How Much Money Should You Give for a Wedding Gift? - WTOP News (2024)

FAQs

How Much Money Should You Give for a Wedding Gift? - WTOP News? ›

Traditional etiquette says that your wedding gift should be at least enough to cover your attendance at the wedding. While the average cost per wedding guest in 2022 was $256 according to The Knot 2022 Real Weddings Study, a better starting point might be to think about the cost of your meal at the reception.

If it's a co-worker or a distant friend, TheKnot.com recommends guests give at least $75-$100 on the wedding present. If your guest is a relative or a friend, the wedding website suggests somewhere between $100 and $125.

Though the average wedding gift amount is within the $100 to $150 range, your relationship with the couple will greatly influence how much (or little) you should ultimately spend.

If you're close friends, family members, or part of the wedding party, you might decide to send a gift in the $50 to $100 range. For people who you don't know as well, like co-workers, shopping from the registry for something around the $25 mark is more than OK.

Luckily, the choice on how much to give at a wedding is really up to you. A good starting point: $100 per guest, the average gift amount according to Brides.com. Then, let these other factors help you decide whether to nudge that amount up or down.

The average wedding gift amount ranges from $50 to $100, according to online wedding planner and retailer Zola,¹ so stick to the lower end of that range for a distant co-worker or college friend you haven't kept in touch with. Spending above that average—say, $150 or more—makes more sense for closer friends.

Anyone who received a separate invitation from their parents to the wedding should give their own gift. Because a family gift tends to include more people, it is customary to be on the nicer end of the registry, spending in the $200 to $300 range, but, again, stick to what fits within your budget.

There Is No Rule Regarding Cash Gifts

Wedding experts do, however, advise starting at $100. From there, you may want to adjust up to $500 based on factors such as your relationship with the couple, your budget and the cost of your attendance at the wedding.

A monetary gift is a transfer of money or a financial instrument that has liquid value from one party to another, without receiving or expecting to receive anything in return. Giving gifts is a way to show you care.

That said, many experts agree that guests should aim to get their presents delivered to the couple within three months of the big day. While this is a recommendation, it's a nice gesture to send your gift for the couple promptly and even before the wedding day itself.

Is it better to give cash or check for a wedding gift? ›

Wedding check or cash—is one better than the other? Writing a check is better than giving cash because only a person with the exact name as the payee on the check can deposit it and you can cancel the check if it gets lost or stolen in the mail.

One of the most basic ways to make a gift of physical cash more personal is to pair it with a meaningful card. A well-chosen card with the addition of a heartfelt, personalized message of well-wishes, advice, and counsel can make a useful gift of cash one of the most meaningful gifts a couple can receive.

Check out the couple's wedding registry and pick something that's relatively affordable (think less than $50), or maybe contribute some money to their honeymoon cash fund. The amount you put toward the gift should reflect your closeness to this family member.

They suggest the following breakdown: coworkers or distant relatives should spend 50 to 75 dollars. Friends or relatives, 75 to 100 dollars. For close friends, family members, or if you're in the wedding party, you should spend 100 to 150 dollars—or more.

The old adage of matching the cost per head is obsolete; your gift should not be about reimbursing the couple for their wedding day. On average, most guests will spend between $75 and $200 on wedding gift money, according to Tendr.

That said, it's highly likely that not every guest at a wedding will oblige. In fact, it's been estimated that between 7 and 10% of guests at a wedding fail to give a gift.

They suggest the following breakdown: coworkers or distant relatives should spend 50 to 75 dollars. Friends or relatives, 75 to 100 dollars. For close friends, family members, or if you're in the wedding party, you should spend 100 to 150 dollars—or more.

Wedding experts do, however, advise starting at $100. From there, you may want to adjust up to $500 based on factors such as your relationship with the couple, your budget and the cost of your attendance at the wedding.

According to a 2019 survey by The Knot, a wedding website, the average person spends $120 on a wedding gift. So if you were to spend $500, that would be a very generous gift.

It makes a nice gesture, without being too much. At the end of the day, it is still completely up to you. Gift the amount of money that you feel comfortable with - whether that's £10 or £500! The newlyweds are sure to appreciate the gesture, and the most important thing to them is that you were there.