I think this is culture dependent. Other cultures give nothing but cash as wedding presents.
Here's the truth. When a person of culture X throws a wedding, each guest is expected to bring cash to pay not only for their meal, but also to leave a little leftover for the newly wed couple.
If you don't believe me, go to an East Asian wedding reception and watch when the bride and groom visit guests seated at tables. The guests will hand the bride/groom money, usually checks.
To be honest, this is the reason why native Americans do not get invited to foreign weddings. Not only does each American represent a meal that is not paid for, but also each American also represents money that is forgone.
This is why other cultures do not do wedding registries. This is strictly an American practice to promote commerce.
If you are not aware of this practice, and were invited to a foreign wedding, you should feel very honored because of the forgone profits.
I suggest delicately discuss this with your friends who may be throwing a foreign wedding so that there are no misunderstandings. They want to invite you, but they're afraid that you won't bring cash, but will instead give them useless things as a present.
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