Accepting a wedding invitation comes with a few obligations whether you are a close friend, a family member or an acquaintance. Weddings, as you know, do cost a substantial amount of money and helping the newly wedded couple to offset the cost by giving them a gift is only fair. After all, everyone gets their turn at some point or another. So, is $100 sufficient as a wedding gift in 2022? If you want to know the answer to the question of what the standards are in 2024, I recommend this article: https://www.gablerstudio.com/journal/is-100-sufficient-as-wedding-gift-in-2024/
As a general rule $100 per person is a sufficient amount you should give as a wedding gift, but it is the minimum you should give. The ideal number would be somewhere around $150 per person and above. If you are close to the couple, then $200 and above per individual (if you can afford it) is the norm.
There is no specific amount per se that everyone should stick to as the real value comes from your relationship with the couple. However, sometimes it might be considered a bit rude to gift them a very small sum of money. So, if you are stuck in a situation where you don’t know how much is considered to be good and how much will be too less, then here is a general overview of the matter.
Is $100 sufficient as a wedding gift in 2022?
The consensus is that anything less than $50 per person is considered to be quite rude and this applies to all weddings no matter how small or lavish they might be. However, on average each person spends about $160 and above on wedding gifts. This includes scenarios where money itself is given as a gift. So, the ideal range would be somewhere between $150 and $200 per person. This doesn’t mean that you must always stick to this range as sometimes circumstances can change and you might not be able to afford to gift that much money. In such cases, you can instead opt for giving a creative gift that has a lot of thought behind it but costs less money.
If you are still unsure about your financial wedding obligations, then here are a few tips on how you can make the right decision.
- Traditional norm – As per tradition, one should try to match the amount of money being spent by the couple on each guest. So, if the wedding couple is spending $100 per guest, then ideally you should be spending $200 ($100 from you and your plus one). This can get pretty expensive sometimes and so should be followed only if you can afford it.
- Consider your expenditure – A lot of people don’t consider how much they need to spend just to attend the wedding and find themselves getting stretched out financially when it comes to giving gifts. If you need to pay for accommodation and flights, then you can spend only what you can afford when it comes to the wedding gift.
- Closeness to the couple – The ideal wedding gift amount is somewhere around $150 but it can vary based on how close you are to the couple. Those who are very close to the couple usually shell out up to $200 or more per person whereas if you don’t know them personally, you can go down to $100 or $125 per person.
Before taking any decision, make sure you weigh in all the points above to figure out the best number to go for. There is no hard and fast rule that you must spend “x” amount of money. At the end of the day, it depends on how close you are, how much money you are spending to just attend the wedding and how much you can afford (Recommended article: “What Should You Give Your Daughter on Her Wedding Day?“)
Is it rude to give money as a gift?
Although one might think that, it is not considered to be rude if you give money as a gift to the wedding couple. In fact, it might be preferred over other items as it gives the couple the freedom to spend the money on what they need. In a lot of weddings, the couple usually ends up with a lot of duplicate items such as kitchen appliances and other household items. By gifting cash, they can either choose to add it to their savings or they can use it to buy something useful.
As they begin their new chapter in life, they will surely be grateful for any financial assistance in setting up their new home. The only thing you need to keep in mind is to always leave a note in the cash envelope. It not only adds a personal touch to the gift but it also allows you to express your wishes to them in a heartfelt manner. If you are worried about the envelope getting lost, then feel free to use a check instead of bills. If you want to know more about it, I recommend the article: “Do You Give Cash or Check As a Wedding Gift?“.
Is it awkward if I write a check for a wedding gift?
Not at all, writing checks or giving cash at weddings are easily accepted by couples and their families. However, while gifting a check, you need to make sure it’s written correctly. Otherwise, the check might bounce and it’ll put all of you in an awkward situation. The receiving couple might ask you to reissue it or they’ll simply write you a thank you note without receiving anything. It’ll be a total loss for both of you. For this reason, many people prefer gifting cash or gift vouchers that can be redeemed with something useful. However, if you want to write a check for a wedding gift and you’re quite accustomed to gifting checks, it won’t be a bad idea either. (Related article: “Do You Give Cash or Check As a Wedding Gift?“.)
How much money do you give a close friend at a wedding?
Generally, a distant relative or an acquaintance gives somewhere around $100 to $125 per person as a wedding gift. Since the average amount of money that is given as a wedding gift is $150, those who are close to the couple might give more. Based on how much they can afford, they can gift anywhere from $150 to $200 and above. This is calculated per individual basis and so if you have a plus one, then in total it can go up to $300 or $400. If you cannot afford it, you can gift them what you can as the couple will surely understand. Never feel pressured to gift more than what you can afford. (Recommended article: “Do Bridesmaids Give Gifts at Bachelorette Party?“)
How much do you give as a wedding gift to your sister?
Usually, people give $200-$300 to their siblings as a wedding gift but that’s not a standard that you have to maintain. I’ve seen people giving $100-$200 as well as others splurging $500-$1000 on their sister’s wedding. It ultimately depends upon how much you will be able to give or how close you actually are to your sister. If she’s a cousin or distant sister and you’re not that close, gifting $100-$150 is absolutely okay. Though it’s all about social etiquettes and relationships, there’s no standard rule that you have to maintain. I have gifted $300 money for my sister’s wedding and $150 for a distant cousin’s wedding recently.
How much do you give as a wedding gift if you don’t attend?
This one can get a bit tricky and is asked by a lot of people. After all, if you aren’t attending, then you don’t need to spend any money on hotels or traveling. So, should you give more money to the couple or the same amount if you had attended it? One easy solution will be to give a gift from the wedding registry. However, if you feel that giving them cash would be better, then you can gift them somewhere between $50 to $125 or $150 to $175 (per person) based on how close you are to the couple. (Related article: ‘Is It Rude to Skip a Wedding Ceremony and Go to the Reception?‘)
How much do you give for a wedding if you are not invited?
This one might seem tricky as well but it’s pretty simple as it’s more or less up to you and what you feel is right. If the couple isn’t very close to you, then you don’t have to send them a gift. If you feel generous, you absolutely can of course but you are not obligated to do so.
If it’s someone close to you but due to certain circumstances where they couldn’t invite everybody, then gifting them somewhere in the ballpark of $100 to $150 would be more than sufficient. It doesn’t even have to be money though as you can even call up the hotel where they are staying for their honeymoon and arrange a wine bottle to be sent to their room. Either way, do send a note too along with your gift to express your well-wishes to the newly married couple. If you want to know more about it, I recommend the article: “Do You Give a Gift If You don’t Go to the Wedding?“.
How should I write 100 dollars on a check?
To write 100 dollars on a check, you need to put down the dollars and cents in two separate fields. You’ll find the first field at the right side of the recipient’s name and the second field just below the recipient’s name. The left side field is a box for writing numbers and it usually starts with a dollar sign. The second field usually ends with the word dollars written on it. So, all you need to do is write the exact number, which is 100.00, in the left-field and then, one hundred and 00/100 in the second field.
Related Questions
What is the proper custom of sending a wedding gift?
The proper custom of sending a wedding gift might vary depending upon the cultural and traditional values of families and the region they belong to. However, here is a list of things that you can ensure if you want to maintain a proper custom of sending a wedding gift:
- Send the gift ahead – It can be beneficial if you shop early and send it prior to the wedding day. That’s because on wedding days, couples have too much on their plate and they may have to transport the presents on their special night.
- Send gifts joyfully – Whether you send gifts before the wedding day or on the wedding day, you need to send them joyfully. If you send the gift from your heart, the couple will surely be happily accepting no matter whether you gift some item or money.
- Receiving thank you notes – You are most likely to receive a thank you note once your gift reaches the couple. If you don’t get one, don’t worry unless you want to know whether they have received it or not. In that case, you can politely ask them if they have got it.
Why are wedding gifts so expensive nowadays?
There are multiple reasons that have increased the cost of wedding gifts but the main reason is inflation. The general increase in prices has lowered the purchasing value of money to such an extent that you’ll be surprised to see some of the price tags. Gifts that were worth $100 ten years back are probably worth $120 or more because of the rising prices. Hence, if you’re planning for a gift that was worth $100 in 2012 and thinking they would be the same, you’ll be hugely disappointed. So, my opinion would be to find something useful or decorative that’s worth its pricing value. If you’re spending $100 for a gift, make sure it’s a bang for the buck.
How much time do I have to send a wedding gift after it’s over?
According to social etiquette and gifting norms, you have up to one year time after the wedding if you want to send a gift. Having said that, I would recommend you send the gift as soon as possible if you’re invited or if you’ve attended. That’s not only because of the social norms but also because you might forget to send the gift as time will fly soon.
What should the groom’s family pay for?
Well, a groom’s parents usually gift the heirloom keepsake of their family to the bride. It can be a piece of jewelry or any other antique item that has been there in the family for generations. Some families also sponsor the honeymoon tour, wedding photography package, or home improvement items depending upon what the couple chooses. When it comes to the cost, I would suggest no less than $100. However, if you want to gift something special, the cost might exceed up to $350 or more.
What should the parents of the bride pay for?
Traditionally, a bride’s family pays for the wedding reception that includes the bride’s wedding dress, the bridesmaid’s gifts, the decorations, the photography team, and the invitations- to name a few. Luckily, things have changed today and some of the would-be brides are now so much financially independent that they take up all the responsibilities on their own or it’s equally divided between the bride and the groom. (Related article: ‘What Should You Give Your Daughter on Her Wedding Day?‘)
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