Wedding Season Is Here How Much Should I Spend On A Great Wedding Present?

Millions of people each year are invited to weddings and with the wedding services and receptions increasingly more elaborate, most stress over how much to spend on a wedding gift for the couple. There are many things that should be considered when figuring out how much to spend on a gift. Here are some simple guidelines to follow.

The basic rule when it comes to wedding gifts is ultimately what you feel comfortable giving. Now saying that, there are many people that want to make sure they give an amount that is neither too small nor too large. One consideration when choosing what kind of wedding gift to give is the type of couple getting married. With younger couples getting married for the first time, they are just starting out and would usually appreciate a monetary gift more than anything else to help offset their wedding costs, put a down payment on a new home, help with furnishing an apartment, etc.


For older, married couples that are already established, monetary gifts are less important and they would be pleased either with a monetary gift or with a more personal gift.

Obviously a consideration when determining the amount of a wedding gift is how close you are to the couple getting married. If you are an immediate family member or a very close friend, a monetary gift of several hundred dollars to thousands of dollars is not uncommon. It is really up to how much you can afford to give. Ultimately the couple is just happy to have those who are close to them in attendance for their wedding day. Of course some sort of gift is common etiquette.

For others invited to the wedding, such as friends, co-workers and distant family members, you should usually give an amount that you think is equal to the cost of inviting you to the wedding. For instance, if you think the cost to invite both you and your guest is 0 than this amount is appropriate. If possible give this amount plus 25% to 50% extra, your gift will be graciously received.

You may think about asking the bride and groom if they are registered somewhere, so you can choose something they actually want, saving them the hassle of making a return after the wedding. Traditionally couples would register for basics such crystal and place settings. Today couples register for a variety of items including anything from fondue sets to board games. A gift should be a token of affection. They may also be brought to the reception. In this case members of the wedding party will be responsible for seeing that the gifts are delivered to the bride and groom.

Gifts of money can be sent to the happy couple right after you receive an invitation to their wedding. For those giving actual gifts and not monetary gifts, the rules are typically the same.

In any event a proper card should be included with every gift, whether it be money or otherwise. A card can express your well wishes for the happy couple. Never underestimate the power of an exceptional card.

Picking a wedding gift should not be stressful. The bride and groom are entering a new phase of their lives together. They will be pleased with whatever gift you give them.