Their presence is the present, sweetie.
Showing up to a wedding empty-handed is no longer a déclassé “don’t” thanks to ungenerous Gen Z’s who’ve shamelessly abandoned gift-giving.
And their refusal to break the bank is breaking one bride’s heart.
“[I] recently had a wedding and had probably 70% of guests not give a gift/a card,” moaned an anonymous newlywed on Reddit, titling the trending tell-all, “Is it okay for me to be upset?.”
“I’m not expecting to be showered in gifts or money or anything,” continued the crestfallen belle. “But shocked that people we are close to couldn’t even take the time of day to get us a $.50 card or a home made card or anything to congratulate us knowing how expensive weddings are in general.”
And although the snubbed bride may be justified in her dismay — especially since hosting guests on their big day can cost couples an average $26,665 — it seems bestowing a small (or large) tribute to two in love has become just too much to ask of twenty-somethings across the US.
In fact, a staggering 72% of Zoomers are comfortable eating, drinking and being merry at nuptials sans a gift for the new husband and wife, per an August 2024 survey from DatingNews.com.
While the younger demographic leads the charge when in comes to stiffing sweethearts, 61% of millennials, 58% of Gen Xers and 44% of baby boomers, too, feel it’s cool to skip out on giving good-luck goodies.
But researchers claim the swing away from traditional wedding guest etiquette — which dictates that the price of an invitee’s present should equal the “per-person” cost a bride and groom spent on their reception — isn’t rooted in outright rudeness.
Instead, experts say it’s a budgeting issue.
“Our survey found that 31% don’t feel couples have enough affordable options on their wedding registries,” noted the analysts, adding, “30% feel like they’ve been invited to a wedding just to provide a gift.”
But the stiffing doesn’t stop at sweet offerings for recently-weds.
Cash-strapped Gen Zers are also refusing to participate as bridesmaids and groomsmen, owing to the stratospheric cost of per-matrimonial events.
Afrakomah Darko, 27, a TikTok content creator, recently revealed that being in several bridal parties this year cost her a whopping $12,000.
“Moving forward,” she announced in a viral vid, “I decline all bridesmaid invitations.”
And perhaps folks who can’t afford to leave a thoughtful trinket for the happy couple should consider regretfully declining wedding invitation — so argues the Reddit commenters who sympathize with the bride who came up short after her “I Do’s.”
“This seems really strange,” wrote one supporter. “Wouldn’t people at least bring the equivalent of a hostess gift, eg: a bottle of wine, a picture frame?”
“You spent so much money to provide an amazing experience for everyone in attendance,” another chimed. “You fed them, provided drinks and so much more. I’d be upset, too. I’m sorry.”
“I was taught a wedding gift should amount to the cost of your ‘plate,’” a separate onlooker insisted. “I never go anywhere empty handed.”
“I personally just think it’s tacky.”