How much do you pay/give for a wedding gift?

Blue-Spheroid

A little underutilized
Jun 30, 2007
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I think the basic idea is that, at a minimum, you don't want to take more than you give. A newlywed couple will face many expenses and you don't want your participation at their reception to add to their overall cost. That's why the advice is that your gift should, at least, cover the cost of your meal at the reception. However, it may be difficult to judge how much that is.

The other factor is your relationship to the bride, groom, or both. If you are a distant acquaintance, you'd probably go closer to the minimum. If you are closer, or a relative, you'll probably feel obliged to give a bit more.

It's difficult to have a rule that applies to all cases. Perhaps the best way to estimate what you should give would be to imagine the situation reversed and what you would consider fair if these people came to your wedding.
 

mb12ca

Banned
Aug 17, 2008
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guelph
If they are not family, but just social friends, I pay $50 per person. So, when I went to my next door neighbours wedding with my wife this summer, I gave them $100.
 

jiiimmm

New member
Aug 16, 2007
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depends on what kind of wedding it is, how close are you to them, etc. At the very least I think you should cover the cost of the meal, the gift (read cash) on top of that. Cash is always best.
Typical wedding for me has been $300 to $500.
 

mb12ca

Banned
Aug 17, 2008
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guelph
jiimm, you must be very successful in your career or be one hell of a generous man. I should of invited you to my wedding. We got married at Scarborough Civic Centre and the total wedding cost us $300. If I had of invited you, we could of had everything covered the minute you gave your contribution.
 

Don Draper

Cufflinks & Cognac
Nov 24, 2009
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depends on what kind of wedding it is, how close are you to them, etc. At the very least I think you should cover the cost of the meal, the gift (read cash) on top of that. Cash is always best.
Typical wedding for me has been $300 to $500.
I find that if you buy a nice card, a smaller gift that can be all-purpose (a photo frame, nice clock, decorative candle, et al) then $100.00 - $200.00, depending on the level of closeness with the couple, it covers all your bases.

The cash is really what will help them the most to get started with their new life. Nothing wrong with being generous when it comes to close friends. Even if they're not that close, you have been invited to their wedding and that says something about how they feel about you.
 

S.C. Joe

Client # 13
Nov 2, 2007
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Many weddings do cost more than $300 thou

It depends on how well you do know that person.

I gone from $30 up to $500.

Would you believe once though the "grape vine" word came back that $100 to a close long term friend sons wedding was an "insult" to them :eek:

BTW that marriage lasted like 2 years, lol
 

misterme

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Nov 3, 2009
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I went to a wedding where we were told that tactile gifts weren't necessary. Money was preferred. I gave 100,00 $.

I am on very, very good terms with the bride. She would understand that my gift was not a lot, given my current life situation.
 

mb12ca

Banned
Aug 17, 2008
999
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guelph
Many weddings do cost more than $300 thou

It depends on how well you do know that person.

I gone from $30 up to $500.

Would you believe once though the "grape vine" word came back that $100 to a close long term friend sons wedding was an "insult" to them :eek:

BTW that marriage lasted like 2 years, lol
Are you still friends with the person mentioned?
 

W3bster

New member
Dec 22, 2007
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I think most still do $100 as the norm but it's funny because that's what people were giving 15-20 years ago as well, lol. Even if you don't know the person I think you should try "covering the plate" if you find out how much that is (I assume it is 100-150 these days) but I don't know.

Psychologically I think most are comfortable tossing in $100. If the couple is being a bit more extravagant then that's their issue.
 

shack

Nitpicker Extraordinaire
Oct 2, 2001
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Toronto
I think most still do $100 as the norm but it's funny because that's what people were giving 15-20 years ago as well, lol.
That is why $250-$300 is more appropriate nowadays and especially in a city as expensive as Toronto.

I somehow don't think that the cost of a wedding is the same today as it was 15-20 years ago, so why should the gift stay the same. Highly illogical to think otherwise.
 

elmufdvr

quen es tu papi???
Feb 21, 2002
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toronto
any wedding with reception todays price is over 150 per person.(average it is easy to go overboard) i got married and had 100 guests. we got gifts from people back home. who never came..but sent us something.. bless them for the gifts.. as for those here that came to the wedding.. 200 a head was average.. some family members gave a left nut.. my bro gave me 5 g's plus the 69 GTO. .. i give 200.. it was 100.. now i know how expensive it can be... so if i can i would do more..
 

S.C. Joe

Client # 13
Nov 2, 2007
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Detroit, USA
It was 25 years ago and to clarify it was my fathers work buddy son and he gave the gift.

Yes the friendship wasn't harmed, I mean we all still spoke nicely to each other and they even came by a few times after they moved to Florida when back up here in Michigan. But then after their sons marriage felled apart and they moved again to Kentucky-close to their son again :confused: We drifted apart....he was a heavy smoker--they both were, him and his wife. My father is almost 80 now....I bet they are both dead (sad face)...his son never spoke with us thou..never did much before the wedding either.
 

dudey31

New member
Sep 7, 2004
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Anywhere from $100 to $500 depending on relationship.

If the reception is in the burbs (ie. a banquet hall) then $100 will definately cover cost. If the venue is in the city then cost approaches $200 including the booze.
 

MYSITEONLY

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Oct 13, 2005
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Toronto
I always give min $300 for my wife and I, and maybe $500 if I know the people, I went to my brotherinlaws and gave $2,000 for my family of 5. That way I covered my dinner and gave them a nice gift.
 

happy the man

New member
Jan 12, 2004
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I went to an Italian wedding a few months back (first wedding I'd been to in...10 years...I think). I gave them a $100 gift card from a popular home store. On the way, to the wedding, my friend who also was going called me, said Italians marrying in their 30s and 40s only want money...$200 per person was considered the 'going rate'! Shit! My friend has been to quite a few Itailian weddings recently so he knows. Stopped at a back machine and threw in another $100. The groom is a good friend so didn't want to look too cheap....
 
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