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It turns out getting your partner a wedding gift isn't necessary — here's why, according to experts

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Deciding whether or not to give a gift to your future spouse doesn't have to be difficult. IVASHstudio/Shutterstock
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If you're currently planning a wedding, there's one thing you might be forgetting about.

You're probably already looking forward to the gifts your guests will snag for you from your registry, but what about a gift for your future spouse? 

Although exchanging gifts with your partner on your wedding day isn't required wedding etiquette, some couples still choose to do so. 

Whether or not you exchange wedding gifts is up to you and your partner only
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Ultimately, it's up to you and your partner to decide.  Andrey Nastasenko/Shutterstock

According to The Knot, giving your future spouse a gift isn't a requirement, so feel free to breathe a sigh of relief if you'd rather just skip out on this one.

But if you do want to, there are plenty of options to choose from. Many people choose to exchange something sentimental, like a piece of jewelry or a watch, while others opt for an experience, like tickets for a future date night.

And, as Brides suggests, if money is tight but you still want to exchange something meaningful, you could write each other a letter. Your wedding day is the perfect time to put down what you feel for each other into words.

Here's when you should exchange gifts — if you decide to do so

If you have decided to exchange wedding gifts with your future spouse, there is more than one appropriate time to do so. Martha Stewart Weddings suggests meeting before the ceremony and having a quick gift-exchanging moment together. 

Or, as experts at Brides recommend, you could ask your best man or maid of honor to facilitate the gift swap the morning of the big day. This way, you don't have to see your future spouse before walking down the aisle.  

The bottom line: You don't have to give your partner a wedding gift if you both decide it's not something you're into, but if it's a tradition you want to take part in, that's cool, too.

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Nicole Pomarico is a contributing writer for INSIDER.