What seems to be the average wedding gift for a friend/acquaintance?

This is a touchy and personal subject.
I upped my amt in the last year or so to $300 for 2 people. I used to always give $250 but realized with inflation - I should increase. I always give more though to very close friends or family or if I am in the BP. Everyone is diff. though...I believe you should give what you can afford. No need to go into debt just to give a wedding gift.

ok, i assumed $200 was decent, but I wasn't sure if I was being CHEAP

Thanks a bunch


eta: After all, the friends know we're saving tons for our OWN wedding...and next year, they'll probably give us the same gift.

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Posted by Blu-ize

How does the average person not planning a wedding know what the per plate charge is anyway?

If the plate cost $500 would I give that? Heck no. That would be $1000 gift.

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If someone can afford to have a wedding & pay $500 a head , the cant possibly expect to see that back at all.. JMO,,

u give what u can , but i always try to cover the plate & if its a close friend then a lil more,,

The cost per plate varies too much to take that into consideration. Some go in the high $100's and even $200's.

So, I give what I can afford and don't give as much if I gave a gift already at the shower.

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Posted by mrsh2b

I give $200 to everyone unless their wedding costs me a fortune to attend (like getting a flight and hotel, etc.) then I'll give $150 (also considering it's out of state it definitely doesn't cost as much to cover your head when you go to the boonies)

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ahh yes have to agree on that too. We have had to spend money to stay overnight at hotels as well, so we factor that in too if the cost is higher.

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Posted by mrsh2b

I give $200 to everyone unless their wedding costs me a fortune to attend (like getting a flight and hotel, etc.) then I'll give $150 (also considering it's out of state it definitely doesn't cost as much to cover your head when you go to the boonies)

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yes....FH refuses to take that into consideration, which would be fine if we were rolling in $$$. we flew the 3 of us down ($600), rented a tux ($180 b/c it wasa private shop) and rented a car (unsure of cost)...luckilly we stayed for free at my mom's...he actually gave this guy MORE than we give at local weddings

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Posted by Shorty McBride

ok, i assumed $200 was decent, but I wasn't sure if I was being CHEAP

Thanks a bunch


eta: After all, the friends know we're saving tons for our OWN wedding...and next year, they'll probably give us the same gift.

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you're not being cheap, you give what you can afford. 200 is a great gift. Wheres the wedding?

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Posted by Soon2BeMrs2006

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Posted by mrsh2b

I give $200 to everyone unless their wedding costs me a fortune to attend (like getting a flight and hotel, etc.) then I'll give $150 (also considering it's out of state it definitely doesn't cost as much to cover your head when you go to the boonies)

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ahh yes have to agree on that too. We have had to spend money to stay overnight at hotels as well, so we factor that in too if the cost is higher.

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wow, i never took that into consideration-- oops. we spent 150 dollars to stay at the hotel in PA, not to mention FH took time off from work-- we drove there, tolls, etc. hmmm didn't think about that!

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Posted by STBMrsDaniRella

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Posted by Soon2BeMrs2006

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Posted by mrsh2b

I give $200 to everyone unless their wedding costs me a fortune to attend (like getting a flight and hotel, etc.) then I'll give $150 (also considering it's out of state it definitely doesn't cost as much to cover your head when you go to the boonies)

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ahh yes have to agree on that too. We have had to spend money to stay overnight at hotels as well, so we factor that in too if the cost is higher.

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wow, i never took that into consideration-- oops. we spent 150 dollars to stay at the hotel in PA, not to mention FH took time off from work-- we drove there, tolls, etc. hmmm didn't think about that!

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we do now, because we're saving money for the wedding and a house. The last wedding hotel cost over 150 to stay at so we did take that into consideration, plus we've had 5 weddings(and one more in a few months where FH is a GM again in the past 18 months and FH was a groomsmen for one so there was additional costs, plus showers, engagement parties, bachelor party, tux, etc. it adds up.

ETa: sorry meant 5 weddings and one more this September and I'm not saying I would subtract money from the gift, but I might not be able to give extra

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Posted by alnem

FH is funny about that stuff. we believe that you have to at least cover the cost of your food plus a little extra. so it's usually about $300 we give to family and $200 to friends.

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Ditto for us. We have given more than that to family members regardless of when or where they got married.

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Posted by rockysbride

I try not to let the hotel, tolls, day off from work, ect effect the gift we pay. I usually give $250 for friends just cause I like to give a tiny bit higher then the average... when in doubt- give more (if you can afford to).

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Yeah I agree. I had meant I won't let stuff like that subtract money from the gift I give, I just might not be able to give a little extra.

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Posted by Soon2BeMrs2006

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Posted by Shorty McBride

ok, i assumed $200 was decent, but I wasn't sure if I was being CHEAP

Thanks a bunch


eta: After all, the friends know we're saving tons for our OWN wedding...and next year, they'll probably give us the same gift.

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you're not being cheap, you give what you can afford. 200 is a great gift. Wheres the wedding?

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The Meadow Club

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Posted by MattandTricia07

This is a good topic!

My FH's cousin is getting married this June and he was saying that where she is getting married, isn't as expensive, but I pointed out that whatever we give to them, they might give us next year. I think we decided to give them $300.

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i don't think you should take this into consideration when you give a gift. last year we gave my cousin $400 for his wedding gift (Sunday afternoon wedding). He was my first cousin, that's why i gave him so much! I ,in no way ,shape or form , expect to get this back in return and it wasn't even a consideration when deciding on what to give them. We had the money at the time to do it and we wanted to!! They just bought their house and are expecting a baby this fall...all we want from them is for them to be there on our special day!! Girls...JMHO...you should not 'expect' $$$ from people at the wedding...this way you are not disappointed after the fact. This way...any $$$ you do get you are happy with!!

one million dollars!!