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A very unusual gift request

A very unusual gift request

Dear Annie: I just received an invitation to a wedding that I’ve been told will be lavish. The woman is in her 50s, and the man is in his 60s, and they have been together for over a decade, so they have requested no gifts other than monetary contributions to their honeymoon. They have traveled extensively, including to the honeymoon destination. Is their request tacky, or am I just living in the past? — Wondering

Dear Wondering: Though asking for cash gifts toward a honeymoon fund was once considered tacky, it’s becoming more and more common, especially among young people. Market research firm Harris Interactive found in 2018 that 72 percent of millennials prefer spending money on experiences to material things. Though your friends aren’t millennials, they are at a point in life when they most likely have all the household things they need. So instead, they’ve asked friends and family to contribute toward travel, something they’re both passionate about. That seems blameless enough to me.

As for their having already been to this destination and their being financially secure, lavish weddings have a way of setting people back a bit. I’m sure they would appreciate the help swinging a vacation at the moment, even if they don’t necessarily need it.

Editor’s note: Send your questions for Annie Lane to dearannie@creators.com. To find out more about Annie Lane and read features by other Creators Syndicate columnists and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

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