I'm ok with a couple asking for cash. I'd rather give money so that the couple can pick out their own stuff rather than deal with things they may not want or need and have to store.
Last summer DHs nephew got married in a judge's office with just a few days notice to his parents. His bride is from Germany and was in the US for college. When she graduated 9 months later they moved to her hometown in Germany. A few weeks ago they had a big church wedding with all her friends and family.
When they planned the wedding they asked all the US family for our addresses and asked if we planned on coming to the German wedding. No one from the US went except for the groom's parents. It's an expensive trip and gee, they had already been married for a year!
But I did want to send a gift. We got an invitation, all in German, which I translated with Google Translate. A note at the bottom said "Our household is empty, a gift of money would be appreciated". I asked SIL if a personal check or Amazon gift card would be best and she suggested PayPal. I knew how much we wanted to give and PayPal lets you choose another currency so I sent them Euros.
And I got a very nice thank you note just a few days after the wedding!
Last summer DHs nephew got married in a judge's office with just a few days notice to his parents. His bride is from Germany and was in the US for college. When she graduated 9 months later they moved to her hometown in Germany. A few weeks ago they had a big church wedding with all her friends and family.
When they planned the wedding they asked all the US family for our addresses and asked if we planned on coming to the German wedding. No one from the US went except for the groom's parents. It's an expensive trip and gee, they had already been married for a year!
But I did want to send a gift. We got an invitation, all in German, which I translated with Google Translate. A note at the bottom said "Our household is empty, a gift of money would be appreciated". I asked SIL if a personal check or Amazon gift card would be best and she suggested PayPal. I knew how much we wanted to give and PayPal lets you choose another currency so I sent them Euros.
And I got a very nice thank you note just a few days after the wedding!