Wedding Etiquette: Is “Mandatory” Cash Gifting Ever Acceptable?
1. The Etiquette Perspective: Gifts Are Never Mandatory
In traditional wedding etiquette, a gift is a token of appreciation from a guest to the couple, not an admission fee. * The Host’s Responsibility: When a couple hosts a wedding, the costs associated with the venue, catering, and entertainment are the responsibility of the hosts. It is considered a significant breach of etiquette to dictate, or even suggest, that guests are responsible for paying for their own attendance.
- The “Cost Per Plate” Fallacy: While it is common for guests to consider the cost of their meal when deciding how much to give as a gift, this is a personal choice. Expecting or demanding a specific dollar amount to “cover” that cost turns a wedding into a transaction rather than a celebration.
2. Why This Trend Is Causing Backlash
It is understandable why you might find this “ridiculous”. Requests for mandatory cash gifts create several problems:
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