Frivolous wedding presents - Tiffany''s

[CaliCushion]

We received a cake plate that costs over $500 from Tiffany''s that we did not register for (we did not even register at Tiffany''s!).

I had already registered for (and received) a reasonaly priced cake plate from Crate and Barrel.

The cake plate from Tiffany''s is nice, but I don''t really like it more than the Crate and Barrel cake plate...and we don''t really need two. At all. If we keep the cake plate, it''s going to sit in a pantry 99% of the year. Not to mention I''m afraid of dropping it!

We can''t get cash back from Tiffany''s, or we would. If we return the cake plate, we''re going to have to buy something else. There isn''t really anything else for the home that I can think of that I want from Tiffany''s. Which leaves me with jewelry. On one hand, I feel guilty exchanging a wedding present for jewelry. Obviously the gift giver did not intend to buy me jewelry. On the other hand, it feels really frivolous of us to keep a cake plate that we are never going to use, when there''s many home items we can''t afford to buy for ourselves. But at least I''d use the jewelry...

Any thoughts or ideas?

 

[Haven]

First, this is a very generous gift.

I would keep the cake plate and use it at least a few times when the giver is over to your home. It sounds like this person intended for this to be a very special gift for the two of you.

 

[CaliCushion]

I should mention that the cake plate is from out of town relatives who have never (and probably will never) come to out house.

 

[Haven]

double post

 

[emeraldlover1]

OMG... I was just having this discussion with a couple of friends that we were with this past weekend. They too recieved a very expensive gift from Tiff''s from someone that they found out later on was a regift. So, they are planning to give it to someone else as a re-gift. They were joking that they were giving it to us. I joked back that it would go great with my $300 for 8 set everyday plates. We''ve hardley registered for anything. Anyway, my first though was re-gift, of course that is totally based on my conversation with friends last weekend.

 

[ms.halo]

I exchanged some wine glasses and a duplicate picture frame that we received from Tiffany''s as wedding gifts for a lovely ring. I know it''s not what Miss Manners would do, but ultimately the gifts are meant to make you happy, right?

 

[Haven]

If they''ll never be over, then I''m not that opposed to returning it.

 

[CaliCushion]

I just wanted to mention that I''m not ungreatful. Really. It just seems like such a shame to let very expensive things collect dust in the back of a closet, when there''s still things we could really use and can''t afford to buy. Not that buying jewelery solves that problem....

 

[musey]

Date: 6/10/2009 8:53:57 PM
Author: CaliCushion
I just wanted to mention that I'm not ungreatful. Really. It just seems like such a shame to let very expensive things collect dust in the back of a closet, when there's still things we could really use and can't afford to buy. Not that buying jewelery solves that problem....

I'm totally on board with returning it, with the knowledge that they won't be over to your house. I agree that it doesn't make as much sense to let it sit in your cabinet

 

[LostSapphire]

To me, it would depend on who the gift giver was.....22 years ago I received a very old fashioned pinwheel crystal vase from my Grandmother as a wedding gift. I hated it. It was so NOT ME. But then she died. And it''s the only thing I have from her. So it gets used on a regular basis for cut flowers, and especially when I want to remember her. I have come to love its beauty because of the giver, not the gift.

But, same gift, from some 3rd cousin? EXCHANGE IT!

LS

 

[Diamond Confused]

how about exchanging it for a vase. You need to have a beautiful vase. the rest you can use on jewlery, but at least this way you still get something for the home

 

[iheartscience]

Date: 6/10/2009 9:21:49 PM
Author: musey

Date: 6/10/2009 8:53:57 PM

Author: CaliCushion

I just wanted to mention that I''m not ungreatful. Really. It just seems like such a shame to let very expensive things collect dust in the back of a closet, when there''s still things we could really use and can''t afford to buy. Not that buying jewelery solves that problem....

I''m totally on board with returning it, with the knowledge that they won''t be over to your house. I agree that it doesn''t make as much sense to let it sit in your cabinet

Ditto! I would feel a smidge guilty, too, but I would definitely return it and put it towards the DBTY bracelet with one diamond!

 

[Hudson_Hawk]

Wow, hard choice. I would return it for a nice silver picture frame and put a pic of you and DH in it. Then you can pass it on to your kids down the road.

 

[Kaleigh]

I''d return t and get a nice silver picture frame and a nice vase....

 

[bee*]

Date: 6/10/2009 10:33:39 PM
Author: Kaleigh
I''d return t and get a nice silver picture frame and a nice vase....

I like that idea too, especially as they''ll never be over at your house.

 

[loriken214]

We received a very expensive Tiffany crystal vase from my boss, who liked to show that he had money, for a wedding present. DH and I were afraid to use it and put it away, still in the box. Today, I have NO IDEA where that vase is after 11 years of marriage! It is safely packed away in our house, but I haven''t found it yet.

The boss retired shortly after our wedding and we lost contact with him. We should have exchanged the vase for something else.

Lori

 

[loriken214]

ETA: We didn''t register at Tiffany''s and only registered for practical things that we really needed. Still, we received lots of less expensive crystal frames, candle holders, vases, etc. and we use all of them.

Lori

 

[ilovesparkles]

Return it. Period. Unless this relative is very close to you, I would say go for it. I like the idea of a vase and picture frame. However, I cannot afford jewelry, so that is what I would go for!

 

[alli_esq]

Date: 6/10/2009 9:26:41 PM
Author: LostSapphire
To me, it would depend on who the gift giver was.....22 years ago I received a very old fashioned pinwheel crystal vase from my Grandmother as a wedding gift. I hated it. It was so NOT ME. But then she died. And it''s the only thing I have from her. So it gets used on a regular basis for cut flowers, and especially when I want to remember her. I have come to love its beauty because of the giver, not the gift.


But, same gift, from some 3rd cousin? EXCHANGE IT!


LS

Totally agree! Plus, um...you get something nice from Tiffany''s

 

[brightlight]

Date: 6/10/2009 8:12:35 PM
Author:CaliCushion
We received a cake plate that costs over $500 from Tiffany''s that we did not register for (we did not even register at Tiffany''s!).

I had already registered for (and received) a reasonaly priced cake plate from Crate and Barrel.

The cake plate from Tiffany''s is nice, but I don''t really like it more than the Crate and Barrel cake plate...and we don''t really need two. At all. If we keep the cake plate, it''s going to sit in a pantry 99% of the year. Not to mention I''m afraid of dropping it!

We can''t get cash back from Tiffany''s, or we would. If we return the cake plate, we''re going to have to buy something else. There isn''t really anything else for the home that I can think of that I want from Tiffany''s. Which leaves me with jewelry. On one hand, I feel guilty exchanging a wedding present for jewelry. Obviously the gift giver did not intend to buy me jewelry. On the other hand, it feels really frivolous of us to keep a cake plate that we are never going to use, when there''s many home items we can''t afford to buy for ourselves. But at least I''d use the jewelry...

Any thoughts or ideas?

We had a similar problem. We actually registered for a very nice cake plate at a different store. Instead of getting us the one we registered for, someone got us a crystal cake plate from Tiffany, which we will never use (b/c I don''t like the idea of food/beverage served in/on lead crystal regardless of how safe people say it is). We ended up keeping it and use it as a decorative stand to showcase other items.

I think if you exchange it, you should exchange it for another houseware item like a vase or a picture frame since it was intended as a gift for both of you. I feel jewelry would be something just for you.

 

[ams0124]

So I can see the reasoning behind exchanging the gift for something else, but my first thought was "what a great heirloom peice to pass on to your children" (if you plan on having kids that is)

I have heirlooms from my mom, grandmother, and great grandmother, and I plan on having something to pass on to my children as well....so they having several things from many generations...if that makes sense.

Ultimately I do think that if you choose to exchange it, you should get something for the house...unless you could get matching his and hers jewerly

...that way it would be a present for both of you...

What a generous gift none the less

 

[princessplease]

I''d return it, although it was extremely generous of them. If they''re not going to be around your house ever, then why not get another nice Tiffany''s piece for your house?

 

[meresal]

Date: 6/11/2009 9:26:08 AM
Author: brightlight

We had a similar problem. We actually registered for a very nice cake plate at a different store. Instead of getting us the one we registered for, someone got us a crystal cake plate from Tiffany, which we will never use (b/c I don''t like the idea of food/beverage served in/on lead crystal regardless of how safe people say it is). We ended up keeping it and use it as a decorative stand to showcase other items.

I think if you exchange it, you should exchange it for another houseware item like a vase or a picture frame since it was intended as a gift for both of you. I feel jewelry would be something just for you.

This is what I thought. Maybe candlesticks or something.