How much money is average to give at a wedding?

Question

My friend is getting married today and normally, I give personal gifts, but now I'm thinking back to all the wedding gifts I got, and so many of them are still stored in our storage locker (and we've been married for 5 years!) I think it's safer to give money so she can get something she likes. How much money is acceptable to give?

Answer 1

it depends on what you can afford and how close you are to this person. I would say generally anything between $30 to $150 would be a good gift.  

Answer 2

In the area I live in it's customary to give $50/pp.  So if you're going alone $50, if you're bringing a guest $100.  

Answer 3

$50-$100

Answer 4

First how close are you how much is it costing for your plate because they say the check should not be less than the cost of the plate but I say 50-200  

Answer 5

if you wedding with me you , you dont want to pay money!

Answer 6

I would give $100

Answer 7

$50 to $150 is average depending on your relationship and financial means.  

Answer 8

no more than $1000...

Answer 9

100-500 BUCKS

Answer 10

Between $50 and $200.

Answer 11

Depends on how long you have known her and how good of friends you are. I would say no more then a $100, maybe a gift card for their favorite restaurant or store, or a gift card or money for their honeymoon.

Answer 12

How about instead of cash, you find out where they are going on their honeymoon and surprise them with tickets to something they may like, a gift card to a nice restuarant, pay for a hotel night, something like that would be great! and I know I would appreciate it and think of the person that got it for me.

Answer 13

As I was reading all your answers I thought to myself.  Dam...  where were these people when I got married.  $100.00 to $1000.00 as a gift.  I think not!!!  Are they out of there mind!!!  

I have attended about 50 weddings in the last couple of years.  (as a photographer)  The average was any where from $50.00 to $100.00.  Gifts were also in that price range also.    

Answer 14

It depends on the area and the individual circles. Don't worry about it too much. THere are some crazy calculators out there that figure in relationship and stuff, but can you really put a price on friendship? Its cheesy, but its really the thought that counts. Give what you can afford. If you have it, I think $100 would be very generous. If you are tight on cash then even just $20 would be fine. SOme people may think that's low, but as long as you aren't purposefully being stingy they should be adult enough to accept any gift happily.

Answer 15

This question is very regional.  In different part of the country, it's customary to give different amounts.  I'm from the Northeast, generally I see gifts between $75-$150 per person.  Most people I talk to agree that $100 is the average for a single person and anywhere from $150-$200 for a couple.  

It also depends on how well you know the couple.  My boyfriend and I recently attended a wedding.  We gave $150, which was $75 each.   We just came back from vacation and we are a little short on cash.  If we had more, we would have given $200 or $100 each.    But, $75 is usually the lowest amount I've seen given.  I think $50 is OK if you really don't know the couple or they are a co-worker.   In addition, it also has a lot to do with what social class you belong to.  If everyone in your social circle is educated with a good job, they are going be able to give more.  If everyone is really just blue-collar, minimum wage workers,  I would not expect them to give $100 per person.  

Of course, that's very regional.  I don't know what's customary to give in different states.    But, that's just based on what I've seen and heard from other guests, family members and some newlywed couples where I live.

Answer 16

A friend, no more then 50 in this area, and unless you grew up like family, I would do closer to 30. What would you spend on a gift for her?  Give her that amount in cash!!  

Answer 17

When I got married I knew all of my friends and family didn't have tons of money so I took what they gave without worry about the amount. I got a $10.00 bill from a little cousin who's saved her allowance and a $20 from another cousin just starting her own family and I appreciated it all. I did get some larger amounts, but I didn't EXPECT them. I would just give what ever I could afford or the amount that you would have spent on a gift. I hope that this helps.

Bethany

Answer 18

When I got married, I generally got around $50 which we were more then happy with.  usually I do $50 for just me and $75-$100 if its me and hubby.  We don't have alot of money so we do what we can afford.

Answer 19

It all depends.  If it's your best friend or one you consider close, I'd go $100-$150.  Family/cousins/etc I usually give $50 or $75.

It's all relative though based on your current income, what you can afford, and sometimes how well off your friends/family are.  

Answer 20

You are actually supposed to give money as a wedding gift, other personal gifts, usually from family are just extra.  You at least give what it costs per person (for example, if the cost of the wedding was $185 a head, you would give at least $185, $370 if you bring a guest).

Answer 21

I suppose it depends entirely on how deep your pocket is.

Edit:-      I got married in Thailand about 18 months ago. During the wedding it is customary for the bride and groom to sit on the floor together. All the guests will take turns to kneel in front of them, wish them good luck etc, and make a monetary gift. I live in a rice growing village where people are, in general, quite poor. The gifts my wife and I received were mostly 20 Thai Baht, ($1= about 32 Baht    ÃƒÂ‚£1 = about 63 Baht). My wife and I were happy to receive these gifts. You get married to show a commitment to each other, not to show a profit. Any gifts you receive are a bonus.