A woman says her cousin has left family members feeling “insulted” after getting their names wrong on her wedding shower invitations — and demanding they give her cash only as a gift.
The woman explained the situation in a recent post on Reddit’s “Wedding Drama” forum, beginning by providing the context that her bride-to-be cousin is “the baby of the family” and “much younger than the rest of us.”
The OP (original poster) shared that she and several other family members were surprised to receive bridal shower invitations addressed to them under their maiden names. “This is confusing because I’ve been married over 15 years. My other family members have been married about as long or even longer,” she wrote.
“Does she not know our actual names?” she continued. “She could have easily asked my mom, grandma or aunts for this information, or even me directly!”
Even more perplexing, the OP’s invite was addressed to her “& kid.” As she explained, “I have three kids so I’m not sure which kid I’m supposed to bring. Are the other two meant to stay home with my husband?”
“She obviously doesn’t know the names of my children either or how many I have,” she noted. “Again, she could have easily asked for this information.”
The OP then shared yet another “off-putting” detail about the shower invitation.
“[It] had a note saying the bride only wanted cash. She did not include any kind of registry,” she explained. “Some of my relatives, like our grandma and aunts, really enjoy picking out a gift to give. So they are insulted at the request for cash only.”
Plus, she said, “she also did NOT specify the cash was for something like a honeymoon or house down payment.”
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“So, the invites managed to make most of the family mad for one reason or another,” the OP concluded her post. “I’d already decided I wasn’t going to the shower or the wedding, as I said we’re not close. But I was thinking of at least sending a card with money, along with my congratulations. Now I’m not sending anything and I’m okay with that.”
In the comments section, fellow Redditors were less concerned that the bride got names wrongs on her invitations and more taken aback by her very direct request for cash gifts.
“I honestly cannot fathom the gall of someone who would put ‘invitations’ in an envelope demanding money. And misaddressing the envelopes to boot,” one person wrote. “This girl has more nerve than anyone I know. I would die of shame sending something like that out.”
Another commenter chimed in: “She doesn’t even know your name. The invites were obviously a cash grab.”
Others shared stories similar to the OP’s. “I was just invited to a shower with a similar family member. Asked for cash only at the shower. Half the fun of the shower is watching the bride open gifts. Is she going to open cards/Venmo and declare how much everyone donated?” one person wrote, adding, “I really don’t like it.”
A few Redditors tried to give the OP’s cousin the benefit of the doubt, pointing out that some brides might ask for money if they don’t need any registry items.
“There’s absolutely nothing wrong with not having a registry and only wanting cash gifts. That’s pretty common these days as long as you’re polite about it and specify gifts really aren’t required,” one person wrote.
Another agreed, asking: “Does she just not want gifts that she’s just going to throw away? A lot of people now have everything before they get married.”
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