How Have Vietnamese Wedding Gifts Changed Over Time?

When it comes to important occasions like a wedding, while the bride and groom are busy preparing for their big day, guests often struggle with the question: “What gift can truly capture the essence of this special day?”

With wedding styles evolving significantly over time, let's explore the interesting differences between traditional and modern wedding gifts with CHUS, so you can choose the perfect gift for this special day!

How Have Weddings Changed Over Time?

Traditional weddings were simple and deeply rooted in customs. They served as a bond between two families while observing sacred rituals. Invitations were often given verbally, the wedding setup was in the family's yard, and ceremonies were conducted with solemn respect. Family and neighbors came together to prepare the feast, adding a strong sense of community and connection.

Traditional weddings were simple, heartfelt, and community-oriented (Photo: Internet)

Today, Vietnamese weddings are much more personalized thanks to the wide variety of services available. The bride and groom have many options, from elegant invitations and luxurious attire to modern venues such as restaurants, resorts, or even dreamy outdoor weddings. No longer bound by traditional frameworks, couples can now create unique wedding themes that reflect their style and personality.

Modern weddings with diverse styles reflect the couple's personality (Photo: Internet)

Despite these changes, the core values of a wedding remain commitment, love, and an eternal promise witnessed by family and friends. And with these shifts in wedding formats, wedding gifts have also evolved. Let’s take a closer look at these changes!

Traditional Wedding Gifts: From "Homegrown" To "Investment"

1. Simple Yet Heartfelt Gifts From The Past

Traditional wedding gifts often reflected the close connection to the land and labor. Family and friends would give simple, practical items like rice, corn, or even homegrown vegetables.

Meaningful homemade wedding gifts in the past (Photo: Internet)

As the quality of life gradually improved, wedding gift traditions evolved as well. While practical items remained popular, industrial products began to emerge. After the August Revolution and throughout the subsidy period, the challenging economic conditions made essential gifts like thermos flasks, pots, and pans increasingly common.

Practical gifts for everyday life (Photo: Internet)

2. The Shift In Wedding Gifts From 1886

In 1986, as Vietnam entered the economic reform era, the economy improved, and people's living standards rose. Gifts for the bride and groom shifted from simple and modest items to more valuable economic choices.

Cash, gold, and jewelry became popular gifts, symbolizing a "capital contribution" to help the newlyweds build their new lives. This era also saw the rise of modern gifts like electronics, home decor, and luxury items, reflecting the shift in how gifts for the bride and groom were perceived. These gifts not only helped the couple financially but also reflected the giver's status and prosperity.

A record paper of wedding gift money from the 90s (Photo: Internet)

What Are The Differences In Wedding Gifts Today?

Today, wedding gifts have undergone a significant transformation, reflecting the modern values and aesthetics of contemporary society. One of the most notable trends is the shift from traditional gifts to modern and personalized options.

1. Cash Envelopes Is A Popular Choice

Nowadays, giving cash in an envelope is a common and convenient option. It saves time for guests, eliminating the need to think about what to buy, while allowing the bride and groom to use the money for wedding expenses or starting their new life. However, for close relationships, tangible gifts are still a favored choice.

2. Feng Shui And Aesthetic Elements In Modern Wedding Gifts

As life becomes more comfortable, wedding gifts now focus on feng shui elements and aesthetics, often featuring couple-themed items. These thoughtful gifts are not only visually pleasing but also carry deep symbolic meanings, representing lasting love, luck, and prosperity for the couple’s married life.

Feng shui plays a significant role when selecting wedding gifts (Photo: NẮNG | CHUS)

3. Personalized Gifts: A Trend In Wedding Gifts

Handcrafted and personalized gifts have become a significant trend in modern times. Wedding gifts are no exception, with custom-designed items such as personalized flower frames, personalized wooden decor or bride and groom figurines designed to resemble the couple.

This personalized gift-giving approach reflects the giver's thoughtfulness and taste, while providing the couple with lasting memories on their special day.

Personalized gifts have become a popular choice for weddings (Photo: Sewing Art Decor Studio | CHUS)

4. Fun And Humorous Gifts

A new trend that didn’t exist in the past is humorous and entertaining gifts. This gift-giving style is often seen at weddings among close friends, where funny or surprising gifts are given to amuse the guests and the couple.

5. Upgraded Household And Interior Design Gifts

Household gifts are still a popular choice among wedding guests, but nowadays, they tend to be more luxurious and aesthetically pleasing. This reflects the higher living standards of today’s society, where families no longer struggle to buy basic household items. Instead, they prioritize thoughtful gifts that are both beautiful and useful, ranging from elegant furniture pieces like ceramics and decor to modern appliances that enhance the quality of life.

High-quality, elegant ceramics make for a refined wedding gift (Photo: Gốm Đông Gia | CHUS)

Tips For Choosing Modern Wedding Gifts

Choosing a gift for the bride and groom today has become easier with so many options available. However, freedom of choice doesn’t mean a lack of thought. Gifts for wedding day should be selected to align with modern tastes while maintaining the sacred value of the wedding day.

• Consider the meaning of the gift: In addition to choosing a trendy gift, we should also pay attention to its deeper meaning. Symbolic gifts like good luck home decor or feng shui items can help the couple start their married life with positive energy and blessings.
• Avoid negative connotations: Gifts that may be misunderstood or have negative connotations, such as knives, scissors, or sharp objects, should be avoided, as they could symbolize separation or unhappiness in marriage.
• Fun, but not too much: When giving humorous or fun gifts, be mindful of the setting. For example, at a small celebration with close friends, it’s fine to choose fun and lighthearted gifts. However, at a larger gathering with many guests and family members, it’s better to keep things tasteful and appropriate.

Modern wedding gifts are varied and easy to find but come with many considerations (Photo: Siblings | CHUS)

For great ideas, check out Wedding Gifts Collection at CHUS!

Conclusion

We've explored the evolution of wedding gifts. CHUS hopes that this insight helps you understand the differences in choosing wedding gifts from the past to the present.

As the wedding season approaches, don't forget to visit CHUS for amazing wedding gift ideas for the newlywed