TODAY’S POLL

LAST POLL RESULTS

47.3% of you voted It depends on the couple and the circumstances in yesterday’s poll: What do you think is the right etiquette for gifts at a destination wedding?

“Depends upon the ‘level of friendship’ regarding a gift or just a card.”

“Depends on the age of the couple and the cost to attend the wedding.”

“THE PRICE OF GOING HAS TO FIGURE INTO ANY GIFT.”

“Personally, if I have to accrue a large cost to go to the wedding, that’ll be reflected in my gift! If I usually spend $100 on a gift but have a large expense to go to the wedding, I’ll spend $25! If there’s a very large expense to go to the wedding, I’ll stay home and spend $100 on the gift!”

“I’m on a very limited budget. Most destination weddings are priced out of my budget; therefore, I give a gift that I can afford. I won’t go into debt for someone’s wedding.”

“Assuming ‘destination’ means ‘somewhere on the exotic side,’ which usually equals ‘probably expensive,’ it seems like it would be hard to expect guests to also purchase a gift. But if you’re in, say, Cleveland and the destination is the banks of Lake Erie, then gifting shouldn’t be an issue. Also, there’s a wealthy vs. less wealthy aspect baked into the question; if you’re rich, you’re traveling and gifting regardless.”

“If ‘destination’ is the mountains 2 hours away from me, I’d still give a gift. If ‘destination’ is another country, I may send something small from their registry to their home or get them a little something upon our return, but more as a gesture. I wouldn’t spend a significant amount.”

“It depends. I’ve never been to a destination wedding. I actually had one myself in Gatlinburg, but we had a reception at home a month later for those who couldn’t come. That’s where I received my wedding gifts. I didn’t expect anything in Gatlinburg, just love and support in a beautiful mountain setting. It seems to me that anyone who has a destination wedding would prefer not to have to tote a bunch of gifts back home from the destination. Who knows, lol!”

“If you can afford to attend, I think you should give a gift. But give it before or after the wedding, so they don’t have to lug it home.”

“Even if a destination wedding were out of my budget to attend, I would still send a gift. Come to think of it, I’d send a gift even if I were attending, so I’d have less to carry while traveling.”

“Guests should send a gift or bring only a card with money to the wedding.”

“Guests traveling from far and near should give a gift. It’s only proper etiquette, as the couple usually spends thousands and does a lot of planning. Only certain circumstances should excuse giving.”

“Even if it’s a small token, a card, or a little wrapped gift, giving something is the only proper thing to do.”

“You can’t just show up. That’s clownish.”

“If it’s a destination wedding, maybe a small gift is in order, but nothing large, for certain!”

“It’s a lot of financial pressure for some family members to attend a destination wedding. If you can make it to the wedding and send a gift, that’s the best. If not, just send a gift. No worries about it.”

“If you want to bring a gift, that’s fine, but it shouldn’t be expected since you already have the cost of flights, a hotel, and meals.”

“If they can afford a destination wedding, they shouldn’t need a lavish gift.”

“Really not sure. Because of the cost incurred to travel to a destination wedding, maybe a small gift is OK.”

“I would send a gift and stay home. I’m not able to travel for my own enjoyment because of the cost, and the kinds of locations usually chosen for destination weddings are places I’d never pay to go to.”

“I’m not in the tax bracket where my friends would have destination weddings, so I’ve never had to think about it. My wedding was local, and we requested that our guests not bring gifts, so every couple probably has different gifting expectations, regardless of location.”

“I’m not sure it counts as a destination wedding, but we went to my son’s wedding in Las Vegas. Of course, I still gave them money! I’ve never been invited to a faraway destination wedding, so I’m unsure of the etiquette surrounding that.”

“I have never been to a destination wedding!”

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