My feed
Premium

Please
or
to access all these features

AIBU?

WWBU to regift the vouchers?

28 replies

RoyalMaybe · 10/06/2015 22:16

We are going to a wedding next month and my husband is the best man. His best friend is getting married.

To cut a long story short, the wedding itself is costing the guests a fortune as well as a whole load of inconvenience. Dearest hotel we know, in the middle of nowhere, bar prices through the roof, all guests have not much choice but to travel and stay over, no other hotels for miles, no coaches, expensive stag do, etc etc. The guy is a total groomzilla but to be fair he's been a very good friend to my husband over the years so we are trying to grin and bear it and make the most of it.

Money is tight right now. I'm on SMP so we're really surviving on husbands salary and we don't have much in savings (although we do have a little bit so we won't go hungry or anything like that!). I haven't bought my dress yet (post-baby body - previous clothes don't fit so will need something new) and we haven't paid for our hotel room yet. Not quite sure how we'll make ends meet this month!! All should be ok next payday though.

We got married a couple of years ago and were gifted some John Lewis vouchers (not by this couple!). We haven't used them yet. The couple have asked for John Lewis vouchers as a wedding present. I know that John Lewis vouchers don't expire, so tbh I'm really tempted to just give them some of our vouchers rather than spend another £50-100 that we don't really have this month.

Is that a terrible, cheap thing to do?? And if not, can anyone think of any way they could find out that we've done that??

OP posts:
Report
Redglitter · 11/06/2015 18:45

Queen why thank you the same tactic has been applied to Christmas nights out too. So far we have a 100% 'getting away with it' record Grin Wine

Report
PurpleCrazyHorse · 11/06/2015 13:38

Personally I'd just get them a nice card, or put £20 of vouchers in. I certainly wouldn't be spending a lot on top of an expensive location/drinks/accommodation.

Definitely look on eBay for a dress, or buy a nice summery one from a supermarket. Seriously, unless you're family, you can get away with wearing pretty much anything. And if you buy something you're likely to wear again anyway, it's not such a waste of money.

If you're staying at the hotel, bring drinks & snacks with you and top up from a hip flask or handbag. Have free tap water between drinks to reduce spending (you can also get little squirty packets of squash too, to make it taste a bit nicer) or they often have squash behind the bar as a mixer. Have a 'nice' drink and then a free/cheap one to keep costs down.

Report
Sockmatcher · 11/06/2015 12:26

Not read full thread but can you repurchase the gift vouchers and get new date etc on them? I'd do that and possibly split into smaller amount too!

Report
Nanasueathome · 11/06/2015 10:39

Just check with John Lewis that they do not expire
Would hate for you to give them and then the happy couple find they cannot use them as they are out of date

Report
tictactoad · 11/06/2015 10:39

YANBU to regift but check the design of the vouchers hasn't changed because that might be a bit of a clue Grin

Report
Archer26 · 11/06/2015 10:36

Gosh no, go for it. I think it's rather ingenious of you!

Report
QueenArseClangers · 11/06/2015 10:34

redglitter you win the MN prize for wedding genius!

Report
morelikeguidelines · 11/06/2015 07:58

Yanbu to regift. I would. I would also borrow a dress - I usually borrow from my mum who is more stylish than me and maybe maybe half a size bigger (although that might be that she doesn't think clothes should be tight). do you have someone like that in your life?

Agree to spirit in a bottle to add to glasses of coke.

Report
Redglitter · 11/06/2015 03:38

We went to a very expensive hotel a few years ago. Wrapped a 3 litre wine box in fancy paper, left a hole for the tap and shoved a big bow on it. Sat it under our seats and topped our glasses up during the evening Blush

Report
PeppermintCrayon · 11/06/2015 01:39

I think you should keep the vouchers and just send a card. Feel quite sad at the idea of you giving them away.

Report
pollypocket123 · 11/06/2015 00:00

Makes sense to me!

Report
MrsHenryMountbattenWindsor · 10/06/2015 23:41

Don't think of it as regifting, simply a redistribution of funds.

And if the vouchers are looking a bit tatty, I bet you can buy a JL gift card online using your vouchers to pay for them.

Report
whois · 10/06/2015 23:34

I probs wouldn't even get a gift if it's been such an expensive wedding for the guests!

Report
AntiHop · 10/06/2015 23:12

Yanbu. John lewis vouchers are a great gift.

Report
GloGirl · 10/06/2015 22:47

I would also spend the vouchers on adress and buy them something cheap but meaningful x

Report
dylanthedragon · 10/06/2015 22:41

I'd use the vouchers to buy a fantastic dress from JL and give them £20 worth of vouchers in a card. But I have a low threshold for over the top wedding demands!

Report
Caterina99 · 10/06/2015 22:31

I definitely would. If they have no expiry date on then how would they know? And it's the gift they wanted anyway!

I wouldn't be offended by this even if the giftee told me, but then I'm not a bridezilla, so probably just don't mention it!

Report
SavoyCabbage · 10/06/2015 22:30

You can get them online as my MIL sometimes gets me some and she lives in America. And you can use them online as I do and I live in Australia.

Report
RoyalMaybe · 10/06/2015 22:27

As for booze in the room - one step ahead of you Grin

OP posts:
Report
RoyalMaybe · 10/06/2015 22:25

Thanks everyone, that's a weight off!

BabyMurloc - that's a great idea but there isn't a John Lewis in our city so I would need to travel two hours to do that and I don't think I'll have time - I wonder if I can do it online though...

OP posts:
Report
Purplehonesty · 10/06/2015 22:24

Go for it! Yes hip flask and wine in room/car boot are a must too!

Ebay for your dress, lots of bargains on there ;)

Report
BabyMurloc · 10/06/2015 22:23

Imagine someone had given you £50 in cash a year ago. You hadn't needed to use it. You wouldn't think it was stupid to give it as a present, would you?

This. So long as they don't expire and don't have coffee stains on I say just do it. How would they ever know? You can always go in and get £5 extra to get an up to date shiny card to present them in...

Report

Newsletters you might like

Discover Exclusive Savings!

Sign up to our Money Saver newsletter now and receive exclusive deals and hot tips on where to find the biggest online bargains, tailored just for Mumsnetters.

Log in to update your newsletter preferences.

You've subscribed!

Parent-Approved Gems Await!

Subscribe to our weekly Swears By newsletter and receive handpicked recommendations for parents, by parents, every Sunday.

Log in to update your newsletter preferences.

You've subscribed!

WhyCantIuseTheNameIWant · 10/06/2015 22:23

How would they know?
Why not... It's the gift they wanted, and you haven't used it.

Report
sooperdooper · 10/06/2015 22:21

Perfectly reasonable, plus if you're staying at the hotel buy a bottle of wine or whatever you drink and nip back to your room for a refill rather than pay the bar charges ;)

Report
ImperialBlether · 10/06/2015 22:21

Imagine someone had given you £50 in cash a year ago. You hadn't needed to use it. You wouldn't think it was stupid to give it as a present, would you?

Report
Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.