Tips on Giving Money at a Wedding

If you're planning on giving money to a newlywed couple as a wedding gift, remember this: If you make out the check to "Mr. and Mrs. [insert new last name]," the check will require both signatures to be valid, and the bride's maiden name, which is still on all her identification, will not match the name on the check. It takes about 60 days for the bride to change her last name, if she does it quickly. Instead, make the check out to "Mr. [groom's name] and Ms. [bride's maiden name]" or simply just to the bride or groom separately (if you're friends with one or the other, this makes the most sense).

Reversely, if you're strapped for cash and need a few weeks to save before your gift check can be cashed, making out the check to the bride's new last name will buy you a bit of extra time!