How much would you give for a wedding gift for someone you barely know?

Question

The groom is mainly friends with my fiance during the summer months when they play on the same baseball team. i jus met his fiance this year. its a sunday wedding 4 hours away, with a cruise around a lake the night before so we need to stay 2 nights in a hotel. how much money would you give, and im not buying a gift, i know theyd prefer cash

Answer 1

I would give 100.00.  General rule is give at least the amount that they pay per plate for you and your significant other.  My husband and I have given gifts years ago in the amount of 50.00 before we were married.  Once we went through the experience of putting our our wedding together, we understood how much money is involved and started to give more to other couples.  When we went through all of our money cards after the wedding, we really appreciated anyone that gave at least 100.00.  We have been married for 3 years now and I can still remember who kinda shafted us.

Just to clear up my remark about 'getting shafted'...I know it kind of sounds rude.  We realized that simply some people couldnt afford as much as the next person.  It was nice and very much appreciated receiving a 100.00 from a couple.  And realistically, anything we received we appreciated. One couple gave us a really cheap picture frame that was probably 7.00.  I think most people would rather have cash, that way they can buy whatever they want or pay off wedding expenses that they may have put on a credit card or something.

Answer 2

$100 is a good amount.  even though you are driving and staying overnight, they are still paying for your evening.

Answer 3

I think $50 is fine considering you aren't close and the cost of travel and lodging is so much.  

Answer 4

$100

Answer 5

It sounds like you really don't want to go that much. Why don't you think of it more like a date with your fiancee on a little cruise on the lake/romantic getaway with him...with a wedding thrown in? That way you won't be so bitter about paying for the hotel for 2 nights. Also, you could always just skip the boat thing altogether and go for the one night.

I had tons of people drive 4 1/2 hours to my wedding the morning of (and some of them drove home that night as well). 4 hours is not really a long drive. A couple of months ago my friend got married. My husband and I got up really early, drove 9 1/2 hours to the ceremony, spent the night, got up early and drove the 9 1/2 hours back. It wasn't too terrible. 4 hours is a snap.

At any rate, I would chip in $25-$50, and have my fiancee chip in another $50. Give them a card from the both of you together.

If you give $50 together, yeah, I'd say they'd feel shafted. $75-$100 from both of you is good.

Have fun!

Answer 6

I think $50 is fine considering your outlay of money for 2 nights hotel just so you can attend their wedding.  Even a cheapie motel is at least $50/night these days.

If it weren't costing you more than gas money, I'd say $150 to $200 for you & your fiance.

Answer 7

I know it's hard, but you cannot think about the other costs involved with attending this wedding.  It is polite to at least cover your plate.  If this is your fiance's friend, it really should be his call about what to give.

Answer 8

$25.00  and ask your man if he thinks it should be more he can kick in the cash for it.

Answer 9

$20 and a card... if I even went at all.

Answer 10

I'd say $5 maybe $10 tops and a card.

Answer 11

Your fiance should sort the gift, it's his friend not yours!

Answer 12

What about $$ ( an amount you are comfy with) along with a small generic gift - like a bottle of wine/ a small blanket or throw/ a vase.  then they don't know exactly what you spent & it's  a tad more creative than just $$$.

Answer 13

How rude are they that they are asking for cash instead of a gift? Does she not even have any registries anywhere? Thats pretty blunt of them. They want to be able to gauge how "cheap" they think people are by forcing them to give cash? s***w that.

So this is a wedding of a guy that hangs out with your fiance for like 2 months and now all of a sudden it has to be a big deal for you guys to show up at the wedding and line their pockets? HAHA

Answer 14

That is a tough one,usually it's customary to atleast cover what the cost of your dinner plate would be!  

Answer 15

I never give less than $50 per person. Now that I'm married, that's $100 from us. I don't think there is any need to cover the plate.

Answer 16

I would probably get a $25.00 gift card to the place that they registered at. But that much in cash would work too.