How much should we give?

Question

Husband's close friend having small but expensive wedding in northeast. We want to give a check and a small gift from registry. We usually give $100 to acquaintance, $150 to a close friend and $300 to family but in this instance, we think $250+ might be more appropriate since his family and friends are on the more wealthy end of the spectrum. We don't want to look "cheap" when we are capable of giving more. I just think if you give too much it looks strange also.

Answer 1

$50-$70 that it.... I said Give what you can forced

you not look cheap and who know how long this marries will last?....

Answer 2

I don’t think that the budget of the wedding should be the determining factor for the size of a monetary gift.  You should follow the guidelines you have already created – wherever that means this close friend falls ($150?).  Increasing your gift because the host family is wealthy doesn’t seem right – in fact, maybe even backwards…I suppose that’s the way the world works though…

Answer 3

If any of your friends would consider any gift from you as 'cheap', you need to get new friends. Friiends who care only to see you and want you to be there because they like/ love you back, not because they expect a big pay out at the end of  the wedding.

You say you give $150 to friends. Stick with that. You do not give wedding gifts to impress other people, pardon me, but s***w other people. You give to show the couple your affection for them, but you do so within your means and again, if they don't like it, tough...then go get new friends.

Answer 4

I think that 250.00 is more than enough!!

Answer 5

$100 per person attending the wedding.

Answer 6

Geez, I wish you were my friend or family. I usually give $75-$100. That's it.

Answer 7

Always cover your plate at a wedding.  Try to figure out what the cost is per person and double it  if you are giving the gift as a couple.

Answer 8

if you're giving both money and a gift, then don't give more than $150 for the monetary part.  if these are the kind of people that would judge you based on the amount of the gift you give, they're not the good friends you thought they were.

Answer 9

I think what you are suggesting is plenty--I don't know who would think you are cheap by giving $250 and a small gift.  Want to come to my wedding?????

Answer 10

I think $250 sound perfectly acceptable.  Or maybe $200 and a $50-$75 gift.  The gift part depends on if you're going to the bridal shower or not.  Are you even going to the wedding?  

Most people try to at least cover the cost of the meal.  I know I do.  Also keep in mind if you are going and are trying to at least cover the cost of the meal, the location of the wedding can change the price per plate significantly.

I just got married on 6/13/08 - I would have to say that the average $ gift was about $300.  Our guests though were all either really close friends or family.

Answer 11

I would buy a very expensive wedding gift instead.

Answer 12

instead of both a small gift and money get a nice more expensive gift from the registry

Answer 13

I was always told to give enough to cover both of your plates.. So if its a nice place I would give more then if it were in a backyard..because they have money they are most likely spending a lot on the wedding, I would agree and give around 250.  Hope this helped.

Answer 14

150 ish is still good, the reason being is that no one really guages how much you give them, do what you cant but dont give more just to look up to snuff