How much cash would you give as a wedding gift?

I believe the general rule is to give a gift to the value of what it would cost per head for the wedding. That could vary greatly, and could equate to quite a lot of money if the wedding happens to be at an expensive venue. I would say to give what you feel is appropriate, but more importantly, what you can afford.

by EricaL

I normally agree with you Erica but the cover your plate rule is one that needs to die! It seems so odd to me. If I invited friends over for dinner I wouldn't ask for money to cover the groceries I bought so why ask my guests to pay for their spot in my wedding?

(I realise you're not advocating this, just responding to you since you brought it up).

by Carly

Depends whose wedding it is. A friend or colleague: $50 to $100. Family members would exceed depending on the degree of relationship. Sibling: $1000.

by Happy Mom

It depends on whether it is a close friend or not. For a close friend I would give $100 - -$200, otherwise around $50.

by Ivana Katz

I was invited to a friends wedding in New Zealand in June, and as June is a super busy month in the mainstream press, I could not go. I sent $100 their way, and they were saying it was more cash than they expected as one single gift.

by Justine Crowley

Varies greatly but at least $100 if u can afford it

by SupahAnnie

From my experience $50-$100 per person and depends on the relationship.

by WSW

$200 - but I really hate giving cash as a present. If they specifically ask for it, I take a little of that a buy them a small gift too, and give the remainder.

by Lydia C. Lee

Need to say $200 assuming partner and I are going to the wedding.

About $50 -$100 is a good amount I would think.

by jonaja

I think it depends on how close a friend you are, and who the people married are. However I would give at least $100, and probably more like $150 if I were a couple.

However, as a single, I never know what to give and usually give under $100 as supposedly it is around the cost of the meal.
How on earth would you know the cost of each meal, I know not, as they can vary so very, very much.

by Finy

I have a couple of Singaporean and Malaysian friends/colleagues. There norm there (from what I can gather) seems to be to give a sizable sum of cash, with the intention being to assist the new couple with starting a their life together, particularly with the biggest challenge - obtaining accommodation. The amount expected seems to align with your socio-economic status (eg. $50 nfrom someone on the poverty line would be seen as a greater gift than $10,000 from a millionaire relative).

It seems to work well over there (at least from my limited observation of my friends/colleagues), but their culture is obviously different to ours. Firstly, their weddings seem to be even bigger deals than they are here, with the collective functions totaling hundreds or even thousands of guests & gifts. Secondly, it is still the norm there not to live together before the wedding.

Conversely, it seems now to be the norm in most western societies to do it in the reverse order: 1) live together (accommodation) 2) start a family (planned or otherwise) 3) think about whether marriage is an option or the right thing to do. In this context, given the couple has already experienced the first few years of their possibly life-long union, they would seem to be more difficult to buy for because they've already done the whole set-up house and baby-shower thing. So perhaps cash or gift vouchers are the more obvious option?

So back to your question of how much? If they're about to live together for the first time (i.e. it's their first marriage and cohabitation), it should be more than if they've already being cohabitating or it's not their first marriage. My view is that, in the latter case, it's more just big party that an established couple is throwing albeit under the guise of a "we're starting our our life-long union together" (wedding) situation - even if the reality is that that union started long before, so it really is just a really big version of "would you like to come over for a BBQ this weekend" - in which case you usually take a bottle of wine or something (so in the form of a wedding, the gift in this case would be of similar proportion/significance - i.e. much less than the cost of your seat at the event).

On the other hand, if the invitation is to a wedding in which the couple is literally starting their long term commitment, cohabitation, and potentially a family, I would argue the amount to give should be considerable but according to your SES means. For the average person, the figures already proposed in the majority of responses in this thread would seem reasonable (EG. $50-$150 for a friend or colleague, more if you are a relative, and more again if you are immediate family).

by kimp

This is really interesting as I'm getting married at the end of this year. While we have the normal possessions around the house already (as we live together) many people have suggested that they will want to give us some money. Awkward conversation though!

I think that it depends on the wedding and the general rule is that a) you need to be able to afford it and b) it should probably be somewhat similar to what you think the wedding cost per person. That's a common rule.

by Matteo Lor

I certainly think it depends on the relationship you have with the person getting married. A close family member could get anywhere between $500 and $1000, but a friend, $100 to $200 per head. Having a wedding or attending a wedding, it's expensive.

by Vee

The cost of meal per person for weddings for people I am not close to ( usually around the $100-130 mark) If I were in a position to give more and it was for a very dear friend of family member I would probably give them up to $400. In saying that though I think you should only give what you can afford and if there is the option of a gift rather than cash I would always choose that as I like to personalise things and think it would be nice for them to have something to treasure for the next 50+ years of being married.

by erin.

$100? We're going to a nephews wedding in Bali in 1 & 1/2 months, & as the couple live there, I wouldn't think they'd want to be lugging wedding presents home again, should they return to Australia, so that & having us fly over there, I think is a good enough gift! When another nephew married in India, 3 years ago, & were then returning to Australia, they'd asked for BIG bath towels so we bought them 2 sets.

by Miro