You’ve been invited to – or are attempting to plan – a destination wedding, how exciting! And… costly.
A destination wedding can make guests feel a lot of things, from the rush of excitement to jet away for the special day to aligning schedules to ensure you can attend, to child care or pet care, where to get the cheapest air fare, and yes, what to wear. So therein lies the big question at the end of it all: do you still have to give a gift?
As a guest attending a destination wedding, the answer is: yes, you still have to give a gift. But wait – there’s more to the story. Read on to find out about destination wedding gift-giving etiquette for guests.
Gift Etiquette for Destination Wedding
As a guest, you are responsible for giving a gift, whether it is a courthouse wedding, a reception at a grand ballroom, a tiny garden celebration, or a destination wedding on an island somewhere. You are expected to dress for the occasion, don’t wear white, and bring a gift.
You must bring a gift of some kind, but this is where common sense comes into play. A small gift of money, or a gift card, is a nice gesture that goes a long way. It doesn’t have to be much, but you have to give something.
Write something special inside the card, thank your gracious hosts for inviting you, and describe a few of your favorite things about the trip. Include well-wishes for the couple and their future together. And then give them a gift of money or a gift card they can use later.
And remember, the amount you gift as a gift is going to be significantly less than a wedding held locally. This is because guests do shell out quite a bit of money to travel, so the couple should understand their presence really are the best presents of all. :)
ON TO YOU: Here’s some more reading on giving cash gifts – How Much Do You Give for a Wedding Gift?
Hope it helps!
xo
Emma
