Today, we received a wedding card and check in the mail from one of Chris’s mother’s cousins, who was invited to the wedding but couldn’t attend due to conflicting travel she and her husband had already booked. I was surprised to see this in the mail even after Chris’s mother had told me that this cousin had planned to send us a gift. Unless it is a very close friend or family member, I’d never expect any gifts if the person didn’t attend the wedding.

It’s so weird — the whole wedding gift giving thing. There are friends and family who attended the wedding events and did not give any gift, and then there are friends and family who did not attend any of the events and gave generous gifts. I wonder what their thought process is when they ultimately decide to give or not give a gift and whether it is guilt that drives them (for the sake of having face) or the pure desire to just give.