Actually, in Scotland it quite definitely was and probably still is a thing!
It's called "A show of presents" when wedding presents were put on show in the spare bedroom or some similar little used room for a fortnight before the wedding, and all and sundry of the happy couples' assorted friends and relations (most had as many as Rabbit in Winnie the Pooh) came to afternoon tea to inspect the presents and have a right gossip.
It wouldn't surprise me to learn that the North of England knows and loves the custom too.
Do you think you know when you are going to die?
