The wedding season is in full swing, which means we’re all figuring out how much to give for a wedding gift. It’s no secret that weddings can be expensive for both the hosts and the guests. So how much should you really spend on a wedding gift? And what can affect the gift cost?
Save yourself time, effort, and money in choosing the perfect wedding gift with these wedding gift cost guidelines.
How Much to Give for a Wedding Gift
When it comes to wedding gifts, how much should you spend? The truth is, there’s no single answer that fits every guest and every wedding. Here are several factors to consider:
1. Your Relationship With the Bride or Groom
Is the groom your best friend from childhood? Or are you going to a coworker's wedding? Wedding gift ranges will go up the stronger your relationship is to the bride or groom.
On average, guests pay out:
- Coworkers: $80-$120
- Friends and distant family: $100-$150
- Best friends and close family: $150-$200
- Siblings: $200-$400
Photo by Maria Dotsenko
2. Who You’re Attending the Wedding With
Those numbers are for individuals attending a wedding. If you’re going as a couple, these numbers should be about doubled.
However, if you are inviting someone to a wedding as a plus one who was not named on the invitation, paying for the gift can fall to the person who has the relationship with the couple.
3. Wedding Formality & Venues
While wedding formality shouldn’t completely determine how much you’ll spend on the gift, it can have an impact. Traditional wedding etiquette states that you should base what you spend on the estimated cost of hosting you at the reception.
If you are attending a courthouse ceremony or small backyard barbecue, you might give a smaller gift than when going to a black-tie or white-tie affair.
Photo by Francis Fraioli
4. What You’re Spending for Other Events
If you’re attending multiple events for the couple, try to follow the 60-20-20 rule. Spend 60 percent of your budget on a wedding gift, 20 percent of your budget on an engagement party gift, and the other 20 percent on a bridal shower gift.
If you’re in the wedding party and have already spent upwards of a thousand or more dollars on bachelorette parties, dresses, hair, makeup, and more, then it’s also understandable paying the lower range of the “close friend” wedding gift.
5. Your Budget
Don’t go broke paying more for wedding gifts than you can afford! Choose the lower-cost items on the registry, try going in on an affordable gift with a group, or donate what you can to their “honeymoon” or “house” fund.
It’s important to start budgeting and saving for weddings as soon as you can. In addition to the wedding gift, consider saving for travel, lodging, attire, and expenses for showers, bachelor parties, engagement parties, and being in wedding parties.
Photo by Astrid Photography
6. Travel and Lodging for a Destination Wedding
For a destination wedding that requires you to travel, attending the event to celebrate the couple is the gift in itself. It is understandable if you give less on the wedding gifts. However, it’s always nice to bring a small gift for the bride and groom, especially if they are close friends or family.
If your budget goes into the travel and lodging for the destination wedding, but you still want to send a gift, it’s perfectly acceptable to send the happy couple a gift after the trip. You can wait up to a year to send a gift.
Photo by Nate Puhr
7. If You Can’t Attend
If you’re not able to attend a wedding, you’re not required to send a gift. If it’s a coworker or an extended family member, a nice note is always welcome. If you have a very close relationship to the couple, you might consider sending a smaller gift (closer to $50) with a beautiful card.
More Wedding Gift FAQs
How far in advance can I give a wedding gift? How late?
It’s recommended that you give your wedding gift to the couple either before the wedding or the night of. However, if you are unable to give your gift before or during the wedding, it’s still considered polite to give the gift within a year of receiving the wedding invitation.
What’s the minimum you should give as a wedding gift?
Even if you aren’t close to the couple, it’s usually not encouraged to spend less than $50 on a wedding gift. If you’re attending the wedding of a coworker or a distant friend, the minimum gift amount is usually between $50 to $75.
How much to spend on an engagement gift?
While engagement gifts are not necessary, if you do choose to give one, a gift of around $50 is more than plenty.The engagement gift usually costs around 25-30% of what you’d spend on the wedding gift, so keep that in mind when making your budget.
Engagement gifts are another great opportunity to go in a gift with a group, where you can each spend a little less to get something beautiful.
How much to spend on a bridal shower gift?
If you are unsure of how much to spend on a shower gift, a good rule of thumb is to spend between $25 to $75. If you are close to the person and can afford more, you may want to spend on the higher end. If you are on a tight budget, you can still get a nice gift for under $50.
Can I give cash or money for a wedding gift?
You can definitely give money as a wedding gift. More and more couples are creating “funds” on their registry that make it easy to give gifts towards the couple’s future home, honeymoon, child, or other part of their life together. In fact, some couples only have that option on their registry. Want to just give cash? You can do that too.
However, if you’re more comfortable giving a physical gift, it’s safest to choose a gift from their registry.
Giving cash doesn’t have to be boring. Add a personal touch by enclosing the money in a card with a heartfelt message or supplement a smaller gift with your cash gift.
