I've known of people who have written this on invitations and other announcements, and they honestly want nothing except the presence of their guests.
But it seems nowadays, that people think that by putting "No gifts, please" that their request actually means "but we'll accept your cash, check, money order, visa..."
Am I the only one who believes that "No gifts" means "No gifts"? Isn't money a gift? Why don't these picky people just have a yard sale to liquidate what they would get from all of the gifts that would have been thoughtfully chosen for one reason or another?
2006-08-11 01:48:41 · 16 answers · asked by Realmstarr 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Etiquette
The reason I ask is because a good friend of mine was invited to a wedding overseas where the woman wrote on the invitation and told her many times "no gifts- your presence is all I desire!" (also knowing that my friend was the only guest who was paying some $900.00 for a plane ticket to get to the wedding!).
And then my friend overheard the bride later being nasty as she was counting up the envelopes stuffed with money that people gave her anyway, "I can't believe she only gave me 30 Euros!" And then the next day, a check arrived for the bride and my friend again overheard discussion, "Well, by the time I take my time to go exchange this d*mned check for euros, it won't be worth anything!"
My friend was unable to speak to her friend about this, because she felt guilty & mortified for not giving any $$. I told her NO.. and now I'm consoling my poor friend who is in tears over some rude person's behavior. I told my friend that no gifts means no gifts or money, period.
2006-08-11 02:34:49 · update #1
If they say "no gifts", then that means no gifts, including money.
I've seen very tasteful invitations saying something like "we already have everything we need for our flat, so please donate to help us pay for our next holiday" or something like that. That makes it obvious they'd prefer cash.
2006-08-11 01:50:50 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
No gifts mean exactly that but some try to abuse this by expecting cash.
Tell your freind the next time some friend gets married try this. During my wedding as in all wedding there is the wedding couple dance what we did was distributed pin so that my guest would pin money on me and her would pin money on her it ends up both sides trying to outdo the other so it envokes competition, laughter and cheers but at the same time we were able to colect thousands without antagonizing guest
2006-08-15 02:12:55 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No gifts means no gifts - money or otherwise.
If more people honestly wanted only the presence and fellowship of their guests, the world would be a much better place. Much less greed.
So if it says no gifts, don't take a gift.
2006-08-11 15:03:16 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Have you ever seen that episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm where Larry David was invited to a party and the invite said "no gifts"? It doesn't really mean no gifts. Just bring something anyway.
2006-08-14 15:41:09 · answer #4 · answered by Samba Queen 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"No gifts" SHOULD mean no gifts, especially considering the lengths some people apparently had to go to to attend this wedding. However, it seems that this bridezilla was just greedy. I'm sorry your friend had to go through that.
2006-08-11 09:42:41 · answer #5 · answered by Randi L 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It means no gifts necessary. But I usually will bring something small something like a bottle of wine.
2006-08-11 09:25:07 · answer #6 · answered by Marygoroun(d) 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes it just means no gifts, money does count as a gift.
2006-08-11 08:54:11 · answer #7 · answered by miss_gem_01 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
When once you write something like that, you ought to mean it. It is one of the PC things to do nowadays. Some people really mean it, others like in what you said don't. You live and learn.
2006-08-11 10:20:03 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
no gifts means "nothing". But that is a little unusual for a wedding.
2006-08-15 02:41:50 · answer #9 · answered by chubs 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree with you that no gifts mean no gifts.
If they want gifts then do not specify no gifts!
(but maybe still give them a card?)
2006-08-11 09:05:01 · answer #10 · answered by tjrj23 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋