AboutGary & Teri Expertise My main specialties are invitations, catering, and banquet locations or in general, wedding receptions. Started as a family business over 75 years ago I now own and operate a catering & banquet facility for over 30 years and have catered small cookout events to large formal ones with everything in between. I even had an event that was attended by the President of the United States. I have been involved with over three thousand weddings and have been told that I have seen and done it all. I must reply almost, because something new always pops up.
Experience I have preformed almost every service needed at a reception from invitations, hosting and catering the event to photographing, dj and honeymoon plans with the latter being special circumstances. I have worked and hosted weddings up to 750 guest and other functions up to two thousand. With well over 30 years experiance of consulting with brides I have seen much of what works and does not.
I have also been involved with many business and orginizational functions and also have been listed in "Who's Who" business and executive edition.
Question Our son (American) and his bride (Taiwanese) live in Asia. We are hosting a reception for them in Iowa in August. The Asian tradition is to not give material gifts, but to give "red envelopes" with money enclosed. They have no way to take back material gifts, nor any room to put them if they were to receive any. How do I word this on the invitation without making them sound money hungry?
Answer Hi Lynne, Sorry to say that there is no proper way to list anything about gifts on the invitation unless you are saying "no gifts". Since this is not the case the best thing you can do is verbally spread the word that they are moving back to Taiwan and they cannot take many gifts or items. Hopefully everyone will get the idea. In reality I see very few "gifts" at receptions, mostly cards.
I don't know when they are going back but if timing is right you may consider putting a separate paper in the invitation stating when they are leaving and inviting everyone to a bon voyage get together.
