Wedding Gifts - How Much To Spend

Most adults know how much to spend on birthdaytime, you may be able to save enough to
gifts or Mother's Day and Father's Day gifts. Wepurchase the wedding gift you would truly like to
have a feel for what is appropriate for baby gifts.give.
But when it comes to wedding gifts, how muchU.S. National Average
to spend may not be so easy to determine. WeIn the U.S., the national averages spent on
don't want to spend so little that we look cheap,wedding gifts fall into 3 categories. Each category
but we don't want to spend more than we canis determined by the relationship of the guests to
afford just to compete with other guests.the bridal couple.
Etiquette1. If buying for a co-worker or a distant family
With wedding gifts, how much to spend seems tomember, guests tend to spend $50-$75 each on
be a question of etiquette. Few of us feel totallya wedding gift.
comfortable with the rules of etiquette. In other2. Those attending the wedding of a relative or
areas of life, society has moved away from suchfriend are likely to spend $75-$100 each on a
rules. Etiquette books no longer have a place onwedding gift.
our bookshelves.3. When a close relative or close friend gets
Happily, etiquette books, or at least those whomarried, the wedding gift will probably cost
read them, have a place on the Internet. By$100-$150 or more per each guest.
researching those sites, you can get a better ideaThis may not be appropriate in your town or city.
of how much to spend on wedding gifts. You willIt is good to check with peers and learn what
want to remember these points.wedding gifts customarily cost where you live.
1. Negative: Do NOT try to spend according toPersonal Decision
what your meal will cost. It is a common mythWith wedding gifts, how much to spend really is a
that etiquette's "rule of thumb" is to estimatepersonal decision. Guests may give whatever
how much your meal might cost and spend thatwedding gifts they choose. You should never be
much on a gift. The current (2007) price rangeguided by how much you think the bride's family
for a meal is thought to be between $65 andwill spend on the meal. You should not be guided
$150 per person. If two of you will be attendingby what others might give.
together, you would double that amount. This isShop for a wedding gift according to what you
NOT true according to etiquette. Furthermore, athink the bride and groom will like, not according
recent survey shows that only 10 percent ofto the price tag. If they have registered at a local
brides agree with that idea. If followed, it wouldstore, check the registry. If you see an item you
mean that a couple choosing a casual affair wouldwant to buy and can afford, don't be turned
receive less expensive gifts simply because theaway because it is the least expensive item on
reception was casual.the registry.
2. Positive: Emily Post says there is no rule. YouSend Wedding Gifts and End the Competition
should let your affection for the bride and groomEtiquette says wedding gifts are to be sent to
guide you, but you should stay within yourthe bride's home. They are not to be delivered in
budget, and be financially responsible when youperson, either to the home or to the wedding
buy a wedding gift. The giving of wedding gifts islocation. If wedding gifts are delivered to the
not a competition. Your gift should reflect whowedding location, the bride and groom should wait
you are and your relationship to the bride andand open them at home in private.
groom. If you cannot afford to give as much asFinally, whether a wedding gift costs $5 or $5,000,
you would like, remember that the gift can bea well-mannered bride and groom will accept it
given within the first year after the wedding.graciously and appreciate the thoughtfulness.
Sooner is better, of course. But with that much