Hi,

I have to attend a collegue's wedding in Calgary next month. I am not not sure what kind of gift is appropriate in North Ameican weddings. Both bride and groom are second generation Italians.

Any suggestions/advice would be much appreciated. Thanks.

Do you have a costco membership?Wedding gifts can be gotten for a good deal but good wedding gifts are: dishes, wine glasses, candleabras, photo frames, crystal ware (vases, bowls, etc)

Shops to get ideas: home sense, The Bay, Mikasa (bit expensive), pier one.

Expect to spend around $40-$50, depending on close you are to this colleague. Find out what others are spending. Maybe a few coworkers want to pool money and give a big gift together? (ie/ travel gift card or something)?

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~ Morning rain

The couple probably has a bridal gift registry with a few stores that they are looking to get gifts from. Ask him if they are registered and you can choose a gift from that list. That way the couple gets what they want and you are not guessing. There are usually a variety of items in different price ranges so you get a choice.

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Originally posted by musicgold

Hi,

I have to attend a collegue's wedding in Calgary next month. I am not not sure what kind of gift is appropriate in North Ameican weddings. Both bride and groom are second generation Italians.

Any suggestions/advice would be much appreciated. Thanks.

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Immigrant Parents in Canada http://groups.yahoo.com/group/immigrantparentsincanada

Cash...around $100 to $150..you get special money envelopes in the greeting cards section of any shop.
They probably will have a box at the entrance where you just drop the envelope.
Typically norm is the amount that person would have spent/will be spending by inviting you.
E.g. If he has invited 100 folks and had to spend around $15K then each individual is expected to contribute at least $150.

Enjoy!

If you can afford to it is standard to give $100 per guest (so if you bring a date or spouse you usually give more). I can't afford that though so I don't give that much and where I am from it is fairly common to give only $50 per guest but weddings are typically smaller and more affordable there. Gifts can cost more or less, its best to get something from the registry if they have one because they you know its what they want and will match their other stuff, but if not you can get any other household item (bake wear, bedding, towel set, salad bowl, coffee maker, teapot, etc.) with a gift reciept, that way they can exchange it if they get two of something. Since you are desi it may also be a nice idea to give an Indian gift.

If the invitation says something like "gifts by presentation only" that means they would prefer money, if it says nothing about a gift registry they may still be registered and only telling those who ask - it was for a long time considered rude to include the registry information in the invitation although some people are doing that now.

Have fun at the wedding! Italians tend to throw large weddings by Euro-Canadian standards (still small compared to Indian weddings I think!) often with lots of good food.

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My prayer to you
Is that you do all the things you set out to do
And live your life the way you love

Thurston Moore, Psychic Hearts

Thanks a lot folks.