Etiquette Question

If one is invited to a wedding and brings a "guest" who was not invited by name, does one sign the wedding gift card with the guest's name as well as one's own?  If the answer is "it depends," what does it depend on?

Comments

[wab]

I have no idea what "the book" would say, but to me the sensible criterion is whether it actually is a joint gift (co-selected, co-acquired, etc.) or not. If it is your gift, then you sign your name.

[Nicole]

This too is my opinion, but I would agree with the first answer. Other circumstances for guest to be included on card:

1) guest knows couple
2) you anticipate guest will become friends with couple
3) you forsee 'coupledom' with you and guest :)

[Tara]

The book would say if you submitted the guest's name in your RSVP then it is acceptable to sign the gift from both.

[The Happy Feminist]

I think you not only can, but should, sign the gift card in both of your names. Every guest at a wedding is supposed to give a gift, but your guest should not have to worry about buying and sending his own separate gift. It is your job as his host to do that for him.

[Richard Ames]

I think I'm the only male leaving a comment to this post. Interestingly, I opt for the truthful approach (which might surprise The Happy Feminist ;) The gift is coming from you, not from your guest. Your guest no doubt had absolutely nothing to do with selecting or paying for the gift, and probably has never before met the bride or groom. Everyone knows or should know this fact so just sign your name and leave your guest out of it. As an aside, neither the bride nor groom will really care that the gift is even from you. All they care about is that they received about the same number of gifts as attendees, that they pretty much like what they got, and that they have addresses to send out thank-you cards.

[The Happy Feminist]

Come to think of it, I haven't the foggiest idea what my wedding guests did about this issue. For example, I remember that my friend T got us some fantastic crystal candlesticks, but I have no idea if she signed the gift card with her date's name or not. She probably didn't, since I think I only wrote to her to thank her and I don't recall includng her date's name in the thank you letter.