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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU - no card?

257 replies

Inpaineveryday · 05/08/2025 19:22

Had my wedding last weekend - several friends didn’t even write us a nice card. I’m gutted and suddenly feel very unaware/naive about those friendships. 4 of these people I would have classed as close friends. Am I reading in to this? I wouldn’t dream of turning up to a wedding without at least giving a card congratulating the couple? Isn’t that basic etiquette, let alone what you would do as the minimum for a friend? One of these friends I’m particularly gutted about as I’ve really been there when times were hard for her. Even bought her Christmas food shop and presents for her child when she had not a single penny. A decade of friendship and not even a card? I don’t even know what to think, or am I just being sensitive?

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Ratisshortforratthew · 10/08/2025 18:49

Liliwen · 09/08/2025 19:15

You’d seriously turn up to a good friends wedding empty handed? That’s really rude of you.

it’s not grabby to expect a simple card wishing the couple well. It’s also not a recent thing- congratulations cards for weddings have been a thing for a long time.

Correct. I’ve never brought a gift or card to a wedding. I wouldn’t want or expect it from others so why would I? People’s friends making the effort to attend and celebrate with them is enough.

starfishmummy · 10/08/2025 13:13

I'm old(er) and cards would only be from people who didn't attend and it was the best man's job to read them out during the speeches. I'm not sure when it changed. The last couple of weddings we went to the cards were just put in a pile on a table.

TheBroonOneAndTheWhiteOne · 10/08/2025 13:04

BIossomtoes · 09/08/2025 19:15

A £2.50 card is “grabby”?!

I think the PP meant the expectation of money being placed in the card, not the card itself.

BIossomtoes · 09/08/2025 19:15

A £2.50 card is “grabby”?!

Liliwen · 09/08/2025 19:15

Ratisshortforratthew · 09/08/2025 19:12

This. I don’t do cards or gifts and nor do I expect them. Weddings in particular have become so grabby with this being an expectation. Personally I judge my friends on their behaviour towards me, not meaningless gestures that generally people only do because they feel they should or it’s expected.

Edited

You’d seriously turn up to a good friends wedding empty handed? That’s really rude of you.

it’s not grabby to expect a simple card wishing the couple well. It’s also not a recent thing- congratulations cards for weddings have been a thing for a long time.

Ratisshortforratthew · 09/08/2025 19:12

TheBroonOneAndTheWhiteOne · 05/08/2025 19:25

I don't write cards to anyone, for anything, except the occasional sympathy card.

I don't think people do much in the way of sending cards nowadays.

If you'd enabled voting I think you'd have seen mostly YABU.

This. I don’t do cards or gifts and nor do I expect them. Weddings in particular have become so grabby with this being an expectation. Personally I judge my friends on their behaviour towards me, not meaningless gestures that generally people only do because they feel they should or it’s expected.

Mary46 · 09/08/2025 19:02

Op I agree. It is rude. I would think it brass necked to go and bring nothing! Very cheeky.

Panterusblackish · 09/08/2025 18:52

So so rude to turn up without a card to wedding.

thepariscrimefiles · 09/08/2025 18:49

kittenkipping · 07/08/2025 00:35

Yabu from my perspective - if I can’t attend a wedding- I send a card with a thoughtful message. If I am attending I hug and offer in person congratulations and share the special celebration with the couple on the day. If they have a wedding book, I’m definitely writing in it. I have never taken a card to the wedding. A gift with a gift card, yes. No more.

This is normal in my life. I had two cards for my wedding- one from a friend who couldn’t make it and one from dhs grandmother, who was there but I assumed it was a generational thing.

But they gave no gifts either. No cards, no gifts.

VickiG85 · 09/08/2025 17:57

How ridiculous! Weddings are so expensive that a card is the least a guest can do.
I got married last year and I really noticed those who didn’t bother to send a card! I wouldn’t dream of not sending one! I had friends fly in to attend my wedding and they still got us a gift even with all that expense! You can get a cheap card for pennies these days! Don’t bother buying any of them anything in future if that’s how they are going to be!
sorry, I’m angry for you 🤣

Fluffyblackcat7 · 08/08/2025 00:48

Summeriscumin · 05/08/2025 19:59

Times may have changed but back when I got married you only got cards from people you invited but couldn’t come or from casual friends who weren’t invited.

This.

People who attended our wedding in person gave us their greetings verbally on the day. They splashed out on outfits and travel. We provided venues, food, drink, entertainment, a photographer and accommodation.

Most guests were kind enough to purchase a gift from our wedding list but we made sure to say in the invite that it was just a guide to things that would help us set up our household and was totally not obligatory.

People who couldn't attend (just a few) sent cards and these were read out by the best man at the beginning of his speech.

I think this was the normal way of doing things in my day (20 odd years ago) so didn't expect cards from anyone who attended.

Just assume your friends were going with this convention and don't give it another thought, OP.

And congratulations!

CinnamonBuns67 · 07/08/2025 23:05

I couldn't attend someone's wedding and not get them anything especially as they've paid for me to be their for the day. I don't think yabu to feel a bit deflated about it, it is a bit thoughtless of them but I also wouldn't read into it too much either.

Cherryicecreamx · 07/08/2025 22:44

It would bother me too unless they bought a gift as I accept a lot of people "don't do cards". It's rude to not turn up with something.

I actually have a wedding on the weekend and making it my priority to go and get a card tomorrow for it. It's a bit of happiness reading and looking at the cards people get me for birthday and Christmas and I reciprocate that. But it does seem to be a dying fashion.

Toptops · 07/08/2025 21:22

DappledThings · 05/08/2025 19:42

I think you're making a massive deal of nothing. There may be other things where you think your relationship with them is unequal and it's making you question things. But a card in and of itself is completely meaningless as a measure of how they value you.

I don't think you're unreasonable AT ALL to think that your closest friends will bring you a card for your wedding,!
With or without a gift, but with a loving message in it.
I am purely astonished by some of these replies.
Whatever happened to kindness and friendship in this situation? You can make a card, for god's sake!

robotbella · 07/08/2025 18:01

I find this surprising. I’ve pretty much done away with cards for anything except close friends and family’s birthdays. Not for environmental reasons (and sorry but I scoff at anyone who uses this excuse) but just because I’m too lazy. But I would never dream of going to someone’s wedding (even if ‘just’ the evening do) and not giving a card. My wedding was over 10 years ago so maybe times have changed but we did get a card from every single guest. I probably wouldn’t bother sending a card if I wasn’t invited to the wedding (not out of spite but just because it wouldn’t occur to me to do it).

OP I wonder if there’s been some kind of mix up with where to put the cards at the venue or something? I’m just REALLY surprised that anyone would think not giving a congrats card at a wedding is ok!

Victoria39 · 07/08/2025 16:37

Inpaineveryday · 06/08/2025 08:26

@Victoria39i don’t think it’s me being precious, if you’ve read all my other updates. I think it’s just been revealing for me. These are people whose own weddings I’ve attended, or who I’ve attended other weddings with (all of which most certainly would have cost them a lot more in time and money when we were in our poorer post-uni days) and their own pattern of behaviours has been completely different at my wedding for some reason. I am the last to marry of that makes a difference. If they never took cards or gifts to any of those weddings then I’d not really think on it, but the fact is they did. Just not for me and I can’t help but be curious why. However I know MN likes to jump on ops and assume they are the worst people with the most self-centred of intentions. I’ve known them travel abroad to another friend’s wedding with me, go on abroad hen dos, and still take them a card and gift to their wedding. The point of this post is that for my closest friends their behaviour is out of the norm so it’s been harder to explain away to myself.

seriously? It’s just a card. It’s not like they don’t RSVP or get drunk or snog someone they shouldn’t of

People can/do have different values. You’re free to hate on that but you can’t change people. Also you don’t know what’s going on in there life’s.

Bbq1 · 07/08/2025 14:15

I love cards and most of my family and friends send them. I write cards for birthdays, Christmas, house moves, birth of a baby, illness, sympathy and anniversaries. I get a lot of pleasure out of sending and receiving them. I would definitely take a wedding card and gift. It's so rude not to. We got married in 1999 and still love looking at the dozens and dozens of cards we received.

Toooldtocare25 · 07/08/2025 11:17

Lazy people don’t do cards. It’s nothing to buy a card they are 29p in some shops or 10 for £1. If you are coming to a wedding which the family have paid alot of money to have you there bring a bloody card. I kept all my wedding cards, so no environmental impact fyi before that card is played.

Pomvit · 07/08/2025 07:35

i once asked about a gift lift for a baby shower to be told there wasn’t one which I thought was odd so turned up empty handed - not thinking they meant just bring what you want - doh felt so silly

Maybe because you didn’t do gift list they did the same

cheesycheesy · 07/08/2025 02:50

kittenkipping · 07/08/2025 00:35

Yabu from my perspective - if I can’t attend a wedding- I send a card with a thoughtful message. If I am attending I hug and offer in person congratulations and share the special celebration with the couple on the day. If they have a wedding book, I’m definitely writing in it. I have never taken a card to the wedding. A gift with a gift card, yes. No more.

This is normal in my life. I had two cards for my wedding- one from a friend who couldn’t make it and one from dhs grandmother, who was there but I assumed it was a generational thing.

She got nothing though. No gift card or gift from these tight wads. No cards wouldn’t have been much of an issue then. Just some acknowledgement!

SemiRetiredLoveGoddeess · 07/08/2025 01:56

Card sending may be old fashioned amongst the younger generation and may be done as a matter if course with no meaning.

But this woman got a day out and was invited to your wedding.

Drop her.

Just to let you know l have been to a couple of weddimgs and celebrations, retirement do's with free food and drinks

Where l have met people who were complete strangers.Who found out about the do, at a local pub or from friends and turned up for the free drink and food!!!

How low can you get!

Obviously very lax security and didn't mention it to the bride and hroom on the night. Not to spoil their very special ocassion.

Anyway. Many Wishes fior a Happy Marriage and Your Future Happiness.

🧚💐😻
X

leicester66 · 07/08/2025 01:21

You are decent and well mannered. Take the opportunity to get rid of these rude people out of your life!

Timefortruths · 07/08/2025 00:51

I’d be disappointed too OP. When attending weddings, if no registry I usually give a gift card, as I cringe at requests for money. Always given inside a nice card though. I wouldn’t dream of not giving a gift of some sort if I’ve attended a wedding.

kittenkipping · 07/08/2025 00:35

Yabu from my perspective - if I can’t attend a wedding- I send a card with a thoughtful message. If I am attending I hug and offer in person congratulations and share the special celebration with the couple on the day. If they have a wedding book, I’m definitely writing in it. I have never taken a card to the wedding. A gift with a gift card, yes. No more.

This is normal in my life. I had two cards for my wedding- one from a friend who couldn’t make it and one from dhs grandmother, who was there but I assumed it was a generational thing.

Littlemisscapable · 06/08/2025 21:59

Inpaineveryday · 06/08/2025 21:05

@GentleJadeOPyes they all attended my wedding, all day, with their partners and children invited too.

Soooo rude. It's not you. Wishing you every happiness for all the years to come.....🤗( definitely time to reevaluate some friendships)