getting married abroad - should we request gifts?

Hi,

We're getting married in Santorini in 2011. We're sending out the invites soon to give our guests plenty of time to plan and save. The only thing is, I'm not sure what to do about gifts? I'm happy to say that we don't expect any as people will have to pay to travel to our wedding. However h2b, my mum and mother in law think that we should say this but also mention what we'd like, as they say people who can't make it and some guests will still want to get us a gift. I'm just worried that if we mention it on the invite people will feel obligated to get us a gift.

anyway I was just wondering what the other brides who are getting married abroad have done?

Hi,

I'm getting married in Cyprus in 7 weeks & I sent out our invites about 12 months ago now. I haven't put a gift list in as a wedding abroad isn't traditional for starters, it costs guests hundreds just to be there. And I felt cheeky putting one in. However a few aunts & uncles who aren't coming to the wedding have been asking our parents what we would like. So I think if you keep your parents fully informed of your gift list & then if they are asked they can say. x

This is where a personal wedding website comes into its own! I started a thread on this topic here:

http://www.youandyourwedding.co.uk/chatroom/topic/129182



Your list can be entered as a page on the website OR you can provide a link to a listing website like

http://www.whattogive.com/


The above website isn't affiliated to ANY commercial website or store - you can link your gifts to any supplier you like (online or offline), so you're not stuck with one single supplier or store. You can simply describe your desired gift in words and leave it up to the person treating you where they buy it from etc... You can give a link to a picture of the item leaving it entirely up to the giver where they get it from. You can ask for money gifts - it's very versatile. This is one of the best gift list sites going - and it's FREE to join! This website even have a facility whereby you can list the things you DON'T want!!

Your wedding website can also have lots of other information about your overseas wedding that's useful to your guests etc... so it's not going to be seen as "grasping" to enclose the web address with your invitations.

Best of luck with this and hope you get all the pressies you hoped for!

Bamba xx

PS - Earl & I originally planned to marry abroad but married at our local Church in the end.

I have the same issue as I am gettin married abroad too., not yet decided on what to do.

We asre getting married in Paphos and didnt put anything about gifts etc in our invites. Some people have asked my Mum and she then asked us and ideally we would like to save for a new car but will just wait and see x

We've done an info pack that is being sent this weekend, with the luggage tags that I've made and a nice little letter so say 'not long to go now - thanks for coming with us'.
We really dont want any gifts from guests or people who cant travel so this probably wont help you!
We have put in the info pack - .
As you know, we have been together for a long time and already have a lovely home and there is nothing that we want for.
We really appreciate you travelling all the way to Kalkan for our special day and we realise how expensive it is for you. It is for this reason that we do not require ANY wedding gifts - nor do we want cash - or cheques!!
Your gift to us, will be joining us and giving us your love and best wishes. xx

We had the same problem, i didn't want to put a gift list in but so many people were asking were our list was so we just put a small note in our invites, we said that we want peoples presence rather than presents, but as people had expressed a wish to give us something, money would be greatly appreciated. We worded it nicely as to not make anyone feel pressured into giving anything.
To be fair, my sister got married last year in England, but it still cost everyone loads for travel, accomodation etc, so i don't feel too bad! x

We didnt put a gift list in to people who are coming abroad.
We are having a party when we get back and have sent gift lift out to people but not to the people that would have come to Cyprus.

Although somone who is coming to Cyprus has just sent us a cheque for £100 to go towards the wedding x

Hi

getting married in Cyprus 2011 - sending out invitations this year so that people who decide to come have money to save up!

Not asking for presents just 'presence' on the day. However if people do want to give us gifts then we will probably just ask them to get us something that they think we will like

xxx

Hi ladies,
thanks for the replies. it's really helpful hearing all your ideas. Bamba girl I love the idea of a weddding website I think thats probably what I'm going to do. x

I'm getting married in 7 weeks, and haven't mentioned gifts at all. One Aunty asked what we would like as a gift but once I mentioned that we don't want anything because we know how much it is costing everyone to come, and that is much more important to us - she sounded relieved!
I know another couple we invited who aren't able to come have asked pil2b and they haev just asked me what to suggest, so I think it will probably just work like that if anyone does want to get us anything.

As I am getting married abroad too in Cyprus I didn't want to put a list either but I have told my parents and my future in laws that if somebody asks, to give us money.