How much should I give?

bella0979 Posted: Sep 06, 2003 07:41 PM

How much should I give?

My cousin is getting married soon and I am in her wedding party. I am spending A LOT of money between the dress, engagement party gift, shower gift, bachlorette (sp) party, ect. Also, I am getting married soon, so I am trying to save as much as possibe. What would be an appropriate gift to give? Thanks girls!

bella0979 Posted: Sep 06, 2003 10:12 PM

Re: How much should I give?

No answers huh? Big surprise!

soon2bmrs2004 Posted: Sep 06, 2003 10:15 PM

Re: How much should I give?

Maybe I am cheap but..$200?

eliz808 Posted: Sep 06, 2003 11:07 PM

Re: How much should I give?

I think its a hard call. I guess it depends where she is having the wedding, also you are contributing so much I don't really think its that important.

butterfly20 Posted: Sep 06, 2003 11:15 PM

Re: How much should I give?

id probably say $250...not less than $200...

Sunny Posted: Sep 06, 2003 11:42 PM

Re: How much should I give?

I would say $250 too.

bella0979 Posted: Sep 07, 2003 12:31 AM

Re: How much should I give?

Thanks girls!!!

p&a91203 Posted: Sep 07, 2003 08:43 AM

Re: How much should I give?

I would give $250-$300...

franksbride Posted: Sep 07, 2003 09:40 AM

Re: How much should I give?

I would give $300...but like someone said, $250-$300 is fine but no less than $200.

princess99 Posted: Sep 07, 2003 10:36 AM

Re: How much should I give?

For a relative and if you are in the wedding and are spending a lot of money, I would give about 250.00 to 300.00, it all depends also how close you are, and it sounds like you are close, especially since you are in the wedding. I always thought between 175.00 and 200.00 for a gift for a friend that is not too close, or about 100.00 a person so if you are going woth a significant other about 200.00 and up.

kdelace Posted: Sep 07, 2003 07:29 PM

Re: How much should I give?

I would say between $250-$300. I know its so $$ being in a bridal party. It also depends how close you are. My sister and I have a cousin who is like our sister. When my sister got married, she gave her $500!! Its a little much, but it all depends.

EvenEdan Posted: Sep 07, 2003 07:55 PM

Re: How much should I give?

I wouldn't give less than 300.

cookiek1 Posted: Sep 07, 2003 10:06 PM

Re: How much should I give?

I give $300 if I am a guest at a wedding. The past few weddings that I have been in I have given $400 and for immediate family members I gave $500.

But considering you too are trying to save for your own wedding then I think $250 - $300 would be fine.

xjulietx Posted: Sep 07, 2003 10:30 PM

Re: How much should I give?

Do you know how much it is per person? If so, add $50-100 to that number and you should be okay.

februarybride Posted: Sep 08, 2003 09:09 AM

Re: How much should I give?

The truth is that whatever you give her she'll end up giving you back at your wedding.
Given the a fact that your trying to save for your wedding, I think $300 is generous.

Imagin916 Posted: Sep 08, 2003 09:20 AM

Re: How much should I give?

I was in your position this past spring. I was in my friends wedding party in March, and financially it was very difficult for me. She got pregnant in Dec and decided she was getting married in March..so its not like I had much time to save up. I was finishing up my last semester of school, was spending 32 hours a week at my internship, plus class time, which left me little time to work. I have a lot of bills that I have to pay as well, so its not like any money I do make at work is for my leisure. With all the gifts for the bridal shower, than the $ to chip in for her Maximus gift certificate, plus what I spent on the dress, it came out to be like $1000. I only gave her $200 as a gift. That is what I could (barely) afford (thanks mostly to credit cards). I already had to borrow $ from FH to pay for some of the stuff. My friend and her DH didnt pay for the wedding anyway, his parents did, so its not like they worked so hard and all to get married. Maybe that was cheap of me to only give her $200, but the money has to come from somewhere and when your bank account is empty, its empty.

ETS: I just went to a wedding in August and I gave her $300, because now that Im working, I have the money to give! (I didnt want to sound cheap before, but have a full time job now, not like before!)

Bella, do what you can afford. Good luck!

princess99 Posted: Sep 08, 2003 09:48 AM

Re: How much should I give?

I know I have answered about this post yesterday, but also keep in mind that when you are paying for your own wedding without any help from parents, you should give what you can afford. We have 4 weddings to go to before our own and we are doing just that. I was in my best friends wedding while in graduate school, was living on a student loan and money from my part time job, paid for a dress for the wedding which was 250.00, gave her a bridal shower gift, got shoes, and had my hair and make up done, I gave her a bond of 300.00, and I spoke to her yesterday evening and posed this question to her, and she said she totally understood and thought that what I had gien was very generous of me. I hope this helps.

acp1101 Posted: Sep 08, 2003 09:53 AM

Re: How much should I give?

I am in the same boat as you...

We are getting married 3 months apart and both FI and I are in their wedding party and they are in ours...I told hem NOT to give us anything...besides the fact that they are spending so much to begin with...I'm just gonna give them the same amount back for their wedding!!

kathy2176 Posted: Sep 08, 2003 09:56 AM

Re: How much should I give?

I agree with everyone. You have to do what you can. We are paying for our wedding 100% ourselves. My FI's brother is getting married 6 months before us and he is the best man. We are saving extra to try and give them at least $300. I know it isn't much but with paying for our own wedding, that is all we can come up with. I'm sure they will understand and appreciate whatever you can give. As long as it comes from the heart, that is all that matters.