'I hope this gets normalized': Bride and groom request cash instead of gifts, sparks debate about wedding etiquette

JR Atkinson • Writer and Editor

Feb 28, 2024 8:00 PM EST

If weddings are one thing, they're not always romantic, inspiring, or even fun. They're expensive. Even the cheapest weddings leave you with sticker shock. It's no wonder that seemingly more and more couples are opting for nontraditional ceremonies, or skipping them altogether. If you don't have thousands of dollars lying around (and most people don't), throwing a wedding lacks feasibility. But everyone wants their perfect day, since there aren't many occasions in our lives where we get to dress up and be the center of attention in front of our friends, so you'll figure out how to get it done.

Maybe that means holding the ceremony in someone's backyard or wearing a hand-me-down dress, or maybe it means asking your guests to chip in what they can to help you cover the cost. But there are some wedding etiquette purists out there, and they have words for those kinds of couples. Read the latest discourse.