If you’ve just been invited to a wedding, you have a few things you need to do! You’ll need to figure out what you’re wearing, make sure you have hotel and travel reservations if necessary, and you’ll need to figure out what you’ll be giving as a wedding gift! Usually, this is pretty easy – check the registry and get something within your price range. But what if there is no registry?

The answer is that you should decide based on how well you know the couple and when in doubt, cash is always a safe bet. If you’re trying to figure out the answer to this question yourself, here are some things to consider before making a decision.

Double check that the couple hasn’t created an alternative registry.

These days, many couples opt out of a traditional wedding registry because many are living together for years before marriage and have an established household already. Instead of asking for typical household goods, many couples are creating opportunities for guests and well-wishers to purchase experiences or events for the couple. They may ask you to contribute to a honeymoon fund or a house fund, for example.

A Cash Gift

Sometimes a gift card is thought of as an impersonal gift, but it can actually be the most useful! The bride and groom likely have a lot of the typical household items if they haven’t created a registry, so giving them a gift card can help them out in the future if something needs to be replaced, for example.

In many cultures, it’s actually customary to just give a monetary gift instead of a physical item. If you’ve been invited to an Indian wedding, for example, and you haven’t been sent a registry link, it’s safe to assume a gift of cash or a check will be suitable. Just make sure that you give an amount that ends in “1” if it’s an Indian wedding! It’s typically seen as a sign of good luck so give an amount like $51 or $101.

A personalized unique item

This is best for a close family member or friend, but if you are unsure what to give them an original work of art or a certificate for a specific experience. For example, if you know they love musical theater, tickets to their favorite Broadway show may be a great option.

If you’re still not sure, ask around!

If you know who the maid of honor is, she may have some insight. If you know other guests, ask them! It’s also possible that the couple does not want gifts in any form although if this is the case they might have a note about it on their website.

If you’re planning a wedding or looking for help curating the perfect itinerary? We can help!! Head over to thesocialsetters.com/startplanning to get started with one of our Social Setters!