How much should I spend on a wedding present?

Scarinae

I'm looking for advice on how much is normal to spend on a wedding present.

I've been invited to a wedding in August, my friend is the first of any of us to get married - I've previously only been to family weddings. As a result, I'm a bit clueless about wedding etiquette, how much is normal to spend etc. It's going to cost me quite a bit to attend the wedding as it is - I live in London, so I have to come back to Ireland for the hen party and the wedding itself (they are a few weeks apart, arrgh) I'm a bit short of money right now as my job situation is complicated, but it should be steady before long.

There is a wedding list, and I was thinking of getting something from that as then it will be something they actually want (rather than a clock made of spoons ) There is a huge range in prices though - how much should I spend? I don't want to bankrupt myself, but I don't want to be scabby either. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

John Mason

spend what you can afford - no more.

usually if i am going to weddings aboard, i deduct the price of my flight and accommadtion expenses from the amount of money i was going to spend and see what i have left.

Cellygirl

If there's a wedding list, then pick from that. The bride and groom picked all the stuff and so they obviously want it. So simply pick what you can afford, there's no right and wrong answer. They know you're travelling and flying over twice, so pick what you can afford. If all you can afford is €20 then pick the thing for €20.

Heineken Helen

Fishie wrote: »

I'm looking for advice on how much is normal to spend on a wedding present.

I've been invited to a wedding in August, my friend is the first of any of us to get married - I've previously only been to family weddings. As a result, I'm a bit clueless about wedding etiquette, how much is normal to spend etc. It's going to cost me quite a bit to attend the wedding as it is - I live in London, so I have to come back to Ireland for the hen party and the wedding itself (they are a few weeks apart, arrgh) I'm a bit short of money right now as my job situation is complicated, but it should be steady before long.

There is a wedding list, and I was thinking of getting something from that as then it will be something they actually want (rather than a clock made of spoons ) There is a huge range in prices though - how much should I spend? I don't want to bankrupt myself, but I don't want to be scabby either. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

When we got married, we got everything from £20 in cards upwards. There were some people who had come to us beforehand saying they couldn't afford anything and we told them not to bother, that we just want them there and to take advantage of all the wine on the tables to keep their costs down or to pair up with people for accommodation and lifts. Some people didn't give us anything and we genuinely didn't care cos we were just glad they came

ooter

My partner and I are going to a wedding next weekend,we've been invited to the whole thing.would €100 in cash/voucher in a card be enough?
I could probably stretch it to €150 but definitely no more than that..

Ellie2008

ooter wrote: »

My partner and I are going to a wedding next weekend,we've been invited to the whole thing.would €100 in cash/voucher in a card be enough?
I could probably stretch it to €150 but definitely no more than that..

Id like to know the answer to this one as well, I was at a wedding recently by myself (as in no plus one), a good friend of mine from college and work, is €100 to little or would it be €150, is there like a "standard rate"?

Cellygirl

There is no standard. I really hate the assumption nowadays that there's a 'standard' rate for a wedding. I'm just two months married and I actully hate the thought that some of our guests will have hesitated before giving us a gift wondering if it was enough or if they were being stingy. Of COURSE it was enough! Any present at all is lovely.

So to those last two posters there €100 is PLENTY as a gift. Absolutely plenty.

The bride and groom will be delighted to see you at the ceremony, they'll be delighted to speak to you at the meal, they'll be delighted to have a boogie with you on the dancefloor and, trust me, when they open your card at 5am or the next morning and €100 falls out they'll also be delighted!

seanmc1980

100-200, depend on relationship to the couple. good friends = 200 anyone else 100 upwards.