Wedding Gift AIBU?

[AnonJIC]

Hi all, I've NC for this just incase!

DH and I are going to a small wedding this weekend, just the evening part. The lady getting married is DH's colleague. They get along well and she looks out for him in work but he wouldn't class her as a friend.

We're really skint atm and I mean it. We're having to put shopping and petrol on a credit card atm so I'm worried about the wedding gift. We have borrowed this lady our Polaroid camera and bought her a customised guest book for people to sign and stick a photo in.

AIBU to just buy a bottle of champagne and a card? What would you gift in my situation?

For context bride is in her 40s and already living with her husband to be and has been for a few years.

Sounds fine to me. We had a non-traditional wedding and had been living together (and had kids) by the time we got married. Lots of people gave us a bottle of something and it was all very appreciated

A bottle of champagne and a card sound fine to me

Maybe you shouldn't go though, doesn't sound like you can afford it

I think that sounds absolutely fine. I woukd have been chuffed just with the photo/guest book idea!

I think the book and the camera loan is plenty. You're only evening guests and your DH is a colleague. Your gift was already thoughtful and there's no need to add anything.

Is the Polaroid film/printing quite expensive? Make sure you don't accidentally overspend there!

Thanks. I've given two packs of film that we had left over from our own wedding. Thanks all!

What do you mean you have 'borrowed her a camera'? What does that mean?

Yes this is fine. Agree with pps

Bearing in mind you'll probably be expected to buy your own drink are you sure you can afford to attend the wedding never mind buy a gift?

Sorry to be pedantic but I hate people doing this:

We have borrowed this lady our Polaroid camera

You haven't borrowed her anything (that just doesn't make sense) you've maybe "loaned her your Polaroid camera".

Bearing in mind you'll probably be expected to buy your own drink are you sure you can afford to attend the wedding never mind buy a gift?

A colleague went to a wedding while a bit strapped for cash. He bought a box of wine, wrapped it up in wedding paper and perched it on the table. Bought one glass of wine from the bar for him and his wife then just topped up all night from the box

Completely fine. Try and enjoy the wedding. Have you got money for drinks? Just in case it's not a free bar.

Sounds good to me.

Absolutely fine OP, and no need to go for something as expensive as champagne.

That sounds so lovely and thoughtful Much better than stuff for the sake of stuff, and I’m sure the couple wouldn’t want their happy day to cause their friends financial hardship.

Champagne and a card is fine I think for an evening only guest. And you DH only knows her on a work basis. We had quite a few bottles from evening guests when we got married which were much appreciated!

However if there are other work colleagues going could your DH all chip in £10 or something with his other work colleagues and get the couple a gift from all work colleagues, rather than from individual guests / couples? It may work out cheaper for you all individually and they get a bigger gift out of it.

In some parts of the country people do say borrow in place of loan. Does your pedantry add anything to the thread?

Yanbu op.

To be honest, when I got married I was touched when people bought us gifts, but didn't notice if people didn't! I wouldn't bother with the champagne. the book and camera loan is fine.

What do you mean you have 'borrowed her a camera'? What does that mean?

It clearly means she lent her the camera. Either you struggle with basic comprehension or you ace passive aggression. My money's on the latter