That is the bond (make a note of the serial number somewhere in case you ever need to replace the actual certificate), and you can cash it at any bank or post office.

I'm guessing that might have been the gift card looking thing. Not sure. As for cashing it, I believe you can just go to any bank. But double check it's maturity date. For more info: [link]

Tho, of late, apparently there has been some scammers who walk into a reception to the gift table and pick up things and walk out, so the news is saying to NOT have the gift table near the door.

That, and the last thing I would want to do on my wedding night is pack up and haul away gifts. Sort of like you shouldn't give your hostess flowers when she's trying to get a meal on the table.

A special bottle of wine/champagne perhaps?

If they drink champagne, get them a bottle of good champagne (Veuve Cliquot, Moet White Star, Piper), and write a note telling them to keep it to open on their first anniversary.

That, and the last thing I would want to do on my wedding night is pack up and haul away gifts. Sort of like you shouldn't give your hostess flowers when she's trying to get a meal on the table.

Yeah, I always send the gift to the house. I try not to bring it to the reception. Usually, there's someone designated to deal with it, but it's just easier.

That, and the last thing I would want to do on my wedding night is pack up and haul away gifts.

I always assumed that the bride and groom sucker their bridal party/family/etc. into hauling away the gifts.

I base that assumption on all the Freak-Ass Church weddings I was in, where I had to work like a DOG.

t /fine, yes, still bitter

Heh, I am so un-fazed by wedding giftage. Most of my friends are pretty much, "um, don't worry about, we're just glad you're here." I tend to take that at face value.

Also, I find that attending weddings is often expensive in time, money, and travel and depending on my mood and the amount of travel and the comfort of the hotel beds, I tend to get surly about gifting on top of that. Generally, my philosphy is, you've got each other, what else do you need?

Oh, shit, I can't remember if we gave my cousin a gift yet or not. Eek! Well, if we did, it was a check, so should be easy enough to track down. We tend to write checks. The wedding I'm going to in a few weeks, I'll likely get a Home Depot gift card as they are renovating their house.

Ugh, I'm surly now for other reasons, and I'm sure that has affected the tone of my post.

I was just having a nice time kinda sorta planning a weekend getaway to Portland (Maine) with Tom for this upcoming weekend! Don't know if it will happen, but maybe. Fun to think about anyway.

My parents kept our bonds in safe deposit box. That is how I went to Europe after college

Yeah, I always send the gift to the house. I try not to bring it to the reception. Usually, there's someone designated to deal with it, but it's just easier.

Yes, makes sense. Especially in our modern world of "I bought it on the internet, here, let me deliver it to you directly". Plus it saves me from having to lug it to Laguna (sorry, alliteration made me do it).

I'm trying to find the Yahoo Answers question where a bride-to-be asked if she's being cheap because she expects people to give her wedding gifts that cost $200+ *because* that's how much per person her wedding costs, and it's "normal" to try to recover the costs.

It's beyond tacky, and the answers crack me up.

t edit Here: [link] "Why do people give cheap wedding gift???"