Is getting money for engagement a thing or is it cultural?

Wow, not sure if it's a thing, but I guess be happy? That's awfully nice!

Pretty kickass surprise!

Maybe you should ask your FH or FILs what you can expect? It may be part cultural and part what his family/circle does. They're a better source of information than WW.

Be sure to send a thank you card.

They're probably wedding presents.

Make sure you send a thank you card, and I am pretty sure it is cultural.

Well damn!!! Who are these people?! Can I have their names and addresses?!

Seriously though that is awesome!

I would ask your future in-laws if that is customary. Sounds like it. How nice! Definitely send thank you cards ASAP!

I also think it's a "his family" thing. Or maybe they think the STD is the invite?

Maybe they can't go

It may just be his family thing. Or they can't make it to the wedding but wanted to send you a gift anyways.

I've never heard of it but each family is different.

My family does this. We are Italian/Catholic as well? I don't know if that's why we do it though lol

We received a lot of money/gift cards when we got engaged. Every aunt and uncle on my side, a handful of cousins and a few of my parents' friends all sent/gave us something when we saw them.

No one of FH's side did this. My mom thought it was weird, but it's just not a thing on his side. Any time my cousin's have gotten engaged, I've always gotten them a gift card or something from Etsy. My whole life, it's always been presented as a gift-giving celebration.

ETA: I should also add that it's not from an engagement party. My family thinks engagement parties are rude. They just believe in giving a gift when you find out someone is engaged lol

I never realized that we were weird until right now, where no one else has come forward that their family does this lol

Sweet!!! Just make sure you find out if they are still going though, bc the same thing happened with us, but they let us know they weren't going.

Seems very nice! I would just appreciate the gesture and send a thank you card! I would talk to FH about any culture differences or traditions in his family. I don't think you need to worry about offending anyone. They just wanted to send you good wishes along with some money!

Maybe just early wedding presents. But engagement gifts are a thing, its usually not cash though. I met a girl over the weekend who said in her FH's culture they have something called an engagement ceremony. There is no paper work, just some sort of spiritual leader who comes and prays for the couple and then afterwards the two families meet, mingle and eat. Its important bc after that she says its okay for them to live together and they don't have the pressures of "when are you getting married from their families." They are free (in their families eyes) to take their time getting legally married. In total they will have a 3 year engagement, but she says his culture also requires a grand affair with usually 400 ppl in attendance.

Haha I'm also Italian/Catholic and my family did this as well. We didn't send out STDs but, once they heard we got engaged we got a card and money from each of them. His mom did get us a card and some house stuff, but nothing else from his side. My entire side of the family also gave us a card and money when we got confirmed recently lol so I think it may be cultural.

@Jersey and Emily B.

Thank you for sharing and yes it sounds cultural.

Actually to clarify, the checks were included in engagement cards with congratulations and most of them intend on attending the wedding.

Yes ladies, thank you cards are in order asap. I have been looking online on how to properly thank guests for checks.

That's very nice! Definitely send a thank you card

I just realized that the only people who gave us engagement gifts/checks (when we got engaged, not std) were also east coast Italian Catholic. Maybe it is cultural?