When I started planning my wedding I found out that my cousin has a wife who bakes wedding cakes. I don't know either of them very well, but I called and talked to her. We met and talked about what I wanted and she has agreed to help with my simple cake, punch, nuts and mints reception. (No catered dinner) She will actually be taking care of almost everything, making the cake and the punch and homemade mints. I asked her what she thought it would cost and she has told me to just plan on paying her back for the supplies. She says that she does receptions for friends and relatives just because she likes to. When we finished making our plans, her husband (my cousin) asked who was going to be doing my flowers. I told him that I hadn't decided that yet and they told me that she also does silk flower arrangements.
So I bought the supplies and she has put together the bridal and maid of honor bouquets, coursages for the females involved in the wedding and mothers and boutoniers for the men. (We aren't using any large arrangements.) Again, she told me that as long as I bought the supplies, she was not charging for the flower arranging.
She has taken a lot of stress off of me by taking care of the reception and flowers and saved me a lot of money. However, I don't feel right about just paying for the supplies. I would like to give her an additional monetary gift because I know she is taking a lot of time and effort on my behalf (someone she barely knows, but is related to) I think she is even taking the day of my wedding off from work to bake the cake.
I don't know her well enough to get a gift card or gift certificate that would be appropriate. Any suggestions on what might be an appropriate amount?
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