Wedding Present if you're only going to the Afters?

Rezident

What do you give if you're only going to the Afters?

We gave €150 as a couple at the last wedding (based on Boards' advice ) but I've no idea what you give if you're only going to the Afters. Nothing? A card? €50? I did a search but couldn't see anything. We're not going to the meal.

Thanks.

Toots

€50 in a card is plenty for just an afters. Personally if I'm going to an afters I'd usually give a 'thing' for a gift as opposed to cash. Usually I'd spend about €50ish on the present and card. The last one I was at an afters for was a friend of my husband's and we got them a nice set of good quality steak knives (groom is a bit of a steak fanatic) so we knew they'd be used. If they're drinkers, you could get a bottle of nice champagne or whiskey, it's up to you.

Another option is if a few of you are going together ie: a group of friends, you could pool together and get the couple a voucher for something. We did this between 6 of us and got them a voucher for a 2 night stay in a hotel with dinner and a spa treatment, just something nice for them after all the wedding fuss is over.

POKERKING

I was due to go to an afters recently and the general consensus was 50e, in the end this cost along with the others meant i didnt go,i personally think its too much, a small gift or voucher for less is sufficient in my opinion....

As an aside my wedding coming up the hotel is letting my evening guests come for free so bear that in mind when giving an evening gift maybe...

Rezident

OK great thanks, I didn't know what the story was, I did go to an Afters a couple of years ago and just brought, um, myself, oops! €50 between the two of us seems fair enough, cheers.

whatdoicare

You don't need to give anything - it usually costs nothing for the couple to invite you to an afters. I usually just give a card and buy them a drink. Same happened at my own wedding, I wasn't expecting anyone to give a gift if they were invited to the afters (I actually gave back any money gifts anyone in that situation gave - kept the other gifts as I thought it'd be a bit rude to hand them back, in a I don't like that kind of way)- it'd be like asking someone out for a drink and expecting a pressie for it.

D3PO

depends really. Personally speaking if I got a full invite but could only make the afters for whatever reason Id give maybe 50 yoyo in a card.

if I only got an afters invite though Id probably just give them a card and buy them a drink (if I went that is)

HairMonster

I think €50 is about right and clubbing together with other friends is a great idea.

Remember, it doesn't really cost the couple nothing to be invited to the afters!
Evening food is usually paid for per person and don't forget the band, DJ and bar extension have been paid for too and probably cost a small fortune. Sure, that is for the day guests too but you are still getting to enjoy (hopefully!) the band and bar extension that the couple had to pay for.

Besides, if you are being invited you clearly are friends with the couple, so do you not think its simply good manners to give a gift to your friends to celebrate their wedding? It would be like turning up to a birthday party without a birthday present .

Gatica

second that...

just show them you care by giving gift or card n cash. It's same as was discussed in "how much to give for wedding gift" thread (or something like that), you're not paying for your attendance, you are giving gift in proportion to your closeness to them (i.e. if you're just going to afters, chances are you're friends, but not sooo close that they'd invite you to full day, etc..).