Attended a wedding recently? Or gotten married yourself? We can guess what was on the menu when it came to gifts for the newlyweds: money.
But we’re not talking cold, hard cash. Rather, warm, fuzzy contributions to the couple’s future.
You’re probably not surprised, this isn’t a new phenomenon. And it makes sense - a financial contribution to put towards things or experiences that are genuinely wanted means less waste in the world, is convenient for everyone involved and takes the gifting pressure down. In fact, for many cultures it’s been the norm for generations.
However, what is new is the way that couples are spending those funds post-pandemic. And alongside this, there’s an entirely new category of gifting that’s emerging that doesn’t cost wedding guests a cent. Just their time, skills and good will.
To bring you up to speed, let’s first take you back.
Wedding gifting has gone through an evolution over the past few decades. Once upon a time, couples registered for pots, pans and all the domestic trimmings at major department stores.
But as the average age of marriage crept up, the need for crockery and white goods declined as most couples set themselves up prior to getting hitched.
In response, along came the rise of the "wishing well" - a decorative box or basket designed for guests to deposit a card with cash inside. While still prevalent, this form of wedding gifting is slipping down the popularity pole due to the somewhat transactional nature of the whole exchange.
