Finance

Is My Niece Tacky for Using GoFundMe to Pay for Her Wedding?

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Expensive Penny,

My nice niece is getting married in October. I reside in New York Metropolis, and she or he lives in Indiana. I stated I’d go, though I solely met her as soon as.

Now she arrange a GoFundMe web page, asking for assist with the marriage as a substitute of a present. Do you suppose I ought to contribute? I’ve by no means heard of such a request.

-C.

Expensive C.,

I’ve by no means heard of utilizing GoFundMe to pay for a marriage. However given the truth that folks have used crowdfunding platforms to pay for all the pieces from breast implants to their dream vehicles, I’m not notably stunned.

Nonetheless, crowdfunding a marriage appears particularly cheesy. The couple is mainly throwing themselves a celebration, then asking the friends to pay their very own admission. I’d err on the facet of organising a GoFundMe if you’re combating a giant however unavoidable expense, i.e., massive medical payments or repairing your house after a hearth. A marriage actually doesn’t qualify since you’ll be able to all the time have a less expensive marriage ceremony or have an extended engagement, providing you with extra time to save lots of.


However the truth that this request is tasteless is in your nice niece, not you. You requested me whether or not it’s best to contribute. If something, kicking in a small amount of money as a substitute of shopping for a present makes issues simpler on you as a marriage visitor. No must scour her registry for a bit of houseware that can wind up amassing mud. Because you’ve solely met her as soon as, absolutely you weren’t planning on a extremely private present.

I ought to be aware that traditions are all the time altering, and it’s changing into much more acceptable to ask for money in lieu of bodily presents at a marriage. Individuals are marrying later in life and sometimes reside collectively earlier than they wed. {Couples} typically have already got all of the home items that make for conventional marriage ceremony presents. However presenting money as one choice for a present — typically to assist out with a down fee or honeymoon bills — is lots completely different than asking friends to fund the marriage itself.

One factor I’m interested by is what occurs if friends aren’t fairly as beneficiant because the couple hoped. I’m assuming that by the point invitations have gone out, they’ve already booked a venue and paid plenty of non-refundable deposits. Counting on a GoFundMe for a marriage you’ll be able to’t afford may very well be a catastrophe.

However should you discover this request really outrageous, you’re beneath no obligation to contribute. Hopefully, the couple nonetheless created a registry for friends preferring to provide a bodily present.

Don’t really feel strain to make a big contribution should you select to ship money. Presumably, you’ll even be paying for journey bills. A modest present is fully applicable, contemplating this can be a distant relative you’ve solely met as soon as.

Robin Hartill is an authorized monetary planner and a senior author at The BaghdadTime. Ship your tough cash inquiries to [email protected] or chat along with her in The BaghdadTime Group. 


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