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Amanda
Master August 2013

Is it okay to send a wedding gift late?

Amanda, on June 21, 2013 at 7:59 AM Posted in Etiquette and Advice 0 16

I attended my cousin's wedding three weeks ago. Somehow (I'm blaming it on bride brain), I COMPLETELY spaced and forgot to get her a gift. I literally woke up in the middle of the night last night and realized this, haha. Obviously I want to make this right ASAP, but what should I do? Their registry is cleaned out, so I'm thinking I should mail them a gift card and a nice handwritten note. Should I acknowledge that the gift is late and/or apologize?

FWIW, my cousin is the sweetest person in the world and I seriously doubt that she's holding it against me in ANY way, but still. I feel horrible for forgetting! Not sure how that even happened...

16 Comments

Latest activity by Nikki Leonard, on June 21, 2013 at 12:12 PM
  • vicky
    VIP May 2014
    vicky ·
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    She may not have noticed, or if she did she shrugged it off. It's sweet of you to want to send something now & I think a hand written note with a gift card would be really nice. I don't think you need details, just say you're not sure what happened but you forgot this a couple weeks ago.

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  • Out the Window
    Master May 2014
    Out the Window ·
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    Better late than never!!

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  • HisMrs
    Master September 2012
    HisMrs ·
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    Here's what I would do: Send her a gift card with a nice card, then call her and say "oh my gosh I'm such an idiot! I thought I mailed your gift weeks ago but I just found it this morning on my dresser! I am SO sorry!" Smiley winking

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  • Amanda
    Master August 2013
    Amanda ·
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    HisMrs, that's a PERFECT idea! So sneaky haha :-)

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  • ♥MrsC♥
    VIP July 2013
    ♥MrsC♥ ·
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    I am sure your cousin would appreciate it Smiley smile like out the window said better late than never Smiley smile

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  • Private User
    Master March 2014
    Private User ·
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    Etiquette states that you can send a gift up to one year after the wedding, or so I've been told by my grandmother. Smiley smile

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  • HisMrs
    Master September 2012
    HisMrs ·
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    Hehe. Yes I can be sneaky when I need to. I have actually done this before a time or two Smiley winking Not necessarily proud of it but hey... it is what it is.

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  • Tiffany
    VIP July 2013
    Tiffany ·
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    Three weeks really isn't that long. I don't think its too late. They might not have even been able to look thru all of their gifts anyway.

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  • Maria DiFiore
    Maria DiFiore ·
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    I would go with a gift card and definitely let her know you are so sorry for completely forgetting to get her a gift. Better late than never! I think she will appreciate it that you did that.

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  • sarah r
    Super June 2013
    sarah r ·
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    Like MrsStobe says you have a year after the wedding to receive a gift. We have had a handful of people send us gifts after the fact. No need to acknowledge that it is late!

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  • Barbara
    Master September 2014
    Barbara ·
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    Late is okay. You don't need to apologize or mention it.

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  • F
    Super March 2014
    FordGrl ·
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    Yes, I agree that you have up to a year to send a gift. Better late than never.

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  • We'llAlwaysHaveParis
    Master November 2013
    We'llAlwaysHaveParis ·
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    Better late than never, and a gift card sounds perfect.

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  • Biscuit
    Devoted October 2013
    Biscuit ·
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    I once went to a wedding where they took to gift table down so quickly I wasn't able to leave my card (with cash gift) in their card box. I had to travel back home & then mail it. All was fine.

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  • Stephanie
    Master November 2014
    Stephanie ·
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    It's considered completely acceptable to give a gift up to a year after the wedding.

    My brother-in-law and sister-in-law got married the DAY AFTER my partner and I moved into our first apartment together. Our move was beyond horrific (lasted three days). One gift was entirely lost because of the move, and the other accidentally got packed, and then lost after we unpacked. We were irritated--the wedding date was picked AFTER the happy couple knew what day we were moving, and the wedding was originally supposed to be a picnic type reception that we could attend when we wanted a break from unpacking. When the wedding turned into a more traditional one, they didn't move the date back ... it was a stressful weekend.

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  • Nikki Leonard
    Nikki Leonard ·
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    We were still geting gifts off the registry 9 months after the wedding. I was thrilled to get them at any time, so I think you're totally fine!

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