How To Determine An Appropriate Wedding Gift Amount, Depending On Your Relationship With The Happy Couple
Most of us look forward to attending a good wedding packed with romance, passion, and plenty of drinks. But leading up to the big day, expenses can become overwhelming.
Depending on where you live and your role in the ceremony, you may have to travel, book accommodations, and buy multiple outfits dedicated to this one event.
So, when it comes time to fill out a card and write a check, deciding exactly how much money to dole out for the newlyweds can be a doozy.
There are no hard and fast rules surrounding wedding gift amounts, either. Instead, it all comes down to your relationship with the couple (and your own financial means).
How Much Should You Gift As A Guest?
Before we break down specific relations to the bride and groom, let’s talk about averages.
According to The Knot, $150 was the average amount spent on wedding presents in 2023. This actually represented a decrease from $160 in 2022.
Knowing the national trend can serve as a stellar place to start, and you could even stick with this figure without assessing your connection to the happy couple.
However, if you want to be a bit more granular and thoughtful, the nature of your relationship should come into play.
Halfpoint – stock.adobe.com – illustrative purposes only
Consider What Role The Bride Or Groom Has In Your Life
It makes the most sense to begin with close family members and friends. Whether it’s your sister, brother, or best friend who’s tying the knot, you probably aren’t opposed to splurging.
In these instances, you can go as big as you please, but the average is around $200.
It’s also important to keep in mind how much you’ve already spent on the nuptials. Have you attended an engagement party and purchased a gift or gone away on a bachelorette trip?
If you’ve invested in the couple’s happy day, it’s perfectly fine to opt for a more sentimental gift as opposed to a lavish one.
Next up are acquaintances: for instance, those friends you may have known for a long time but don’t see that often or even distant relatives. Despite not being super close with them, their weddings are still exciting, sentimental events.
To celebrate these occasions, you can begin by browsing gifts that cost from $75 to $175. Where you end up landing in that range will all depend on your personal connection to the couple, as well as your budget.
Last but not least are coworkers and colleagues. You may find yourself getting invitations to the weddings of those in your office and have no clue what to gift them.
Again, your working relationship with said coworker should be accounted for. Are they a newer member of your team, or are they someone you’ve been working with for over a year?
Depending on your answer to this question, your gift will probably fall within the $50 to $100 range.
Don’t Feel Pressured To Go Beyond Your Budget
It cannot be overstated enough that, at the end of the day, your budget has to dictate what you give.
By attending someone’s wedding, you will show that you care about the newlyweds and want to honor their love story. And if you really cannot afford an extravagant gift, that’s okay.
You can always go the sentimental route or contribute in other ways, such as offering support to the bride and groom as they prepare for the ceremony.
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