Sweet 16 gift--NY area....

[momonlongisland]

Hey -- We're invited (DH, DD (23) and DS (20) to a close family friends's daughter's Sweet 16 party this summer. Im kinda out of the sweet 16 loop lately and they're are going ALL out with some huge party on a Saturday night in a catering hall....ANY ideas on suggested amounts of a gift? Thanks

 

[Mouse House Mama]

I would give at least $100.

 

[mikkishelles]

I would give at least $100.

I'm in NY also and agree that $100 would be a good amount.

 

[momonlongisland]

$100 total???? I was thinking I had to give way more......

 

[LSchrow]

another long islander......

we would give (& have given ) $100-$150 plus a token gift (something you know she likes, a plush holding the card/check, a photo album, something sweet sixteen related, etc).

i found cute metal clip frames in kohl's (about $10) & attach gift cards or cards with checks inside. makes a really cute presentation.

hth

 

[kimisabella]

Wow, I'm going to my nephew's 4th birthday party on Sunday and I'm giving him $100 - and that's not on a sat night at a catering hall
I think for the 4 of you, you should be giving more like $150 - $200

 

[AnnaS]

I would give a minimum of $200 - $250.00.

Have fun.

 

[It's A Happy Day]

Hey -- We're invited (DH, DD (23) and DS (20) to a close family friends's daughter's Sweet 16 party this summer. Im kinda out of the sweet 16 loop lately and they're are going ALL out with some huge party on a Saturday night in a catering hall....ANY ideas on suggested amounts of a gift? Thanks

For a family friend vs. family member I think $100 is VERY GENEROUS!!!! My birthday is Dec. 1st Are you planning on giving a cash gift or a keepsake?

 

[anbouk]

Sweet 16....a nice gift from Tiffanys!!!

 

[LJRJR]

I would have to agree with Anna S (I am also from Staten Island NY) and I would have to say probably close to $250. I went to a party in Janurary for a young girl (it was held in Long Island in a very nice hall attached to a temple) and we gave $250. I realize that $250 sounds like alot, but if you ask people from the NY City area I bet they would all agree that is the going rate for gifts.

 

[T1130]

I think you should give what you can afford.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

$100 total???? I was thinking I had to give way more......

I said minimum. Long Islander here. I personally would give plenty more- especially for a close friend but no less than $100. What hall is it at?

 

[momonlongisland]

Thanks to all that replied.....I definately agree with most who posted.....I was thinking $250 to $300 range. Appreciate all the opinions, just wanted to make sure I'm okay with what I thought.

 

[clarabelle]

I am fascinated by this whole New York thing. (Not being critical -just interested)
I don't think anyone here in GA would ever think about giving that much.
Is it because you are trying to pay for the cost of your meal at the party?

 

[eliza61]

I am fascinated by this whole New York thing. (Not being critical -just interested)
I don't think anyone here in GA would ever think about giving that much.
Is it because you are trying to pay for the cost of your meal at the party?

Hey I'm from NY and no way would I be giving up $200 bucks probably because I just can't get with the whole "16" yo thing. IMO, it's not like they graduated from school (what do you give college graduates if your giving 16 yo $250, $1000 bucks?) or actual accomplished any thing (I mean besides living 16 years)
Why is 16 any better than 18 or 21? I've seen parents give "wedding size" proportion sweet sixteen parties.

Sorry OP, I went off on a tagent. I would give 100 bucks.

 

[cntrygal]

i cant imagine...giving that much, for anything. I guess it really does matter where in NY you live..If someone gave my child that much i would make them give it make, saying they must have made a mistake. Around where i live in NY, maybe 10 to 15 for a gift if it was a really close friend or a relitive, maybe 20, I cant even imagine giving that much for a wedding. When my best friend got married, she was estatic because she got a total of 1500 at her wedding and she had close to 400, counting all the children.

NYC and long island are a totally different world. I think i spent 400 on my sons eigth grade graduation/confirmation party, total and that included renting the hall, all the food, (i did cook) paper goods and decorations.

They can keep there expensive party there, i will enjoy my piece and quiet....

 

[rflorek]

Hey I'm from NY and no way would I be giving up $200 bucks probably because I just can't get with the whole "16" yo thing. IMO, it's not like they graduated from school (what do you give college graduates if your giving 16 yo $250, $1000 bucks?) or actual accomplished any thing (I mean besides living 16 years)
Why is 16 any better than 18 or 21? I've seen parents give "wedding size" proportion sweet sixteen parties.

Sorry OP, I went off on a tagent. I would give 100 bucks.

I agree with you (I live 15 minutes from Staten Island, by the way). The Sweet 16 has gotten WAAAAAAAYY out of hand around here. A co-worker of mine's son went to a black-tie sweet sixteen about a month ago. The girl's father told my co-worker he spent more on the Sweet 16 than he had spent on his older daughter's wedding 7 years earlier!!!

And I don't know where the whole idea of reimbursing someone for the cost of your dinner started. If they are only inviting you to a party because they want to recoup the cost that they paid, then they don't really want me there, do they? I will give what I can afford, not what they expect me to give so that their out-of-pocket costs are reduced. Off my soapbox now.......

 

[eliza61]

I
And I don't know where the whole idea of reimbursing someone for the cost of your dinner started. If they are only inviting you to a party because they want to recoup the cost that they paid, then they don't really want me there, do they? I will give what I can afford, not what they expect me to give so that their out-of-pocket costs are reduced. Off my soapbox now.......

Thankyou, thankyou thankyou. I swear I want to boycott wedding receptions now because people get mad if you don't give a gift thats the value of your dinner. Excuse me!! Here's a thought, how about planning a wedding that you can afford instead of trying to hit me up for the tab or at least be honest and put on the response card "this sweet 16 party is costing me $100 bucks a plate, please make your gift at least that value"

 

[disneybridetobe]

And I don't know where the whole idea of reimbursing someone for the cost of your dinner started. If they are only inviting you to a party because they want to recoup the cost that they paid, then they don't really want me there, do they? I will give what I can afford, not what they expect me to give so that their out-of-pocket costs are reduced. Off my soapbox now.......

No kidding! I don't get that either. DH and I have been wondering that ourselves. Oh- and the whole thing of people giving a gift that they equate with the 'estimated' price of the meal!

 

[lisaross]

I would say 200.00 if you could afford it - i don't think anymore is necessary - since they are close friends that seems good! i live in SI, NY and i just went to a communion party - it was my family of 4 invited - it was during the day, but sit down w/an open bar d.j etc and we gave 100.00!