GIFT ETIQUETTE

I am often asked about the etiquette for gift giving for different occasions so I decided to do a series of blog entries dedicated to gracious gift giving. The world of gift etiquette is quiet extensive and far reaching so in order to break it down a little I will cover a number of occasions over the coming weeks. This week I will discuss gift etiquette for weddings. Let me know if there is a particular gift occasion you would like me to cover and I will happily oblige.

WEDDING GIFT ETIQUETTE

One of the most common concerns regarding gift etiquette is for wedding gifts. I have learnt my fair share of wedding gift etiquette over the past couple of years as my husband and I have been to 25 weddings in the past two years including our own! Whilst most people I know love celebrating the nuptials of their nearest and dearest, an invitation in the mailbox is often cause for a bex and a good lie down. When you take into consideration the engagement party, hens/bucks, travel to the wedding and accommodation the cost of being a wedding guest these days can be the equivalent of a down payment on a house (ok humpie).

In saying that I do want to point out that being invited to a wedding is an honor and privilege and should not be taken lightly. If you have ever faced the task of compiling a wedding guest list you will understand too well what I am saying. It’s a nightmare. So, in short consider yourself lucky to be invited and remember it’s a hell of a lot cheaper to attend a wedding than to throw one.

     Alessi Tray $89                     Dibbern Teapot $128                      Alessi Vase $89

REGISTRY

Show a little respect to the bride and groom and follow any guidelines they give regarding their gifts whether it be cash or gifts from a registry. If they have gone to the trouble of organising a gift registry than get in early and pick a gift from that. It is ok to choose a gift off the registry if you leave it too late and are left with a choice of a $10 garlic crusher and $400 food processor. The gift you give is supposed to be a tangible good to wish them well on their new journey so if it’s off the registry or not just follow the golden rule and put some thought into it!

CASH

Cash gifts at weddings often stir the most controversy however it’s time to get with the program people. Cash is considered perfectly acceptable in many cultures and it’s perfectly acceptable in 2010. Fogies I’m talking to you so turn up your hearing aids. These days most couples live together before tying the knot and have accumulated most of the mod cons required to live happily ever after or till he leaves you for a tattooed model who has the words ‘pray for us sinners’ tattooed across her forehead (seriously Jesse James!). If the couple have indicated that they are having a wishing well, then respectfully oblige and go with the cash option. It is not your wedding so leave your judgements at the door, thank you.

 Generally the happy couple will put the money towards good use and purchase any large ticket items they require for their home or put it towards renovations or a house deposit. On the off chance that they blow it all on their honey moon in Vegas is their bad luck and bad judgement (should have put it all on black kids!) and again – we are not here to judge!

HOW MUCH?

The amount you spend on a gift is the main source of contention when it comes to wedding gifts. I have heard some cracking theories regarding this matter – a guy I know calculates the amount spent on a gift according to the cost of food and beverage he will consume at the wedding. Interesting theory but not the way to go about it. According to Brides.com the most popular price point for a wedding gift is in the vicinity of $100-$199, but really it comes down to your budget. Most couples appreciate the fact that you are up for the cost of new threads, travel, accommodation, the latest Chloe handbag, oh, uh ... as I was saying, newly weds appreciate that it is expensive being a wedding guest and don’t expect you to     break the budget on their gift. So, give what you can afford.

RSVP

If you can’t make it to a wedding then you should still send a gift. As I mentioned it is a privilege being invited to a wedding and the point of the gift is to wish them well on their new journey so send them something in your absence. Just because can't make it because of [insert plausible excuse] is no excuse. Sending a gift is a lot cheaper than actually attending the wedding as previously discussed so send a gift and your best wishes and go have a bex and a good lie down anyway! 

FINISHING TOUCHES

I often like to repeat myself - it's great practice for impending motherhood - so once again I will say it IS the little things that count. If you are going with a cash option ensure you choose a beautiful card or one that reflects your personality (without going overboard - it's a wedding not a 21st!) or if you purchase a gift ensure it is beautifully gift wrapped. Most places offer complimentary gift wrapping services so be sure to ask. Take it from someone who had over 300 guests at her wedding - it is MOST helpful to include your name on the card as well as what your gift is. Include the gift information discretely on the bottom left or right corner of the card as some couples will record this information so they can write meaningful thank you cards. Ensure the card is securely attached to the gift. In the event that you forget the gift or are unable to take it with you to the reception it is ok to send a gift ahead of time or after the event. You have a two week window of opportunity to get the gift to the couple as some may get an early start on their thank you cards.

I hope everyone had a great Easter. We didn't go anywhere which is a nice change for us. It was quite novel to stay put and not spend half the break traveling to and from our destination. Four whole days of relaxing and eating - it was exhausting! 

As my husband and I are from the same country town we would normally travel home for Easter as the vast majority of both families reside there, which is in a word, convenient. However we decided against that this year as we are making the mammoth move back in a couple of months. The decision to move was inspired by my husband's financial planning business which began operations in our home town. Although I wasn't pregnant at the time we were trying like troopers in the hope that I would be by the time we moved back.

As fate would have it I will be six months pregnant when we move back. Although Husband and I feel the move is a bit 'one foot in the gravish' I couldn't imagine raising kids anywhere else. It was always our intention to move back one day but I think that day rolled around a little quicker than we envisaged. In saying that, we have certainly made the very most of our childless time in Brisbane. We have worked hard and partied even harder. There is not much we have said no to, in fact, I don't thing we have said no to anything! There was one wedding but that was one out of 25 in a two year and a half year period, not freakin bad if you ask me!

Now that I am slowly getting my head around being pregnant (and the fact that I am really and truly not going to drink a drop of vino for a significant period of time) I am actually looking forward to the move back to a simpler life (ok, I retract the single drop part, I have snuck the odd sip but considering I could have been medically classified as a binge alcoholic pre preggo days, it's nothing short of miraculous). There are not nearly as many options for entertainment in our home town so we have no choice but to simplify an uncomplicate our lives. I will definitely need to re-read this blog when we have moved back and remind myself that I am not bored, I am just simplified. I am going to need a hobby or two. Does shopping online count?

On the upside we will have the support of both families to lean on which is why the move is so attractive. I don't think I could continue to operate a small business and have a baby without family support in the city. Hats off to anyone that does so. So the move back couldn't have been timed better. Actually, the timing could be a little better as we are moving back at the start of winter which is long and bitter in our home town. After four years in Brisvegas, Winter 2010 is going to be a little longer and a bit more bitter than normal!

When I say things like "Hot diggety, I can't believe it's April already!" I feel like I'm getting old, but come on people, this is ridiculous. Didn't we just pack up the Christmas tree and arrive back from tropical holiday destinations? If my pale legs are anything to go by I guess not but for all intents and purposes it does feel that way!

When time flies by I guess it means you have been pretty busy and I can certainly say that for me the first quarter of this year has been action packed - actually that's an understatement. My husband and I experienced one of those life altering moments when you realise that life as you know it will never be the same again - the day we found out I was pregnant. We had been trying for a little while and so were pretty thrilled when it finally happened. Well, the thrilled part came after I paced the house for several hours whilst trying to contact husband who was at a business lunch. As I work from home by myself I couldn't sit still. I was literally walking around in circles so I started to vacuum. What a nutjob!

I am now in my second trimester and I can honestly say so far so good. I have had my moments certainly but compared to some of the horror stories I have heard I am not about to complain. No, my trap is shut. Tight. That's the thing about being preggo for the first time - it's like all the Mums have made a secret pact to hold back on all the gory draw dropping horror stories until - like them - you enter the 'Up The Duff Sisterhood'. Pregnancy is the new purgatory - and the sentence is 9 months. Well, technically it's 10  - average gestation period is 40 weeks - just another factoid you generally don't know till your knocked up!

So this year I guess it's quiet pertinent that our latest competition is for a $150 Red Ribbon Gifts Gift Certificate to spend on a gift for your Mum. All you have to do is become a Red Ribbon Gifts Member - which is a pretty cool deal as all our Members receive 5-25% off all transaction excluding flowers, as well as access to exclusive members only sales. To enter the comp just sign up at our Members Page





It looks like I have had baby on the brain as we have also just added a range of maternity gifts to our selection. We will be adding to the range in the very near future however we were keen to get started with a small range to cater to our customer's needs, in particular our corporate clients (Yes we specialise in tailored corporate gifting too!).



I hope you tuck into a truck load of chocolate eggs stopping only to alternate with some
delicious hot cross buns! 
Have a safe and happy Easter!