For future brides - Married ladies sharing gift info.

We are doing our thank you cards slowly but surely. As I'm sure everyone does, we know exactly what each guests gave as a gift (including those who did not attend but sent gift) and are trying to incorporate a special thank you for 'such and such' in the card.

Honestly, so future brides will be aware, our gifts total about 80% of the costs of the reception. We did have some guests give cards and some that did not give a card. But they all showed up from near and far and they all went out of their way to celebrate with us.

I cannot fathom how anyone can expect to 'make a profit' by throwing a wedding

Granted, I'm sure there are those who had super generous guests and family members but I'm sure this thread will reveal that only a handful of couples 'got back' what they spent on the wedding in gifts. And NOT counting cash gifts from parents I am sure that number is less than 10% of LIW couples.

Please add yours.

No dollar amounts please

ETA - gifts are still coming in (after the thank you cards went out). So far gifts have totalled about 50% of the wedding costs (entire reception covered ) We are still shocked since we prepared ourselves to receive ZILCH as gifts

Re: For future brides - Married ladies sharing gift info.

If I have to really think about it...we got maybe 60% back of what the entire wedding costed if you don't include the honeymoon.

Now to put it in some perspective, we made back about enough to cover the hall, the photographer and the florist, which isn't that bad considering.

While I hate the 'cover your plate' rule, about 75% of our guests did not 'cover their plate'. It's the reason why no one should even hope to make back what they spent.

If you go in not expecting anything from anyone, then you will be pleasantly surprised, but never lose sight of the fact that in the end it's just a really big party on a grand scale to celebrate the union of you and FH. Nothing else.

ETA: Had to change my percentage because after going over costs I realized we spent a lot less than I thought.

Re: For future brides - Married ladies sharing gift info.

I think we got back about half of what the total wedding cost (not including the HM).

Re: For future brides - Married ladies sharing gift info.

About 75% of the wedding costs were 'made back' (NOT including the HM). We were so blown away by everyone's generosity.

Re: For future brides - Married ladies sharing gift info.

we got back 2/3 of what we paid but tha was only because of my mom she gave us a good 1/3

thanks MOM

Re: For future brides - Married ladies sharing gift info.

Re: For future brides - Married ladies sharing gift info.

I knew Before starting my planning that i am not going to get back what im putting in .. But i Hope i would at least get back a little more then 1/2 .. I will let you know next year what the story is lol ...
But Honestly I dont want to go crazy and spend a million dollars I think thats just crazy!!!!

Re: For future brides - Married ladies sharing gift info.

Re: For future brides - Married ladies sharing gift info.

I am expecting nothing other than people to share in my joy.

If gifts come along with it, thats great. Im not looking to 'make' money on my wedding.

Re: For future brides - Married ladies sharing gift info.

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Posted by Meaghan729

I am expecting nothing other than people to share in my joy.

If gifts come along with it, thats great. Im not looking to 'make' money on my wedding.

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I really don't think thats what she meant...

If ANY of us were looking to 'make' money... No one would even be planning a wedding...

Re: For future brides - Married ladies sharing gift info.

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Posted by prinses777

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Posted by Meaghan729

I am expecting nothing other than people to share in my joy.

If gifts come along with it, thats great. Im not looking to 'make' money on my wedding.

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I really don't think thats what she meant...

If ANY of us were looking to 'make' money... No one would even planning a wedding...

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i know, but im getting sick of all these posts about people not giving gifts, not covering plates, etc and now its 'how much did you get back' like someone owes it to you!

Re: For future brides - Married ladies sharing gift info.

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Posted by Meaghan729

I am expecting nothing other than people to share in my joy.

If gifts come along with it, thats great. Im not looking to 'make' money on my wedding.

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well said.

Re: For future brides - Married ladies sharing gift info.

we did make back almost 100% on the whole reception and such probably more like 98% not including the honeymoon or our rings but we did get a good gift from his parents. i had a smaller wedding and i really was on it about keeping our budget which we did go over about 2k.

Re: For future brides - Married ladies sharing gift info.

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Posted by BKtoLI

If I have to really think about it...we got maybe 40% back of what the entire wedding costed.

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Ditto.

Re: For future brides - Married ladies sharing gift info.

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Posted by Meaghan729

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Posted by prinses777

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Posted by Meaghan729

I am expecting nothing other than people to share in my joy.

If gifts come along with it, thats great. Im not looking to 'make' money on my wedding.

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I really don't think thats what she meant...

If ANY of us were looking to 'make' money... No one would even planning a wedding...

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i know, but im getting sick of all these posts about people not giving gifts, not covering plates, etc and now its 'how much did you get back' like someone owes it to you!

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Ok... Totally understandable... which is why I don't post on those post... If people ask questions that are materlistic, just don't answer... ********I am not saying that this question is materilistic***********

I am just saying that I feel sometimes people post things on these boards just to start trouble... Thats all...

But to your point... I totally understand now... There are some brides on here that are upset that gifts aren't given or people didn't cover their own plate...

Thats why I think it is BS and I just don't post on those post.

Re: For future brides - Married ladies sharing gift info.

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Posted by Meaghan729

I am expecting nothing other than people to share in my joy.

If gifts come along with it, thats great. Im not looking to 'make' money on my wedding.

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Oh no, please lets not start this again. PLEASE.

This post was started awhile back to avoid these kinds of arguments. It was innocent and just created to be informative, thats all. Don't turn it into something its not!

Re: For future brides - Married ladies sharing gift info.

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Posted by LaurenluvsTJ

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Posted by Meaghan729

I am expecting nothing other than people to share in my joy.

If gifts come along with it, thats great. Im not looking to 'make' money on my wedding.

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Oh no, please lets not start this again. PLEASE.

This post was started awhile back to avoid these kinds of arguments. It was innocent and just created to be informative, thats all. Don't turn it into something its not!

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EXACTLY!

Re: For future brides - Married ladies sharing gift info.

im sorry, Have I stepped outside of the United States of America, in which there is something called freedom of speech?? Is this not an open forum to which we can give opinons, or am I wrong?

I am entitled to my own opinion - and I wasnt involved in the prior post, so thats why i responded here.

Who gives a doo doo about who got back what % of the $ they spent unless they want to see how much everyone else made??

why ask in the first place??

Re: For future brides - Married ladies sharing gift info.

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Posted by Meaghan729

im sorry, Have I stepped outside of the United States of America, in which there is something called freedom of speech?? Is this not an open forum to which we can give opinons, or am I wrong?

I am entitled to my own opinion - and I wasnt involved in the prior post, so thats why i responded here.

Who gives a doo doo about who got back what % of the $ they spent unless they want to see how much everyone else made??

why ask in the first place??

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If you don't care, then don't respond to the post. By the other responses it seems the BTDT brides had no problem answering. I thought it was a very matter of fact post, nothing derogatory or emotional about it.

JMHO

Re: For future brides - Married ladies sharing gift info.

Not saying you, but there are some people on here that post just to post negitive things just to cause chaos... All I said was if you don't like the post... don't answer it... that is all I am saying.

You 100% have your rights of Freedom of Speech... as do I.