Should people always give a gift at a wedding? What is considered the standard? Is it normal still normal for anyone invited to give something? And “guests have a year”- does that still apply today?

I’m trying to plan a wedding for my little sister, and we’re running into some budgeting issues. I’m wondering if anyone has any creative recipes that we can prepare for the reception instead of hiring an expensive caterer. We’re fairly good cooks–just not experienced with making “party” types of foods.
Adding some details:

There will be about 40 at the reception. I’ll mostly be handling appetizers, finger foods, and deserts.

many factors that can affect a wedding tradition and those of religion, race and social class for example, ca make it very complicated. Many people, whether religious or not, still prefer to have a traditional ceremony performed by a recognized religious minister in a Church of their choice. Of course we all know and love the white wedding but this is not the generally accepted form of ceremony in every Christian country.A different type occasion often difficult to arrange is where two couples are married simultaneously; this often happens where a person has a brother or sister that decides to tie the knot at the same time and it is not unheard of for two brothers to marry two sisters this way.A destination wedding is where the engaged couple and often guests travel to attend the ceremony - as a …

the service may be quite lengthy and involved, and often religious, it is not complete until the legal aspect is fulfilled. So although you may think the most important aspects are the religious requirements, or that the wedding ceremony readings are appropriate, the law requires that the couple sign the marriage certificate in front of witnesses before the marriage can be legally accepted. So the wedding ceremony decorations and wedding ceremony music, although important to many of us, are not essential!Of course other wedding traditions can be much more complicated as soon as you look into different race, social classes and ethnic groups to name a few. Performed by a Christian priest or vicar, the Church ceremony continues to be top of the list as a venue. The traditional white wedding as we know it is really only a service …

I am currently choosing the menus for our UK August wedding reception. One option is a Fork Buffet. What is this, how is it served? I assume guests serve themselves? Anyone been to a wedding where the reception meal was a fork buffet? What did you think? Thanks!