I'm also taken back by the custom of giving a gift according to what the meal would cost. Steves questions were logical.
I think the problem comes about when especially in May and June that there are so many graduations, weddings, mothers day, Fathers day, birthdays, anniversaries in the same months.
Personally, June is a very hard month on us because we have about so many close relatives with birhdays in that month alone. You have to really decide which ones you are going to attend.
My sister recently told someone that she wouldn't be able to attend theri wedding. The person appreciated it because everyone going received a card to the reception and it allowed for maybe someone else to bring an extra person. So much has to do with the amount of people you are catering to.
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