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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU giving present instead of cash for wedding gift?

72 replies

star0 · 23/05/2017 16:42

A bit of background..My sister and I really don't get along, we never have and she is getting married in July. She's been a bit crazy about the whole thing to be honest. She wouldn't let me bring a pram for my DD who is a newborn because it would spoil the look in her pictures so she expects a newborn to be held for several hours during ceremony and reception and not have a proper nap. I completely refused and said I need to bring the pram or we're not coming. If she doesn't want any babies there that's fine but don't force me to bring my child and then not expect the basic necessities that come with a newborn baby! Anyway fast forward to the more recent drama with my parents who continually get involved with our "arguments" because if ever she's annoyed or thinks I'm doing something wrong she never comes to me and goes directly to them and they then call me up to basically try and tell me what to do. So on her invitation she's asked for money...which is fine, I consider that pretty normal nowadays, however I am currently not working because of just having lo and we are living off of one income on a really tight budget and getting by on what we can afford. I know if I give her money she will complain that it's not enough and I'm not looking for another confrontational phone call from my parents so I called my mum mentioned I was going out at the weekend to buy the present...my mum was then outraged I wouldn't "do what my sister asked and give her cash". I thought that at least if I go and pick a nice photo frame it shows that I've at least made an effort instead of putting a small amount of cash with a card. AIBU? Thanks in advance ladies!

OP posts:
Hissy · 24/05/2017 14:32

I had this done for the batshit cousin thread, but I can get another one for you OP.. Grin

You will be in the wrong, whatever you do or don't do.

Go to this wedding, give her the price of a frame and if anything is said, take it to both your mother and your sister and tell them both to piss off.

They are rude, crass and ungrateful the pair of them.

Tell them you have the equivalent value on a bet that the marriage won't last the year...

AIBU giving present instead of cash for wedding gift?
Ragwort · 24/05/2017 14:34

Agree with expat - no one really seems to want photo frames - I volunteer in a charity shop and we are inundated with them, many have clearly been given as presents still gift wrapped.

BarbaraofSeville · 24/05/2017 14:51

I'm another one who doesn't like photo frames and would send any I received as gifts straight to the charity shop.

According to this thread, the message it seems to send is something like 'I am showing my irrational dislike of asking for cash for a wedding gift by going out of my way to buy you something useless that you don't want and won't like instead of just giving you the money'. The Germans probably have a word for it.

expatinscotland · 24/05/2017 15:09

It's the touting for it. It assumes your guests are stupid. Most know you've been living together and will give you money. The photo frame people will do that no matter what. There's no need to stipulate. And if you cannot afford a honeymoon, don't have one! I always wonder how that works: what if you don't get the swag you wanted, do you cancel it? Don't you pay in advance for it?

I usually decline the 'give us money' invitations rather than give them a photo frame.

noeffingidea · 24/05/2017 15:17

Prams can harm an aesthetic if placed somewhere inconsiderate.
WTAF?

FlapAttack88 · 24/05/2017 15:20

Yesterday 19:41 thatorchidmoment

*Give her a framed photo of your baby daughter in her pram.

That'll learn her.*

This 😂😂😂😂

carjacker1985 · 24/05/2017 15:30

YABU to not give cash if it's what they've asked for. A naff photo frame may never get used, a tenner will contribute to their honeymoon or whatever else they want it for.

carjacker1985 · 24/05/2017 15:31

Also the 'asking for money is grabby' argument is SO BORING, any form of gift list is a bit grabby surely? I don't understand why asking for a very specific plate is okay but asking for some money towards your honeymoon isn't.

McTufty · 24/05/2017 16:55

Prams can harm an aesthetic if placed somewhere inconsiderate.
WTAF?

I don't know what you're confused about. I've been at a wedding where someone left their pram in the aisle right in front of where the bride and groom were saying their vows. I never saw the photos but i know the groom pretty well and they were gutted that these particular shots were ruined.

If it wouldn't bother you then bully for you but I am astonished if you cannot understand why it would bully some people.

MapMyMum · 24/05/2017 17:06

We had the same as Pigface, living together for years and already had a child so no room for any gifts whether photo frames or vases or toasters, so the numerous sets of wine glasses and photo frames we got are currently in the attic. I am not ungrateful but the reason we asked for money wasnt to pay for the wedding or the honeymoon but just because we had literally no room for a gift from each couple/family that wanted to (approx 40 couples attended to give you an idea of how many gifts we would have had to find homes for)
So if you want to pee her off bigtime then give her the frame. Like a pp suggested talk to your mum about it. Could you do something like bake the cake or do the invites or something like that as your gift to her?

Cuppaoftea · 24/05/2017 17:13

I love the photo frames we were given as wedding presents Grin

expatinscotland · 24/05/2017 18:21

'I am not ungrateful but the reason we asked for money wasnt to pay for the wedding or the honeymoon but just because we had literally no room for a gift from each couple/family that wanted to (approx 40 couples attended to give you an idea of how many gifts we would have had to find homes for)'

Then you don't need a gift at all. Why not just say, 'No gifts, please,' if asked.

MapMyMum · 24/05/2017 18:47

Expat we actually put no gifts please on the invites but when people asked what they could give we explained and said if you feel you must get us something then money is probably best as we have out house already. Most people understood completely and said theyd rather give money than give a gift that wouldnt be used. Also we had gifts of £10 from a few people and we do not think badly of them at all, they gave what they were comfortable giving

Justmadeperfectflapjacks · 24/05/2017 18:53

Take a goat to the wedding instead /aswell an oxfam one.

Tell her to stick that pic in her wedding album!!

BarbaraofSeville · 24/05/2017 18:56

In response to a request for 'no gifts please' plenty of people would say 'oh I couldn't possibly go to a wedding without taking a gift', while at the same time considering cash or vouchers inappropriate so they give photo frames or wine glasses even though it has been specifically stated that these items are neither wanted or needed, and people like MapMyMum end up with a load of stuff they don't need and have no room for, but that's better than cash 'because that's so impersonal' Hmm.

Underthemoonlight · 24/05/2017 19:03

Photo frames has to be one of the thoughtless and disappointing gifts to receive. I have donated any I received to charity.i think photo frames are totally down to individual taste.

rubybleu · 24/05/2017 19:07

We had a gift list as we had bought a house 12 months before our wedding, so we had a mix of student-y and quite new things.

With the exception of one crystal serving platter, everything that was "off list" is stored under the stair cupboard because it doesn't suit our flat or we don't have storage for it. This includes the Wedgewood full dinner service that my inlaws insisted we needed, and the ridiculous 45cm diameter clock my sister in law bought because they had a really big clock in their really big Australian house when growing up, which looks ridiculous in a London flat.

rubybleu · 24/05/2017 19:08

The moral of the story is - my wedding taught me to get the B&G whatever format gift they desire. I don't like wasting money and don't want them to feel obligated to store gifts that don't suit their home/lifestyle.

Ragwort · 24/05/2017 19:38

Why do people feel so uncomfortable about the phrase 'no gifts please' - it seems very sensible and I would always respect it. No one should feel obliged to take a gift when it has been catagorically stated 'no gifts please'.

We did this for our DS's christening and we still received gifts, very kind of people but we really, really didn't want any presents. I also said the same for a significant birthday but still ended up with a few gifts - particularly plants and I am the most uninterested gardener in the world (perhaps that's why I was given plants Grin).

Sunshinesuperman · 24/05/2017 19:53

I find it odd that people like to gift stuff that is unasked for and therefore probably unwanted but get so stroppy about gifting part of an experience. Surely as we look back on our life it is the experiences we remember not the stuff?

MatildaTheCat · 24/05/2017 19:56

Go and get £10 in loose change and wrap in it pretty paper. Then tell her you've saved up for her and hope she enjoys spending the cash.

Someone I know and like very much is getting married soon. I'm not invited and would never expect to be but want to give her a gift. She's asking for cash but I am going to give her a healthy John Lewis voucher. They are moving soon and I really want her to have that pleasure of choosing something really nice that she can look at in years to come and remember me. She won't be expecting anything so hopefully she won't be mortally offended.

Goldfishjane · 24/05/2017 19:59

McTufty "prams can harm an aesthetic if placed somewhere inconsiderate and this is clearly a concern of hers."

OMFG. If people want show weddings they should just get dummies or pay for actors. It's not a fashion or venue styling shoot unless I misread the OP?

I'm not even child friendly and my jaw was on the floor at that one. The aesthetic!!!

Sunshinesuperman · 24/05/2017 19:59

Well Matilda I was much younger when I got married and did ask for John Lewis vouchers, I did enjoy spending them as well 😉

sabs22 · 24/05/2017 20:04

You are not BU! I think it is so rude and grabby to request money regardless of whether you have everything you need. A wedding shouldn't be about what people give you, it's about marrying the person you love. I would stick to getting them the gift you choose, just because your sister is a brat, doesn't mean you have deliberately chosen a gift over cash to cause trouble!

McTufty · 24/05/2017 20:05

goldfishjane

I'll be having 6 or 7 prams at mine and I'm not bothered! But it isn't my wedding. While it's not a fashion shoot, it is her sisters wedding and clearly the sister is concerned about the pram so I am suggesting to the OP that she place the pram somewhere discreet rather than in the centre of the action.

My wedding will look shit because I've spent all the money on booze and naff all on decor but that's just me. you may mock the 'aesthetic' all you like, you're naive if you think some people don't spend a lot of time and money styling the look of their weddings. And if you have done that, I imagine you're not going to want a pram plonked square in front of your £300 floral display or whatever instead of a few feet to the left out of the way.

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