Buzz
Among the many pleasures of celebrating a couple’s marriage, there are also plenty of potential social blunders that might catch you off guard. One such mistake: writing a check that the newlyweds may find difficult to use, especially if they want to splurge on a few excursions for their honeymoon. While writing a check to both individuals with 'and' in between might seem thoughtful, it could actually complicate the deposit process.
A Reddit user named jabronie69 shared this helpful advice:
When giving a check as a wedding gift to a couple, use 'or' instead of 'and' between their names. This is particularly helpful if they don’t yet have a joint account or haven’t completed any name changes, saving them a potential headache at the bank – and sparing you the hassle of rewriting the check.
In fact, using this check-writing approach helps you avoid not just one, but two potential mistakes.
First, it eliminates the need for the couple to rush and open a joint bank account if they haven’t already done so. While it’s common for couples to share a bank account, it’s not a marriage requirement! By using 'or,' the couple can deposit the check wherever they prefer.
Next, there’s the pitfall of assuming one partner has changed their name, which could create problems for anyone who hasn’t gone through the name change process or didn’t take a moment after their ceremony to update their ID. Name changes take time and can be stressful! And honestly, you shouldn’t assume anything about whether anyone is adopting another person’s last name. It’s 2019.
Simply use the names listed on the wedding invitation, and it will make depositing your gift a breeze for the newlyweds.
