How much do you spend on wedding gifts?

[sweeps]

I never know how much to spend on a wedding gift. What guidelines do you use?

Some people say it makes a difference how much the bride and groom are spending on your dinner at the reception. Do you agree?

[Bluezy]

I believe it depends how well I know the couple. If I know them well and one or both have been good friends, I will spend $100-$200 for a gift. If they are only casual aquaintances, I will gift them $20 - $50, perhaps in the form of a gift certificate.

[gakline]

I set my limit at $150 for family and for standing in the wedding. (This is beyond other expenses.) Friends anywhere from $50 to $75.

[CJsoccerchic]

A nice card with a crisp $50 dollar in it - unless it's family that requested something specifically from you..

[Luv2shop]

I believe it depends on the cost of the plate. If the plate is $75 a head, the you should atleast give $150 a couple.

[gakline]

Originally Posted by Luv2shop

I believe it depends on the cost of the plate. If the plate is $75 a head, the you should atleast give $150 a couple.

While that sounds like great advice, I can honestly say I have no idea what a plate costs at weddings. Nor have I ever asked anyone at the wedding or have seen it posted.

[Luv2shop]

I call the place. If i don't have the money, I don't go. But I will still send a gift between $50- $100. I get invited to 2-4 weddings year.

[katwoman]

A good rule of thumb in my area, is to cover the cost of the plate as was mentioned above. Now, if the couple goes all out that's not my problem, but around here it tends to be in the $75-$100 range, per person.

[robex]

We spend about 100 for someone close to us, and 50 for an acquaintance.

[jodi]

It varies. Where I live, you can have a decent reception for $20-30 a plate, so I usually give around $50 for me and DH. When my cousin got married in Long Island, I gave about $150 because 1. I knew they were spending a LOT more on the wedding, and 2. she was very, very generous when I was married. But typically I give around $50.

[cercis]

I'm pretty cheap. I don't go to a lot of weddings (our friends are all married and family is between ages right now).

When I go to a wedding, I try to shop around to create a basket of stuff for the bride and groom. Stuff I know they will like and that will remind them of special times with me or in their lives.

I figure the most I spend is $50 - which puts together a pretty impressive basket if you shop carefully.

I don't worry about the cost of the plate. What they spend on the wedding is their issue, not mine. If they invite me to the wedding it'd better be because they want me there to witness their special day, not because I might give them a great gift.

Of course, I think the current trend for weddings is pretty shallow. So ...

I thought my cousin's wedding (in October) was perfect. A small chapel and then the reception at their new home. I haven't decided on the gift for her yet. I don't have the time to shop that I need, but I have a year. She, of course, told me several times "just come, don't worry about trying to get a gift on the plane, just bring yourself".