The changing profile of Wedding Invitations
Published August 8, 2008 | Getting invited for a wedding has more than what it meets to the eyes of any ordinary Joe, these days.
Though most of the invitation cards show off the catchy one- liner of ‘no presents please’ in flashy letters, you need to take it with a grain of salt. In reality, most of the families would anticipate an appropriate gift that goes well with their status, though they keep this baffling one liner almost always at the bottom of the card, more as just a fad!
How one of my friends ended up red faced in a marriage reception would wrap up the malayalee mindset perfectly. As the card had specifically mentioned that presents are not encouraged, she stepped into the wedding hall empty handed and lo and behold, the bride’s mother gave her a stony stare and a sarcastic smile, which send shivers down her spine. The funniest part is that it was this same lady who had coaxed and cajoled her not to bring any gifts while inviting her formally for the wedding. The lady reiterated that the presence of the childhood friend would be the most cherished wedding gift for her daughter!
However, on the wedding day my friend was left out ungracefully from the countless photo sessions where the bride and her family were posing for snap shots with big and flashy gifts in their tow! Having come all the way to that far off city to meet her childhood pal in the bride’s attire, she mustered enough courage to meet the bride and exchange pleasantries before walking out with a heavy heart, punctured self respect and sunken head.
So, in case an invitation with the ‘no presents’ snare’ is lying on your desk, do not bite this bait. The choice is truly yours, either head straight to the gift shop and pick up an exquisite gift that would enhance your popularity among the friends’ and family circles or run the risk of getting ostracized by the society!
