JSZUJA8FUC2X Unless your filthy rich and can give lavish wedding gifts to anyone us normal people try to stay in the financial guide lines of the wedding gift norm. Parents of the bride and groom, grandparents, uncle Nick and aunt Mary, third cousin (twice removed)Ted and their friends all have different parameters of acceptable gifts for this joyous time to the bride and groom. This can become complicated and frustrating if we don’t have standards. So many products out there, what to pick? It wasn’t always this way!
Since man has been around marriages have come in many different forms, therefore wedding gifts varied. Wedding gifts and weddings have come a long way. Let’s start with the Stone Age, courting and marriage in this era pretty much was wrapped up in about an hour. The caveman chooses his beautiful hairy mate, lovingly grunts at her, she grunts back. BA
NG! Over the head with his club and then carefully drag her to his cave. The only gifts here were when she came to there was a hunk of meat searing over an open fire and she was pregnant.
The Middle Ages had the big wedding ceremonies, usually in the local pub. Mead had been invented (beer). The wedding gifts have become a little more elaborate now. The parents would give the bride and groom a horse and a goat if well-to-do. Other family and friends would give chickens, clay pots and fire wood if lucky.
In the 1800s to the present, social etiquette and organized religion has changed wedding ceremonies and gift giving. The guide lines on giving wedding gifts for the common person in this era briefly goes something like this....
Grooms parents- Honey moon exotic trip; washing machine or furniture.
Brides parents- Had to pay for the entire wedding. Hall and band rental, photographer, food, booze, everything, the whole shebang. 
Brothers and sisters- Usually just put their name onto the parents gift; give something small and meaningful.
Uncle Nick and aunt Mary- Living room furniture. Maybe a nice lamp.
Both grand parents- Something homemade; special, decorative.
Third cousin Ted and friends- Before electricity: Cheese, wine and guns. Mostly wine. After electricity (1930's): Toasters, blenders and afterwards bread makers. Wine if lucky.
It seems like the 60's, the era of free love was when wedding etiquette started to lighten up became less stuffy with some of the traditions tapering off. The main change that came to light for the norm in wedding gift giving was that BOTH parents share the wedding ceremony costs.
Grooms parents- Still pay for the honeymoon and throw in a stove.
Brides parents- Washer and dryer or a bedroom set. A car if lucky.
Gift giving from the rest of the family and of friends hasn’t changed at all. Except NO guns....if lucky.
I’m sure wedding gift giving in the future will be different again.
Grooms parents- Honeymoon....to the moon.
Brides parents- Washer/dryer and a robot to do the clothes and other household chores.
I'm hoping this post will help you on the age old question “What would be proper for me to give at a wedding”? After all weddings can get embarrassing all on their own!
