How to Write a Cheque for a Wedding Gift

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They are many reasons why giving the gift of money as a wedding gift is the ultimate gift to give. It can help fund the couple's honeymoon, buy a new home, or just allow them to start a nice savings account as newlyweds. But, if not made out correctly, your generous check to the happy couple can turn into a major headache. To help you avoid any awkward situations where the couple has to ask for you to reissue the check or thank you for a gift they were unable to use, you will want to know just how to write a cheque for a wedding gift.

How to Write a Cheque for a Wedding Gift

Addressing the Check

If you are planning on sending the check prior to the wedding day, you will want to use maiden names. It is not uncommon for the couple to receive cash gifts prior to actually getting married, as guest want to help them pay for the wedding expenses or they just do not want to risk misplacing the check on the big day. If you write the check out using the new married name the couple will take on, prior to the actual marriage, then they will not be able to cash the check until well after their wedding day.

Do Not Assume

While in the past it was typically always common for the bride to take on the husband's last name, this, however, is a dying tradition. If you are unsure of how to write a cheque for a wedding gift, do not just assume the bride will be taking on a new last name, instead, ask a family member or close friend of the couple how the check should be written out.

Don’t Use “AND”, Use “OR”

When writing the names of the couple on the check, it is natural to include both the bride's and groom's names, but this can lead to some difficulties in their ability to cash the check because both of them may have to be present to cash it. Instead, write the check out as “Bride’s Name or Groom’s Name”, this ensures that at least one of them will be able to cash the check.

Just Include One Name

Guests who are closer to either the bride or groom can choose to just write one name on the check. This can make it substantially easier for the couple to deposit their wedding funds and then combine them at a later time. But, some couples can take offense to this, so if you think you may offend them by only writing the check out to one part of the couple, ask a family member how to write a cheque for a wedding gift properly.

Additional Don'ts

  • It might seem easier to make the check out to CASH but this should be avoided. If the check goes missing, it will be easier to put a hold on it if it is addressed to an actual person. A cheque also makes it more difficult for anyone that is not the couple to cash it.

  • Never write the check out to MR. & MRS. HIS FIRST NAME, LAST NAME. This creates a long list of problems for the couple when trying to cash the check and can more often than not be viewed as offensive to the newlyweds.

  • Each state has various regulation and guidelines when it comes to name changes and merging banks accounts after marriage and often times this can take weeks. It can be a good idea to look into these guidelines to help you learn how to write a cheque for a wedding gift that will be convenient and easy for the couple to cash.

One Final Consideration

Keep in mind that in many cases wedding gifts will not be opened during the wedding reception, but will be opened after the wedding date. So if you noticed that the check you wrote the happy couples has not been cashed after a few weeks, you will want to contact the couple to ensure they actually received it.