During your engagement and right through until your wedding day, you will be receiving gifts to commemorate your big news. You may receive wedding gifts from people you don’t even know. That’s because all gifts, even those from guests of your fiancé’s family, are usually sent to the bride. But the only people obligated to give gifts are those who accept invitations to your reception. And if it’s your second marriage or your fiancé’s those who sent a gift before may not give another. To make gift-giving more fun, less of a guessing game for all your friends and relatives, register at a your favourite stores. List items you’d like to receive; all in all price ranges. Guests can select the gifts they like and and can afford. The gift consultant will check off item purchased in that store, but do let them know when you get something from another place.
Have fun unwrapping those gifts- be careful that no gift cards get separated from their packages or that cheques get misplaced. As you unwrap each gift, list it in a special book, along with a description, the sender’s name and address and the date it arrived. Leave space for the date you mail a thank-you note. And star those presents for the bridal consultant to check off your gift registry so its kept up to date.
Send a personal handwritten thank-you note for each gift you receive, even if it’s from a close friend you’ve thanked in person and see every day. You don’t have to send written notes to your fiancé or your parents, though they might love finding a surprise note in a pocket or on their pillow. Keep up with your notes by writing as each gift comes in. And do try to send a thank-you within two weeks after a gift arrives; no later than one month after your honeymoon.
When writing your thank-yous, be brief but specific. In the first sentence, mention the gift itself. (“cappuccino maker”) If you don’t know what it is, refer to it by colour or material (“the pretty blue crystal piece”). Next say something more about the present.
If you receive a single gift from a large group (like your co-workers, or relatives), send one note to the group as a whole but if the joint gift is from two or three people, write to each one separately. Sign off with your first and last names or just your first, using your newly married name, only after your wedding, and only if, you are taking your your partner’s name.
Although the internet is wide-spread and convenient, It is not acceptable to send your thank-you by email. The proper way is to send it the old-fashioned way with a stamp.
No matter how careful you are about registering your preferences, you’re bound to receive duplicates or gifts you may not want. Since no one likes to think his gift was exchanged, take back only the items you’re the giver will never know about. Otherwise, keep the gift. And never ask someone to exchange a present he or she gave you. Do it yourself if you know where it came from. The same is true for a damaged gift, unless it was sent by the giver through the mail or courier company and it was insured. Avoid mentioning about returned gifts or duplications in your thank-you note, instead thank the givers for their lovely thought and generosity.
