-
Who should send wedding gifts?
-
There is a certain amount of tradition to be observed in the sending of wedding presents, and the generally held principles are:
- All those attending the wedding ceremony and the reception afterwards are expected to send a gift
- It is not compulsory to send a gift where the invitation is to the evening party only
- As long as they have been invited, relatives should send a present whether they attend the wedding or not
- There is no need for a friend to send a present when they have declined the invitation, although it is usual to do so when the cause is illness or other unavoidable reason
-
Do I have to buy a gift from a wedding list?
-
No. A wedding list is for your convenience and you are not limited to what is on it. Having said that, choosing something from the list does ensure that the couple will be getting something that they really want.
-
How much should I spend?
-
There is absolutely no rule on this, it is completely up to you. Let your fondness for the bride and groom and your budget be your guide.
-
When should I send a gift?
-
You should really send the gift (or purchase it from the registry) before the wedding or as soon as possible after. Although in theory you have a whole year after the wedding in which to send your present, it really should be sent right away or within three months of the wedding.
-
Where should the gifts be sent?
-
All presents sent before the wedding should be sent to the bride, if she is living separately from the groom. If they are sent afterwards, they should be addressed to both the bride and bridegroom at their new home. If the couple are already living together before the wedding, the host should make it clear whether the presents are to be sent to the couple's home, or to the bride's parents' house.
-
What should I do if I haven't received a thank you letter?
-
This is a difficult one. You could call and ask the couple if they received the gift, but if you find this too awkward and the gift was sent from a store, you could contact the store and have it traced. A thank you letter should be written right away or, at the absolute latest, within three months of receiving the gift.
-
How should I address couples?
-
When addressing a married couple, you must include both of them, even if you only know the husband or wife. You should address them using only the husband's first and last name (eg) Mr. and Mrs. Peter Brown.
For a couple that lives together, you should address them as Mr. Geoff Brown and Ms. Elizabeth Wilkes, with their names appearing on separate lines.
-
What about single guests?
-
Remember that if you do not put "and Guest" after a single person's name, they are not to bring a guest. However, if you have invited a single friend to bring a guest of their choice, it is a nice idea to address that guest by his or her name.
-
How should I address children?
-
Before the age of 21, girls should be addressed as Miss. After their 21st birthday, they should be addressed as Ms.
Boys under 8 should be addressed as (eg) David Brown or Master David Brown, then after that as simply David Brown until his 18th birthday, when he should be addressed as Mr David Brown.
-
What if there are more than one boy or girl?
-
When addressing a family that includes multiple siblings, you may group them together in the following way: The Messrs. Brown for boys and The Misses Brown for girls.
-
Can I use nicknames?
-
When addressing your guests, it is more proper to put their full names instead of nicknames. For example, if someone goes by Sam, but her real name is Samantha, use the proper name.
-
Can I abbreviate at all?
-
Everything should be written out in full, including words like "Street" and "Avenue" when addressing the envelope. Also all names of cities, counties and countries should be written out completely.
-
Can I use labels when addressing the envelope?
-
No - printed labels are not appropriate for wedding invitations, even if you are inviting hundreds of guests. Weddings are such personal affairs that the impersonal nature of printed labels will make it look more like a business mailing.
-
How do I find out about getting married overseas?
-
You should check with the Embassy or High Commission in London of the country concerned or the British Consulate in the district where the marriage is to take place.
-
Will our overseas marriage be legal once we get back home to the UK?
-
As long as your marriage was conducted in accordance with the local law of the country in which it took place, then there is no reason that it would not be valid in the UK. However, anyone getting married abroad should contact the local British embassy or consulate for up-to-date advice, and if you are not completely satisfied that your marriage will be recognised in the UK then visit a Register Office in Britain to make absolutely sure.
-
Can our foreign marriage be registered in the UK?
-
No, overseas marriages cannot be registered at a register office. However, if you are a British citizen, and you were married in one of the countries mentioned in the Article 7 ruling, you may arrange for your marriage certificate to be deposited with the Registrar General. This means that the General Register Office can issue certified copies of the documents if you need them at a future date – saving you from having to contact the overseas authority in question.
You can choose to create a UK record of your overseas marriage at any time after it has taken place – there is no time limit. However, this is not an automatic process, so you will need to actively notify the General Register Office if you would like to do it.
-
We have been asked to provide a certificate of no impediment. What is this, and how do I go about getting one?
-
The certificate of no impediment is a document required by some foreign authorities to allow a non-national to marry in their country, and simply states that there is no known impediment to your proposed marriage. This can be obtained at your local Register Office when you give notice of marriage. You need to be aware that the certificate can only be issued after 15 clear days from your application (21 days if you are marrying a non British citizen). To find details of your local register office, visit the General Register Office website.
-
How do I get an apostille?
-
Some countries may require official documents, such as your birth certificate, to be authenticated - formal confirmation that a signature, seal or stamp appearing on the document is genuine. This can be carried out by the Legalisation Office of the Foreign & Commonwealth Office.
Favourites (IE)
Print This
Email This
