how much do you really spend on a wedding gift?

[markio26]

one of my friends is getting married in oct. 08, a scottish wedding..... it is already beginning to cost me, with meetings, luncheons and all.....i am usually out $100 or more for a gift or two.... i am not invited to the wedding.. just the reception......but, i am the planner...it seems...

[sweeps]

Re: how much do you really spend on a wedding gift?

Acquaintance $40-50
Relative/friend $100-$120

[DebbieL]

Re: how much do you really spend on a wedding gift?

Someone close to me: $50 or so.
Anyone else: politely decline the invitation.

[Aleta]

Re: how much do you really spend on a wedding gift?

I agree with Debbie. There are just too many weddings, baby showers (that include luncheons), graduations, birthday parties. The larger your family the more that you have to keep up with. You have to pick and choose. $50. is about right or a gift.

[fairy74]

Re: how much do you really spend on a wedding gift?

someone I'm not close to: Nice card and decline invtation

friend: Nice card, 25-50 gift certificate, I will attend either a shower or the actual event but not both

family member: Nice card, $50 cash for wedding gift and a smaller gift for shower ($20-30)

[fairy74]

Re: how much do you really spend on a wedding gift?

markio, did I read this correctly you are doing the planning and invited to the reception but not the ceremony???

[fairy74]

Re: how much do you really spend on a wedding gift?

markio, did I read this correctly you are doing the planning and invited to the reception but not the ceremony???

[Aleta]

Re: how much do you really spend on a wedding gift?

I've always heard that if you give a gift at the shower that you don't give one at the wedding. Normally, I have seen people bring gifts at the wedding or send them if they didn't go to a shower or live a far distance off. I don't think you should have to do both and what happened to getting gifts rather than money?

[JanH]

Re: how much do you really spend on a wedding gift?

markio, did I read this correctly you are doing the planning and invited to the reception but not the ceremony???

I was wondering the same thing. Unless it is family only, but if you are planning things and doing all that work for them.......

[Ima saver]

Re: how much do you really spend on a wedding gift?

I send a check for $50! Don't people write thank yous any more?

[boefixepa]

Re: how much do you really spend on a wedding gift?

If I don't know them, I don't go. If I know them 50-100. If it's a close friend or family and I am invited to the shower then I will give a 20-40 dollar gift then too.

[nanamom]

Re: how much do you really spend on a wedding gift?

I spend about 50 on a gift if they are family. I rarely give cash for anything. I try to make showers if possible and if I can't and they are family I send a gift. For friends I go with something around 25 dollars or so. Often we give a nice couples Bible for a gift.
i don't understand how you can be planning but not involved in the ceremony, or at least attending it. I though the attendants did the planning?

[MonkeyMama]

Re: how much do you really spend on a wedding gift?

Hmmmm, depends. I think this year we sent a $30 g.c. to friends we could not make it to their wedding. We just didn't have more in the budget. Would have given more if we had made it and eaten dinner, etc.

It just depends. People were extremely generous at our wedding and we try to give $50-$100 when we can. But only to very close friends and family. All the acquantances, we usually decline or give a token $20. Just depends.

I don't do showers - I can't think of 1 wedding shower I have ever been to except my SILs and I was a bridesmaid. I just don't *get* bridal showers overall.

[Coleroo]

Re: how much do you really spend on a wedding gift?

My hubby's sister just got married in November - we spent about $80 on gifts, but also had to travel to new york (from south carolina) so we had about another $200 in gas / misc travel expenses.

I would probably do between $100 to 200 on a close relative, $50 on a close friend, and maybe just 20 bucks and a card on someone I wasnt extremely close to.

Greatfully I do not have that many weddings come around though - if I did, those numbers would probably be cut in half.

~ Lisa

[Gruntina]

Re: how much do you really spend on a wedding gift?

It really depends... I have been to a wedding where I had to fly to NY from CA to attend. I would think the gift would not have to be as expensive because just getting there was expensive. However... at that time I was a Pampered Chef consultant and had a lot of bonus products I could uses for gifts.

I would also think if you are very close to the person... and you are finacially strapped.. They are more understanding of you not providing an expensive gift. I remember in my past when I was broke, I offer to do any help and did some errands with the bride so she knows I was thinking of her.


with my upcoming wedding... I am not even doing any bridal registary.. I dont want people to feel like they are obligated to bring gifts.