What do you think is an appropriate CASH wedding gift a/k/a HOW MUCH TO GIVE??

[a1tinkfans]

Well, I know that this will likely vary by region, but

WHAT is a typical cash gift to the bride and groom when you attend a wedding??
Some facts:
**It is a formal evening affair at a lovely catering "hall" (for lack of a better word.)
**There will be three of us attending, 2 Adults, one teen.
**I just remember always hearing that you should try and "cover" your meal, which at this location is about $125-50 a plate. Do you agree?
**it is for a niece.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR OPINIONS! I have asked a relative who insists that 150 is her limit, I wouldn't be comfortable with that, but am curious what everyone else gives.

 

[mickeyfan2]

I would give $250 as a minimum and maybe even as high has $350.

 

[marlynnp]

I always use the 'cover your plate' calculation as my minimum. Depending on my relationship to the couple it may be more.

 

[MommaluvsDis]

I would give $100. Family gets $100 and close friends get $50. Of course, really close friends get $100 as well. That's just my rule of thumb.

A gift is just that, a gift. $100 is a very nice gift.

 

[mom23boys]

I would give $250 as a minimum and maybe even as high has $350.

I agree with this. Especially since she is your niece. For friends we give $175-200.

 

[M 'n C]

I usually try to cover the cost of the meal when I go for my friend's weddings. That said I am constantly getting invitations to bridal showers/bachlorette weekends/etc so sometimes I will give a little bit of a lesser gift for the wedding since I've already had to shell out for other gifts.

 

[dimimi]

We are from Cleveland and we usually try to cover the meal. Since you are from NY, covering your meal is a lot more money than in most areas. I'd say $500 would be a fair gift. It is your neice and that is just a tad over "covering your meal." I'm curious, do you have open bars or cash bars at your wedding? In Cleveland we have never been to a wedding with a cash bar, but a friend of ours from Boston said they have never been a wedding without a cash bar!

 

[moosemom]

I'm a lovely long islander too LOL

So I will tell you we only give less than $200 if we're not attending
We start at $250 and it goes up to $500 [which is generally reserved for children of clients - sigh - well grateful that's all it's reserved for LOL!]

I also don't like the 'odd numbers' though dh has no problem with it - *I* [just my .02] am not comfortable writing a check for $350 [$250 is ok for some reason - yes, it's totally subjective and a little crazy I admit freely LOL] so I will then counter with '$300 or $400 but not $350" I think because it feels more like a financial calculation than a 'gift' that way kwim? Just me though. So I'd likely give $300 or $400 if it were someone I was particularly close to [and then if so I would be likely to then hop to $500 - that 'number' thing again - and now you know why I CRINGE when I get those big envelopes in the mail! It's been a pricey spring]

 

[Doesney]

So I'd likely give $300 or $400 if it were someone I was particularly close to [and then if so I would be likely to then hop to $500 -

Same here .

 

[antmaril]

For a niece -- Minimum -- $250. Maximum -- $500.

 

[madge]

Well, I know that this will likely vary by region, but

WHAT is a typical cash gift to the bride and groom when you attend a wedding??
Some facts:
**It is a formal evening affair at a lovely catering "hall" (for lack of a better word.)
**There will be three of us attending, 2 Adults, one teen.
**I just remember always hearing that you should try and "cover" your meal, which at this location is about $125-50 a plate. Do you agree?
**it is for a niece.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR OPINIONS! I have asked a relative who insists that 150 is her limit, I wouldn't be comfortable with that, but am curious what everyone else gives.

Under the circumstances you describe, I'd probably give $100, in addition to the lovely shower gift (in the $100 price range) that I'm sure I've already given to the bride.

 

[samanthacatangel]

I have the same issue. But I have TWO nieces getting married within the next 2 months.

When we got married, I received either $200/couple from friends that had been married around the same time, and $150/couple from the older couples.

Assuming inflation, I was planning on giving $250 to each niece. It is just DH and I going (no kids invited), I spent about $85 each on shower gifts from their registries, and this is what we can afford (barely,lol.)

We have another wedding in August for a friend of DH's and it is at the Central Park boathouse. VERY expensive. However, only DH is attending, and I think we are giving $125.

Outside of NY/NJ/CT I think actual gifts (meaning not cash) is the norm. Sometimes, I wish that was the case here... although, I didn't complain when I got married!

Samantha

 

[PatsGirl]

Wow, now I have an idea who to send invites to if I ever say "I Do" again Here in poor Cape Cod I think the going rate is somewhere around $50 for friends and distant relatives and $100 for good friends and closer relatives. I might go a little higher for a godchild or niece/nephew that I am especially close to. This assumes as well that you have attended and given a nice ($50-$100) shower gift. Boy, I hope I'm not too far off because I truly can't remember the last time I attended a wedding. We are "tweens" ourselves now, most everyone our age married (or divorced and in no big hurry) with kids not quite ready to tie the knot. Invites should start rolling in though probably in the next 5 years or so when most of our kids will reach mid-twenties.

 

[vickyBaby]

You really need to ask people from the Metro NY area to obtain the appropriate answer. Individuals in other areas of the country think it is tacky to give a money gift and appropriate to receive a crockpot as a wedding gift. But now back to your question. In the Metro NY area, I would anticipate giving at least $150. per person for an average catering hall wedding.

 

[lastminutemom]

In my opinion, this varies greatly by region of the country and as you probably know, NY is among the most expensive for both hosting an event and gifts.

In the south, most people don't spend nearly that much and they usually (at least among my group) give gifts not money.

 

[eh24fan]

I need your addresses for our wedding invites!! Thanks...LOL

With that said, IMO, covering your meal? Why? The couple has CHOSEN to spend that much money (which I find ridiculous) on each person, why on earth should you be "expected" to pay for it with your gift? I would just give whatever you feel is an appropriate gift. At my first wedding, I was over the moon when I opened one that had a check for $150!!! I thought that was overly generous, but was very appreciative of course. I can't imagine opening up a card to find a $350 check from an aunt or uncle or anyone for that matter. Maybe I'm just inviting cheap people?

 

[punkin]

Coming from Long Island, I can tell you that for my niece (I only have one and she is 8 yo, but in the future), I would give at least $500, but we are unusually close due to unfortunate circumstances. For my husband's nephews (I dislike their father), I would still give at least $250.

In Maryland, I find that many people do not give money confused3 I always thought that was the best gift) and they tend to give a lot less. $100 per couple would be considered and extremely good gift here.

 

[Rootskate]

My DH's niece is getting married next year in July. Im sure the minimum for us to give her would be $300, most likely though we will end up giving her $500.

 

[kimisabella]

With the three of you going, I would give at least $300, more depending on the relationship - my nephew is also my godson and at his christening last year I gave him $350 - I don't even want to think about when he gets married !!!!!

 

[moosemom]

Yep, didn't read carefully and if it's three of you I'd definitely give $300

For the posters who take issue with the paying for your meal idea - it's really not that you're paying for your meal [for most young folks the couple is not paying for their wedding but the parents are, so it's not like they're out of pocket] but rather a 'rule of thumb' that some folks use - it's always been that way in my experience around here.

However I will say that a wedding gift you really can't afford is never a good choice - and when we had less money we gave smaller gifts because that's all we could manage - and I'm certain it was appreciated by anyone who truly wanted us there just the same!