Tips for money gifts at weddings

[cstaylor]

Just got a lesson from my father-in-law about giving money gifts at Japanese weddings, so I thought I'd share the info:

- There are several types of envelopes you can buy. Make sure you don't get the ones without any gold or red on them (those are for sad occasions) and make sure the ribbon is real, not artwork (the artwork is for tips that you give people in day-to-day activities, but not weddings)

- The cash part of the envelope is inside, make sure you put your name and address on the front of the second envelope, and the amount given on the back

- The range of values vary depending on where the wedding is and your social station, but the minimum is usually 30,000JPY per person. Also, if you are combining cash (if a couple is attending), make sure you give an odd number of bills. Even bills are considered bad form, because you can divide them between the bride and groom. Also, don't mix bills: give all 10,000JPY notes

I'll ask for some more clarifications tomorrow, but hopefully this will be helpful to some of you.

[gomichild]

The money should be fresh new notes too - not ones that have been kicking around in your back pocket for days...

[Steve Bildermann]

[GomiGirl]

The notes have to be fresh and they have to have to be facing the same direction and have to have the head of the guy on the note at the top of the envelope...

Also, if the outer envelope has overlapping flaps, the bottom flap needs to be over the top flap.. I have no idea why this is...

CS - have you been opening lucky envelopes today?

[kamome]

The last wedding I went to, I contributed only 20,000 yen. Was that bad?

[cstaylor]

The last wedding I went to, I contributed only 20,000 yen. Was that bad?

Yes, for two reasons:
- Cheapass
- The number of bills is divisible by two. That means the wife and groom can divide the money between themselves, which is supposedly bad luck for the marriage

[Big Booger]

So I take it, that travelers checks are out of the question.

[den4]

yeah, two is bad because it's divisible...one is bad because it makes you look cheap, four is bad because it also has the connotation of "shi" which is "death" in Japan, so you're usually stuck with 30,000yen or 50,000 yen or higher.....

J-land has more ways to spend money than any other country perhaps?

[cstaylor]

CS - have you been opening lucky envelopes today?

No, but I have some of the wedding photos up on the web now:
Maybe these belong in "Random Gaijin Photos"?

[kamome]

The last wedding I went to, I contributed only 20,000 yen. Was that bad?

Yes, for two reasons:
- Cheapass
- The number of bills is divisible by two. That means the wife and groom can divide the money between themselves, which is supposedly bad luck for the marriage

"Cheapass"? Do you need a beating?

Actually, I was told that 30,000 yen is good for someone who really has treated you well, or who you really respect. You can go lower if it's an acquaintance or friend who you don't know as well. Maybe I received bad advice, who knows.

[kotatsuneko]

best way to save money - avoid making friends ! :P

good thing to remember also is , if you went to a funeral during the year, make a note *not* to send any of that family new years cards..

[GomiGirl]

Great Photo CS.. she looked like a princess.. you looked OK too.

[cstaylor]

"Cheapass"? Do you need a beating?

You'd have to get in line behind Alcazar the Australian Barbarian first.