Understanding Wedding Cash Gift Etiquette: When To Expect Checks

Cash checks from weddings are typically cashed within a week or within a month of the wedding date. It is considered proper etiquette to cash a check within 30 days of receiving it. Checks go stale after six months, so it is important to deposit them shortly after the wedding to avoid fluctuations in the giver's account.

How soon is too soon to cash a wedding check?

Cashing a wedding check is a sensitive topic that requires promptness and etiquette. While promptness is better than leaving the check sitting around, it is also important to consider the giver's account and not to leave it too long.

Per Investopedia, banks are only legally required to honor a check for six months after the date of issuance. However, it is proper etiquette to cash a check within 30 days of receiving it. Waiting a week would be fine, but if you wait too long, people who gifted the money to you may not have accounted for the funds to be removed.

Two weeks within the wedding date is preferable, four weeks is reasonable, and anything after that is excessive. The past few weddings I have been to, my checks have cleared anywhere between two weeks and three months after the wedding date.

Depositing a check shortly after your wedding is also important because you don’t know how funds may fluctuate in a giver’s account. While they may have enough in their account to cover your wedding gift on the date of the celebration, things could change a few months down the line. My brother and SIL took three and a half weeks to cash theirs. I was so annoyed I wanted to text them and tell them to freaking cash it already.

It is also important to consider the giver's account and not to leave it too long. If you wait too long, they could also assume that you’ve cashed the check when you haven’t, and therefore not stop to think about reserving those funds for you in their account while they budget their spending for that time.

How long do checks stay valid after a wedding?

Depositing a check shortly after your wedding is also important because you don’t know how funds may fluctuate in a giver’s account. While they may have enough in their account to cover your wedding gift on the date of the celebration, things could change a few months down the line. If you wait too long, they could also assume that you’ve cashed the check when you haven’t, and therefore not stop to think about reserving those funds for you in their account while they budget their spending for that time. Per Investopedia, banks are only legally required to honor a check for six months after the date of issuance.

As the giver, I don't like to have cheques sitting around for a long time, but I'd be fine if it took you a week to get around to it. My brother and SIL took three and a half weeks to cash theirs. I was so annoyed I wanted to text them and tell them to freaking cash it already. I would imagine that two weeks within the wedding date is preferable, four weeks is reasonable and anything after that is excessive. To me, I would imagine that two weeks within the wedding date is preferable, four weeks is reasonable and anything after that is excessive. While I certainly believe promptness in cashing the check is better than sitting on it, I never know the time span in which brides and grooms are allowed to cash it before I can start to wonder whether they even received it. The past few weddings I have been to, my checks have cleared anywhere between two weeks and three months after the wedding date. Is this normal?

A check can be deposited when it is signed and dated by the account holder who wrote the check. Most people date their checks for the day they write them. If they write the check on or before your wedding day, then you can and should deposit it within a few weeks after your wedding. Waiting a week would be fine. I also don't see how/why it would be rude to cash them the next day. We had a Saturday wedding and cashed our checks the following Monday. Why leave them sitting around? So it seems that no one has a problem with depositing it the next day (which I prefer), but it's also OK to wait 1 week if needed. We deposited all of our checks the day after the wedding. You can write "For Deposit Only" and the account number on the back and deposit it at the ATM if your bank offers that feature.

How long does it take to cash a check after a wedding?

Cashing a check after a wedding is a matter of personal preference and etiquette. While there is no set time frame, it is generally considered impolite to cash a check more than 30 days after receiving it. Some people prefer to cash the check shortly after the wedding to avoid any potential changes in the giver's account balance, while others wait a week or two to avoid the inconvenience of carrying around a large sum of cash.

It is also important to note that checks can become stale after six months, so it is best to cash them as soon as possible to avoid any issues. The time it takes to cash a check after a wedding can vary, with some people cashing theirs within a week and others taking up to three months.

It is recommended to cash the check as soon as possible to avoid any potential issues and to be respectful to the giver. If you are unsure about the best time to cash a check after a wedding, it is best to consult with the giver or follow general etiquette guidelines.

In general, it is best to cash a check shortly after receiving it to avoid any potential issues and to be respectful to the giver. If you are unsure about the best time to cash a check after a wedding, it is best to consult with the giver or follow general etiquette guidelines.

How long should you wait to cash a check after a wedding?

It is proper etiquette to cash a cheque within 30 days of receiving it. If you wait longer, people who gifted the money to you may not have accounted for the funds to be removed. Per Investopedia, banks are only legally required to honor a check for six months after the date of issuance. To me, I would imagine that two weeks within the wedding date is preferable, four weeks is reasonable and anything after that is excessive. While I certainly believe promptness in cashing the check is better than sitting on it, I never know the time span in which brides and grooms are allowed to cash it before I can start to wonder whether they even received it. The past few weddings I have been to, my checks have cleared anywhere between two weeks and three months after the wedding date. Is this normal? I would do it now so you forget. Literally the day after we opened our gifts and cards I deposited everything. I found that in my wedding it was mostly older guests that gave us checks and younger that gave us direct cash. I can only speak from my perspective but most older people make notes somewhere to tell them they wrote a check for a certain amount so they already accounted for it. I also don't see how/why it would be rude to cash them the next day. We had a Saturday wedding and cashed our checks the following Monday. Why leave them sitting around? Posted by hbatchel2. So it seems that no one has a problem with depositing it the next day (which I prefer), but it's also OK to wait 1 week if needed. My brother and SIL took three and a half weeks to cash theirs. I was so annoyed I wanted to text them and tell them to freaking cash it already.

What is the etiquette for cashing a wedding check?

Cashing a wedding check is a matter of etiquette and promptness is appreciated. It is considered proper etiquette to cash a cheque within 30 days of receiving it. If you wait longer, people who gifted the money to you may not have accounted for the funds to be removed. While it is better to cash the check promptly, it is not rude to wait a week if needed. However, it is important to deposit a check shortly after your wedding because you don’t know how funds may fluctuate in a giver’s account. While they may have enough in their account to cover your wedding gift on the date of the celebration, things could change a few months down the line. Checks go stale after six months and banks are only legally required to honor a check for six months after the date of issuance. The past few weddings I have been to, my checks have cleared anywhere between two weeks and three months after the wedding date. I would imagine that two weeks within the wedding date is preferable, four weeks is reasonable and anything after that is excessive.

Frequently asked questions