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It also depends on the couple's circumstances: a lot of these traditions came into being at a time when couples were almost invariably setting up home for the first time simultaneously with getting married. Which still does happen, of course, but I bet it's not the majority case any more.

I'm guessing I'm one of the younger people here, because it sounds like everyone else was in a different state in their life. My wife and I more or less depended on the gifts we received in order to set up our home. And my closest relatives gave us a check. We bought our bedroom furniture with that money.

I don't think I'd refer to the gift-giving with the terms that Bruno did, but in general I'm surprised that so many people don't think it's rude to not give gifts at a wedding.
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Matt