When To Cash Wedding Checks?

A wedding check is a great financial gift that can help you and your partner achieve your financial goals. It is important to know how to deposit a check with two names, when to cash it, and what to do if it bounces. There is no official etiquette rule against giving cash as a wedding gift; whether you choose to give cash or a check is up to you.

When giving a wedding check, it is essential to write and send a thank you note immediately. Cashing the check is the same as opening a wedding present, so you should open all wedding gifts received prior to the wedding so you can send a thank you note before the wedding. A single guest can give between $50 and $500 as a cash wedding gift, depending on your relationship to the couple.

To make out the check to only one of the individuals getting married, enclose the check in a nice greeting card and handwrite a personal message inside. Address the card to both bride and groom, and congratulate them on their wedding. Include a personal statement, such as addressing a shared memory.

Both options have perks, as cash is simple and does not involve the couple making a trip to the bank. Checks are arguably more secure in the face of potential theft, but they also feature your account and routing numbers. Tradition can also dictate whether cash or checks are preferred, as cash is a standard gift depending on the couple’s ethnic and financial background.

If you and your spouse do not already have a joint checking account, open one and contact the bank to find out what items you need to bring along. Deposit the checks into your joint checking account within a few weeks of receiving them, as this is courteous to the giver and ensures the balance is held for up to 30 days.

When should you cash a check?

How long are personal checks good for?. Personal, business, and payroll checks are good for 6 months (180 days). Some businesses have “void after 90 days” pre-printed on their checks. Most banks will honor those checks for up to 180 days and the pre-printed language is meant to encourage people to deposit or cash a check sooner than later.

If youve been given a check, its best to cash or deposit it as soon as feasible. If you hold onto a check for a while you run the risk of the account number or routing number changing or the check writer may have forgotten about the check and spent the money on something else. This may cause you to have to pay returned check fees.

How long are U.S. Treasury checks good for?. By law, U.S. Treasury checks are good for one year after the date on the check. This means that federal tax refund checks are good for one year as those are issued by the U.S. Treasury. After that time, youre still entitled to money the government owes you, but youll need to contact the issuer of the check and request a new check.

Is $1000 a good wedding gift?

While the amount you should gift a couple depends on a number of factors, data from The Knot reveals that U.S. wedding guests spend an average of $160 on cash gifts.

“Its common to give anywhere from $100 to $1,000. I often see the card box on the gift table oozing with overstuffed envelopes,” Burton says.

“As a bride myself, I received one $1,000 check. However, this was from an uncle who is well off. For the rest of us, a range between $100 to $500 per guest is considerate,” she adds.

Here are four main factors to consider when determining the size of your wedding gift.

Is it rude not to cash a check right away?

Theres no reason to unless the check is post-dated, or you have been asked not to deposit it immediately. Generally when people write checks, they expect the money to leave their account swiftly.

Is a wedding gift cash or check?

But what kind of gift can you expect? Catey Hill, resident financial expert atDavids Bridal, says its perfectly fine guests to write out a check to you. She says many brides and grooms actually prefer it. On average the typical cash gift is around $150, she says.

Still, though, Hill says there are some exceptions. “Some people dont think thats giving money a great idea,” Hill said. And Hill has also seen a “relaxing of the rules.” “Brides and grooms understand that some guests are financially-strapped,” she said. For instance, some guests may still be in school or keeping their head afloat during a fragile economy.

A lot of times, gift etiquette can also be regional. Its not uncommon to see cash gifts at weddings in the Washington, D.C. area, while in the other parts of the country, such as the Midwest or in the southern areas of the U.S., physical gifts or registry items tend to be more common.

Ifyoure having a destination or an out-of-town wedding, its probably OK to spend less on the gift, said Hill. But you should still give something; Hill noted that guests cant simply say that their “attendance” is gift enough.

How soon should you cash a check that was a gift?

The moral of the story is clear. Gifts intended to qualify for the annual exclusion should be made early each year and checks for the gifts should always be cashed immediately.

What is an appropriate wedding check?

But what kind of gift can you expect? Catey Hill, resident financial expert atDavids Bridal, says its perfectly fine guests to write out a check to you. She says many brides and grooms actually prefer it. On average the typical cash gift is around $150, she says.

Still, though, Hill says there are some exceptions. “Some people dont think thats giving money a great idea,” Hill said. And Hill has also seen a “relaxing of the rules.” “Brides and grooms understand that some guests are financially-strapped,” she said. For instance, some guests may still be in school or keeping their head afloat during a fragile economy.

A lot of times, gift etiquette can also be regional. Its not uncommon to see cash gifts at weddings in the Washington, D.C. area, while in the other parts of the country, such as the Midwest or in the southern areas of the U.S., physical gifts or registry items tend to be more common.

Ifyoure having a destination or an out-of-town wedding, its probably OK to spend less on the gift, said Hill. But you should still give something; Hill noted that guests cant simply say that their “attendance” is gift enough.

How soon should you cash a wedding check?

Banks are legally required to honor personal checks for up to six months after the issue date and some may offer even more flexibility. Its recommended to deposit any checks you get for your wedding within a few weeks of receiving them. This is not only courteous to the giver, but its also beneficial for you and your spouse because you could use it or start earning interest on it by depositing it into an Ally Bank Savings Account.

Tip: Use the smart savings tools in Ally Banks Savings Account to further boost your savings.

If the check is written to you and your spouse, both of you must endorse it to deposit into your joint account. But if its payable to you or your spouse, only one of you needs to endorse it.

What is the cash rule for weddings?

They suggest the following breakdown: coworkers or distant relatives should spend 50 to 75 dollars. Friends or relatives, 75 to 100 dollars. For close friends, family members, or if youre in the wedding party, you should spend 100 to 150 dollars—or more.

Bringing a physical gift to the wedding is typically reserved when someone goes off the registry to purchase a wedding gift. When in doubt, follow the instructions on the registry website and avoid the headache of wrapping the present yourself!

11. Is it okay to buy gifts that aren’t on the wedding registry?. Gifting items that aren’t included on the registry isn’t a violation of wedding gift etiquette. Emily Post says that the choice of what to buy or give is always up to the guest, even if the couple has a registry.

If, however, you choose an off-registry item, make sure it’s something you know they will absolutely love. “A couple has taken the time to select items that they need, so it makes perfect sense the majority of the time to simply fall in line with their wishes,” says Carlson. “With that being said, if you are close to the couple and are 100 percent sure that your off-registry item fits the bill, then by all means, do it.”

How long is too late to cash a check?

Six months How Long Are Personal Checks Legally Valid? Typically, personal checks are good for six months (or 180 days) from when theyre dated. After that, theyre considered stale. Legally, banks and credit unions are not obligated to accept stale checks. However, some banks do accept checks older than six months.

What is the average wedding check?

While the amount you should gift a couple depends on a number of factors, data from The Knot reveals that U.S. wedding guests spend an average of $160 on cash gifts. Its common to give anywhere from $100 to $1,000.

Is it rude to not cash a check right away?

Depositing or cashing a check as soon as you can is the right (and polite) thing to do. Thats because an uncashed check can create uncertainty or worry for whomever gave it to you. Depositing or cashing it lets that person know you received the check – and the funds.