to send a gift, so. You might still get one at some point.

A wedding is to celebrate the union of the couple. Its not about getting gifts. Yes they are nice but try to look at it as they were there out of love. If you threw a bday party and they didn't bring a gift would it be a big deal? I understand that it is frustrating however you do not know what is going on in their life plus technically guests have up to a year to give a wedding gift if they so desire.

Like pp said don't dwell on it. Their presence is a great gift in itself.

I never heard of going to a wedding without a gift before I came to these forums. Apparently it is more common than I would have thought!

All of my guests gave us a gift, but if one of them didn't, I would just let it go. Maybe they weren't in a financial spot or didn't know they should bring a gift?

I don't think there is proper etiquette here other than just letting it go and not bringing it up with them.

Was the point of this post meaning how to handle a thank you card? That's originally what I felt you were asking but people are responding differently so...

It blows my mind that this is so common! I would NEVER attend any celebration empty handed, and especially not a wedding! I honestly don’t get how people can do that.

I agree though not to dwell on it, and there’s nothing to can do to “handle it”. Just move on. I would not send a thank you card to someone that didn’t give a gift though.

View Quoted Comment This is what I thought too..

You only need to write thank you cards to those who give a gift. The thank you for coming to your Ceremony is the reception and hosting them. So therefore any additional thank you’s are for gifts.

View Quoted Comment So I actually read somewhere that it can actually be an insult to write out a thank you card to people that didn’t bring a gift because it is like you are calling them out for not bringing a gift by sending them a thank you card for them just being there. Not arguing, it’s just interesting to see how different people view different things!

Gifts are nice but should never be expected.

I would send them a thank you card for taking time out of their lives to celebrate with me. I would let it go and send the card and move on with my life!

Most ppl give gifts at the shower and those that didn't attach the shower bring gifts or money. I had my cousin's wedding recently. I went broke traveling out of state to attend plus my daughter was in thr weddng as a flower girl. I couldn't get her a gift. She'll get a nice gift at Christmas from me.

View Quoted Comment This is what I was going to say. Also some ppl just give gifts at the shower..& technically ppl have up until a yr afterward to give gifts. You may continue to receive things post marriage. Either way, no reason to dwell! Congratulations! 😊