Going rate for wedding present these days?

CathyMoran · 18-12-2013 09:27AM

When I married nearly 7 years ago all that I wanted was the people close to me to be there, did not expect a gift...my brother is marrying next year though and have to get some money together for that...

dub_skav · 18-12-2013 09:34AM

.jacksparrow. wrote: »

Hasn't this story been told on boards loads of times?

Beginning to think its an urban myth.

You're right, it was power city, not argos

Gee_G · 18-12-2013 09:52AM

You give what you can afford to give,end of.

We used to give 200/250 when we were both working, we now give €100. Its all we can afford.

It sickens me when people say "oh well I'll have to give such and such a good present as their wedding is in this 5 star hotel that costs €120 per head for the meal,just to cover our meal". BULL****!

Alf Veedersane · 18-12-2013 09:55AM

200 between us. It seems to be the going rate amongst all her friends and they're the ones that are getting married lately.

To be fair, it's what we got off a few scamps who decided to give us a present in the end.

Bigal83 · 18-12-2013 10:02AM

I reckon 500 if your a sibling, grandparents,parent etc from cousins to friends 150-200 per couple or 100 if you go without someone

keeponhurling · 18-12-2013 10:03AM

Don't think I'd ever stretch to €500, sibling or not.

Gift is only one part of the cost, there's also usually travel, accomodation and beer on the day etc.

Maybe 100 if going alone, 200 for a couple?

Alf Veedersane · 18-12-2013 10:03AM

500 for a sibling? No chance. You end up paying more than most guests as it is when you're the sibling of the bride/groom.

WilyCoyote · 18-12-2013 10:10AM

At home E300 for the two of us. Out here $200 (but it's done and dusted by 7pm - unless Irish or English)

Bigal83 · 18-12-2013 10:15AM

if you're struggling financially i reckon as a sibling you should give what what you can afford but as a sibling you will know 1-2 yeasr in advance when the wedding will be, so i reckon if you can afford it give 500 to help them on their way as a newly married couple as its very expensive to get married and chances are most of the money will just go towards paying for the wedding,Think of the children!!!!!!lol

IK09 · 18-12-2013 10:23AM

The whole idea of a "going rate" is preposterous.

Its generally €50 per person to sit and eat (cost to bride and groom).

If you are not going to cover that dont go. If you are, enjoy the party.

I am getting married next summer and I wouldnt expect anyone to give us more than €100 per couple. I also would not expect the younger crowd to give anything, anyone under 21 is just accepted to not be in a position to give anyone €50.

That said I would be surprised if a couple gave nothing.

18-12-2013 10:34AM

200 for a close friend (between two people) or more if you can afford it. 100 to 150 for an acquaintance. I know my parents have given up to 500 euro at weddings of some of their friends children never mind family members.

In that vain I would feel for me 500 wouldn't be enough for a sibling, I'd hope to be able to give at least 1k to each of my sisters if they get married. Sure 100 euro+ (in cash or gifts) wouldn't be out of place at birthdays and Christmas never mind on a once off like a wedding day.

Alf Veedersane · 18-12-2013 11:04AM

This whole thread is testament to the joke that is an Irish wedding.

Invite 200 people (100 of which you don't really know) and then spend a stupid amount of money on the whole shebang, hoping to make a decent chunk of it back on presents.

Who said romance is dead?

Inspector Coptoor · 18-12-2013 11:26AM

Alf Veedersane wrote: »

This whole thread is testament to the joke that is an Irish wedding.

Invite 200 people (100 of which you don't really know) and then spend a stupid amount of money on the whole shebang, hoping to make a decent chunk of it back on presents.

Who said romance is dead?

Don't under-estimate the power of Irish parents inviting their friends to your wedding.

That's a major issue and can be a huge source of conflict.

Alf Veedersane · 18-12-2013 11:31AM

Inspector Coptoor wrote: »

Don't under-estimate the power of Irish parents inviting their friends to your wedding.

That's a major issue and can be a huge source of conflict.

That's a fact. Mate's mother managed to swell the list of invitees to his wedding to beyond 400. Ridiculous.

People who once had a cup of tea in her vicinity.

My old man told me his parents pretty much picked his wedding list. We even did out a list of the people we'd be expected to invite if we got married at home. We stopped when she was at 180ish.

Inspector Coptoor · 18-12-2013 11:32AM

We were at 170....

Now at 232.

Sala · 18-12-2013 11:32AM

It's about what you can afford and want to give. I don't agree with the whole covering your cost thing. A gift is a gift, an invitation is not given on the basis that someone covers their cost at YOUR wedding!! They should be delighted to receive anything, although sadly I know some don't think that way.

Alf Veedersane · 18-12-2013 11:39AM

Inspector Coptoor wrote: »

We were at 170....

Now at 232.

When we got to 180ish we said "Yeah, the option of going abroad with family and close friends sounds better".

It was.

BalbrigganGirl · 18-12-2013 01:06PM

IK09 wrote: »

The whole idea of a "going rate" is preposterous.

Its generally €50 per person to sit and eat (cost to bride and groom).

If you are not going to cover that dont go. If you are, enjoy the party.

I am getting married next summer and I wouldnt expect anyone to give us more than €100 per couple. I also would not expect the younger crowd to give anything, anyone under 21 is just accepted to not be in a position to give anyone €50.

That said I would be surprised if a couple gave nothing.

Are you for real ? Not going to " cover it "
Makes me laugh - you decide to get married and bring people in on it and then expect them to cover their own meal !
Hardly a cost to the Bride and Groom then is it.

Weddings in general are a pain in the ass to most people believe it or not - most people I know dither about going to them and not usually over the money issue either - just gets boring - same old routine at most.

18-12-2013 01:20PM

BalbrigganGirl wrote: »

Weddings in general are a pain in the ass to most people believe it or not - most people I know dither about going to them and not usually over the money issue either - just gets boring - same old routine at most.

I don't know, most people I would know love going to a wedding. They are great craic, on the beer good and early, big feed, talking crap to people you don't know or people you haven't seen for ages, lots of cheesy music and then a big sing song in the residents bar until the early hours!

Usually a good session the following day also.

mfceiling · 18-12-2013 08:21PM

.jacksparrow. wrote: »

Hasn't this story been told on boards loads of times?

Beginning to think its an urban myth.

It's true - i know a few of the boys he pals around with and they were planning it, to give the groom a good laugh.

Nialler15 · 18-12-2013 08:49PM

SV wrote: »

About 50.

About 50??? Your kidding me right?

Last 3 weddings I was at were minimum 100 per head.

Mint Aero · 18-12-2013 09:06PM

I'm inviting 20 people max to my wedding

All I need now is a bride

April O Neill II · 18-12-2013 09:07PM

Going to a wedding on Friday, a family member of my boyfriend, E100 from both of us as a couple. It's what we can afford.

April O Neill II · 18-12-2013 09:12PM

WikiHow wrote: »

OK so for a couple going to a wedding giving 150 euro is really only giving 50 euro present.

So?

April O Neill II · 18-12-2013 09:17PM

WikiHow wrote: »

OK so for a couple going to a wedding giving 150 euro is really only giving 50 euro present.

Weddings are expensive to attend even before gifts are considered.

Pang · 18-12-2013 09:22PM

I would have always have given 100 from a single person and 150-200 from a couple. If the wedding is abroad, I'd be inclined to give less or give a gift. Spent nearly a grand on a wedding abroad a few years back. Crazy.

April O Neill II · 18-12-2013 09:24PM

IK09 wrote: »

The whole idea of a "going rate" is preposterous.

Its generally €50 per person to sit and eat (cost to bride and groom).

If you are not going to cover that dont go. If you are, enjoy the party.

I am getting married next summer and I wouldnt expect anyone to give us more than €100 per couple. I also would not expect the younger crowd to give anything, anyone under 21 is just accepted to not be in a position to give anyone €50.

That said I would be surprised if a couple gave nothing.

The bolded bit, seriously?

DebDynamite · 18-12-2013 09:24PM

Bigal83 wrote: »

if you're struggling financially i reckon as a sibling you should give what what you can afford but as a sibling you will know 1-2 yeasr in advance when the wedding will be, so i reckon if you can afford it give 500 to help them on their way as a newly married couple as its very expensive to get married and chances are most of the money will just go towards paying for the wedding,Think of the children!!!!!!lol

1. If people are struggling financially, they probably have more important things to save for than attending a wedding.

2. It's not expensive at all to get married. A marriage licence costs €150. Anything else on on top of that is completely optional.

Chanel Bald Sortie wrote: »

In that vain I would feel for me 500 wouldn't be enough for a sibling, I'd hope to be able to give at least 1k to each of my sisters if they get married.

Jesus wept.

If your sisters got married in a registry office and booked a pub lunch afterwards for immediate family only, would you still gift the same amount?

April O Neill II · 18-12-2013 09:25PM

Inspector Coptoor wrote: »

Don't under-estimate the power of Irish parents inviting their friends to your wedding.

That's a major issue and can be a huge source of conflict.

It's not up to the guests to bankroll that source of conflict though.

looking_around · 18-12-2013 09:26PM

Pang wrote: »

I would have always have given 100 from a single person and 150-200 from a couple. If the wedding is abroad, I'd be inclined to give less or give a gift. Spent nearly a grand on a wedding abroad a few years back. Crazy.

If someone "invited" me to a wedding abroad, but expected me to fork out flights etc, I'd tell'em to feck off.

Going rate for wedding present these days?

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