AisleDash

You're the guest at a wedding. Test your etiquette IQ and see if you know these do's and don'ts of gift giving.

1. Do you have to send a wedding gift?
2. Do you have to send a gift if the bride or groom has been married before?
3. How much should you spend?
4. When and how should you send the gift?

1. Do you have to send a wedding gift? Yes. If you receive an invitation you should send a gift, even if you don't attend the wedding. The only exception to this is when business acquaintances and people who don't know the actual bride and groom receive invitations and don't attend the wedding. Only one gift per household is expected and it's okay to pool resources with others to get one big gift.

2. Do you have to send a gift if the bride or groom has been married before? No, if the bride or groom has been married before, you are not obligated to gift in honor of the new wedding...but it is nice.

3. How much should you spend? However much you can and want to (you do not have to guess at how much your "share" of the reception costs).

4. When and how should you send the gift? Many people think you should bring gifts to the reception. Although this often happens, pure etiquette dictates that gifts are mailed to the couple as close to the wedding date as possible. While it's okay to send a gift as soon as you get your invitation, it's not as proper to be late. The notion that you have up to a year after the wedding to send a gift is only a myth.