Cash Gift for a Wedding .....Advice?

AudreyHepburn

Hi,

I'm going a friend's wedding and was wondering what an appropriate cash gift would be?

We're all in our mid twenties and I am single lady so will be going alone. I'm not too hard up for cash, thankfully, but I don't want to go overboard either. The bride is a good friend but not an intimate one.

Any advice would be welcome.

Thanks!

Sleepy

Lots of threads on this and opinions vary wildly. Personally, when we can't get a babysitter and I'm attending a friend's wedding solo, I'd give €100.

Some posters suggest that €50 is perfectly acceptable for a couple whilst others will say it's mean not to "cover the cost of your meals".

At the end of the day, it's about what you can afford rather than what the norm is. I'd reckon that if you're the sort who'll be getting your hair done for the day, buying a new dress, staying the night in the hotel and drinking like it's going out of fashion it'd look mean to give €50.

Whereas if you're hard up for cash at the moment, not spending money on getting your hair done and wearing something you already have because you can't afford a new outfit, I'd see that same €50 as generous.

Balmed Out

Id ask other friends in the group what the norm is

Moonbeam

That is the best thing to do.
50-250 can be normal based on the friendship etc.

BorneTobyWilde

500

Gatica

Personally I couldn't possibly give 500 when going to a wedding nor would any of my friends, so I would definitely not consider that a normal sum.
As one poster said, 50-250 tends to be an acceptable range, depending on your situation. I'd probably give 100... irrespective of how much I decide to pay for hair or dress.

john_cappa

keithob wrote: »

€100

This.

loveisdivine

I have the same query. Never been to a wedding in Ireland so I don't know what the norm is here.

We're just going to the evening bit and were friends but not close. Only got invited about 2 weeks ago via Facebook and the wedding is Friday!

Would €50 be reasonable?

Sleepy

For an afters or evening that's more than enough in my experience.

lola.bella

€75 to €100 is very much the norm

LadyTBolt

From my own experience an acceptable gift for a couple is usually between €150 - €250. If you are going alone I would suggest €100. That's the norm where I am from and I have discussed this with various family/friends/colleagues.
I would also suggest asking your other friends what they are giving so you have an idea and don't over/under gift.

mrmoo22

I get to talk to a lot of grooms on there wedding day and I can tell you without a doubt the average is €50, some people can give a lot more and some a lot less.

Balmed Out

It depends on where you are and the norms there. All my social group give 200 for a couple, 100 on your own, 20 to 50 for evening, same goes for other halfs.

Lombardo86

Just wondering what people would think is the norm for the best man/brother to give? Will be giving as a couple but just wondering what people on here would think.

I have a figure in my head want to see if its reasonable. Thanks

eyescreamcone

Please remember if giving a cheque:
Do not make out the cheque to John and Jane Doe - They may not have a joint bank account - they certainly won't have a bank account made out in their new married name (this can cause hassle in the banks afterwards).


Keep it simple - make out the cheque to the person whos side you are closer to.
If you are a friend of the groom make the cheque out to John Doe.

jwilco

€75 to €100 cash or voucher like One4all but they charge about €2.50 admin fee

Sleepy

For either of my siblings I'd give about €250 which'd be a hundred above our usual Wedding gift.

Give what you can afford and what you want to give. This whole idea of "the norm" is what causes so much trouble imo: so many people trying to keep up with the Jones' or be the same as everybody else.

Lombardo86

Thanks for the info - I think you're right about the norm.

I had a figure of ~300 since i'm brother and best man. That doesn't seem to be too far off the mark for that so i think ill go with it. That on top of what girlfriend will be giving should be generous enough (I hope!)

Gracie_S203

€100 is more than enough for a single person going to the wedding!! At the end of the day, it is a recession and bride&grooms also have to vigilant of that!!!!!

Gatica

We've given 150 for wedding where one of us attended full day and one of us came to evening only, 200 from both of us at friend's wedding and 500 from us to a sibling. We had the money at the time for it, so we gave what we could. If we'd been earning less, even to a family member we'd have probably given 200 or less...
Just depends on your circumstances really.

I am pie

Give whatever you want and whatever you feel appropriate. There is no rule.

Don't feel pressurised into emptying your bank account !

circleskane

recently engaged - would be more than thrilled with €100 as a gift on wedding day. after spending so much for the whole thing especially.

another alternative may be to have some cash changed into the currency of wherever bride and groom will be honeymooning?