'Thanks for coming to our wedding, but can you send us a bigger gift?'

This newlywed couple’s email to a guest has outraged the internet.

Wed, 11 May, 2016 - 01:00

Ciara Flaherty

We all know weddings can be expensive - for the guests as well as the couple. And with wedding season coming up, there has been debate over whether it’s acceptable for the newlyweds to specify that they would prefer cold hard cash as a gift and what is the right amount.

It can be stressful for all involved.

But this story that surfaced on Mumsnet last week adds a whole other level of wedding gift worry.

The poster had recently attended an ex-coworker’s wedding where she gave them a cheque of £100 as a present.

However, she received an email a few days after the wedding from the couple that left her "utterly gobsmacked" and she was looking for advice on what to do next.

It reads in full:

"I recently attended an ex-colleague’s wedding where, in response to a request for cash gifts, I sent what I thought was a pretty decent cheque (£100 if it matters, though I can’t help feeling it shouldn’t)

Last night I received an email which opened with a few comments about how glad they were to see everybody and how generous they’d all been, then said "we were surprised that your contribution didn’t seem to match the warmth of your good wishes on our big day. In view of your own position, if you wanted to send any adjustment it would be thankfully received"

For someone who’s not easily shocked I confess I’m utterly gobsmacked by this. So as not to drip feed I’ll mention that "your own position" probably refers to a recent inheritance I’ve had, which maybe they expected something from (and this is an ex-colleague, remember, not a close friend or relative)

Please, anyone, what do I do now? I’ve never come across anything like this before and still can’t quite believe they’ve done it - but since they have, should I reply, ring them, ignore it or what??"

It triggered huge reaction on the site, with the overwhelming consensus being that the couple’s request was unbelievably rude. There was disagreement however over how the woman should react - with suggestions ranging from the unprintable to the hilarious.