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