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American Express Bridal Gift "Chequelist":
Bridal Gift Ideas and Etiquette from Peggy Post

NEW YORK (May 1, 2000)—So you thought you had a year to send a bridal gift to the newly married couple whose wedding you just attended? Not so, says Peggy Post, director of  The Emily Post Institute, Inc.

“Wedding gifts should be delivered to the bride's home or the home of her parents before the wedding,” says Post, who refers to the one-year rule as an “urban legend.” “Gifts may be sent out as soon as a guest receives an invitation. In some locales, gifts are brought to the wedding reception and placed at the gift table.”

With more than 2.4 million couples in the Unites States tying the knot each year, American Express® Gift Cheques asked America's foremost authority on etiquette for tips on bridal gifting.

Bridal Gift Ideas

• Have fun creating your bridal shower gift. Themed gifts such as a basket of holiday decorations, kitchen gadgets and utensils, or a "wedding emergency kit" filled with such necessities as hairspray, bobby pins, etc., are all creative shower gifts.
  
  
• Some couples are feted with an engagement party by family or friends. Traditionally, engagement presents are given only by close relatives and intimate friends, and usually not at the party.
  
  
• Monetary gifts are appropriate for a variety of wedding-related, gift-giving occasions including bridal showers and weddings. The custom of giving money as a wedding present is a long-established tradition. American Express Gift Cheques, presented in an elegant gold envelope with accompanying gift card, are a thoughtful, modern-day twist on this time-honored custom. Monetary gifts allow the couple to save for a big purchase and select something they like and can use.
  
  
• With the advent of e-commerce, purchasing a wedding gift has never been easier. Today, many bridal couples are registered for gifts on Web sites. Guests can view a couple's selections, choose a gift, order and have it shipped directly to the couple, all with a few clicks of the mouse.
  
  
• If you are attending a destination wedding and don't want to lug a breakable gift with you, you might want to purchase a gift when you arrive. Gifts such as a gift certificate for a romantic dinner, a day at the spa or a boat rental will give the bride and groom a special remembrance of their wedding and honeymoon. American Express Gift Cheques are widely accepted and can be used toward such local goods and services.

  Bridal Gifting Etiquette

• A gift is in order when you receive a wedding invitation, even if you plan to skip the big day. There are exceptions, for example, if you haven't seen the bride or groom in years. Otherwise, there is an obligation to send a gift.

• Contrary to urban legend, guests do not have up to one year after a wedding to send a gift to a newly married couple.

• Wedding gifts should be delivered to the bride's home or the home of her parents before the wedding. If a couple is living together, gifts can be sent to their home address. Gifts may be sent out as soon as a guest receives an invitation, and should be addressed to the bride in her name. In some locales, gifts are brought to the wedding reception and placed at the gift table.

• Gifts are not required for second weddings (although gifts are perfectly acceptable). Family members usually give a gift to a second-time bride, but friends who gave gifts for the first marriage don't need to do so again.

• When brides and grooms write thank you notes for monetary gifts, it is perfectly acceptable to acknowledge the amount. The couple should also mention what the monetary gift will be used for.

• Couples should try to write thank you notes as soon as possible after the wedding so that guests know that their gifts were received. If a guest has not received acknowledgment of a bridal gift within a three-month period, it is fine to contact the couple to ensure that the gift had been received.

American Express Company is a diversified worldwide travel, network, and financial services provider founded in 1850. It is a leader in charge and credit cards, Travelers Cheques, travel, financial planning, investment products, insurance and international banking. American Express introduced Gift Cheques in 1987 in response to popular demand for a monetary gift product that offers thoughtfulness, elegance and convenience.

For more information, visit www.americanexpress.com/giftcheques.

For maximum flexibility, Gift Cheques are available in denominations of $25, $50 and $100. A minimal purchase fee is applied to each cheque. To use, the recipient simply signs the American Express Gift Cheque upon receipt and countersigns it at the point of purchase.

Gift Cheques can be purchased at a number of outlets including banks, credit unions and AAA offices, and all domestic American Express Travel Service Offices. Consumers can also order Gift Cheques via phone toll free at 1-800-828-GIFT.

Peggy Post, America's foremost authority on etiquette, is the author of five books including “Emily Post's Weddings” and the 75th anniversary edition of “Emily Post's Etiquette.” She also pens monthly columns for Good Housekeeping, Parents and Bride Again magazines, and is a regular contributor to women.com and weddingchannel.com.

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