How much do you give for a wedding gift? inspired by Pooh_Friend#1's thread

[snoopy]

The last wedding we went to we gave the couple (the groom is a subordinate of DH) $100. If it were a close family member probably $150.

 

[coliebird]

$150 - $200 for friends, co-workers, etc.
$200 - $300 for family depending on how close we are to them.
When my sister and then my brother got married - $350

 

[ah1126]

We just got married this May. Gifts ranged from $10-$500. Gifts also ranged from just cards to high end alarm clocks from Sharper Image. I think it really just comes down to what you can afford.

 

[tkyes]

Good lord! If I gave what you guys did I would turn down wedding invites left and right! Wow! Why didn't I invited you all to our wedding?

Average for us is $30 - $50. We may have given close to $100 for DH's sisters, but I don't remember.

We got married 5 years ago and I know we didn't receive anything larger than $100.

Isn't it amazing how geography seems to make a difference with this kind of stuff.

 

[tar heel]

Here, and I think in much of the South, very few people give cash and gifts are going to cost a lot less than $100.

 

[addicted_to_WDW]

I think $50 - $100 is appropriate for anyone other than very close friends and family. I wasn't under the impression that wedding gifts were supposed to subsidize the wedding.

 

[MichDISer]

When we go to a wedding I figure we should give enough to at least cover the cost of us to attend. Usually $100 for us as a couple. I figure you can't go out to dinner at a nice restaurant and have unlimited drinks for less than that.

 

[GoofItUp]

(Picking my jaw up off the floor....)

Obviously, where you live makes a HUGE difference!

If it's an acquaintance, I usually give in the $20 range. A close friend might go up to $50. Probably the most I've ever given was to my siblings....they get in the $200-300 range, but that's VERY generous for this area. Also, I never give cash at weddings, but give gifts.

 

[tkyes]

Why do you need to cover the cost of the wedding? This part confuses me!

Do people expect to make a profit or break even on their wedding? A wedding is an expense, a party you throw knowing it's going to cost you money.

 

[mom2boys]

Obviously, where you live makes a HUGE difference!

When DH & I were married 16 yrs ago,I noticed a trend. For cash gifts my family averaged $100. His family averaged $50. Even though I grew up only 60 miles from where he did, it is a world of difference. They were also used to different types of receptions. In this area (at that time) cake & punch was all that most people had after a wedding. I'd never been to a wedding where a meal wasn't served. We came from similar socio-economic backgrounds - so that wasn't it.

We usually give $100. However, just went to my cousin's 2nd wedding in 5 yrs. We only gave $50 this time. Her brother was married 3 months earlier in Vegas & didn't invite us or send us an announcement - so didn't give him anything.

 

[ah1126]

When we got married 3 months ago we got mostly cash, but we live in Florida and got married in my hometown in WV. I think they knew that cash would be the best for traveling.

 

[Mamu]

Shower: $75.00-up


Wedding: $200.00-up

I usually start at this amount, and depending on the how well we know the couple the amount will very. This amount is from both of us.

 

[Princess Steph]

We attended a co-workers wedding last Nov. in the Boston area and we gave $150. I think the weddings in the Boston and NY area are more expensive. I try to think about what the cost of a night out is and then give a little more as the gift part. I also think it depends on what you can afford. I had three weddings in one month and could not afford to give as much. Your friend will be happy you could make it to her special day.

 

[Tuffcookie]

tkyes, I'm with you...What's up with the idea you have to at least pay for the dinner??? IMHO, the reception is suppose to be a celebration. Not a way for the couple to recoup their costs! I give $30-$50 for wedding gifts and am sorry if this doesn't cover the cost of dinner. I helped oldest DS and DD-I-L pay for their wedding reception and I certainly didn't want to keep score as to who gave enough to offset their dinner.

TC

 

[mickyzzzzz05]

Rural Iowa here - We had two of our children get married during the past 12 months - At both gifts ranged from $20 cash to $100 with the majority around $40 to $50. Grandparents and parents gave larger gifts.

Our son was married near Chicago and the cost of his reception was $30 per person compared to our daughter's reception where the cost was $15 per person. Similar meals.