Wedding gift

[len19070]

Way off topic here, Whats the going rate these days for a cash wedding gift? I haven't been to a wedding in so long. Thanks.

Happy Trails

Len

[BILLYL]

Now that depends- How closely are you related to the bride and or groom? It really comes down to a personal issue. I generally will do $500 + for direct relations - but this is not a hard fast rule.

Bill

[Gage]

$1000, just send it to me and I'll forward it on. Na, I have been known to give $50. But first I try and find out if they are regestered with a dept. store or something and give them a gift certificate for that amount.

Good luck Len & have a good day.

[Ira]

Boy, this is a tough one. My mom's an EXPERT on this:

Her philosophy is to take the cost of being invited (she has spreadheets for all of this stuff for different catering halls in various parts of the country), multiply by Pi, and then divide by that day's average temperature.

Giving the gift out of joy and happiness for the recipient has nothing to do with it at all.

When I was Bar Mitzvahed, she wrote down how much everyone gave me. (Yids just give money, not gifts.) She then used this list as a guide for when I went to attend OTHER Bar Mitzvahs.

A brief history of what makes me ME.

My rule is to give what I can afford--I'm not embarrassed to go to a lavish event and give less than the "average."

[billnut]

Gosh when Linda and I got marrieb 49 years ago I got a new bass boat. Sold the bass boat, Still got Linda (sure miss that boat)
Bill

[Ira]

:D Gosh when Linda and I got marrieb 49 years ago I got a new bass boat. Sold the bass boat, Still got Linda (sure miss that boat)
Bill

Did SHE give you the boat to get you out of the house?

[The Teardrop Nanny]

Did the couple request cash only? Will they have a wedding tree at the reception?
If they requested $$$ you can give whatever you feel like as the money might be pooled to buy a larger gift like the honeymoon, a car or house payment. If you know the couple well think about how much you'd generally spend in time, effort, and shopping to select the gift when you put some money into that envelope. ($50 is what I generally go with as well) Sometimes cash is easy, but you can also find a slew of gift cards for a variety of places at our local Safeway Grocery Store. You could give them a gift certificate for that amount or have them choose the location. I always like to think that years down the line the couple will have special gifts to remind them of their wedding like a fancy tablecloth or beautiful bowl (heirlooms) cuz the money's gone so quickly and often they really don't remember on what...

TDN

[An Ol Timer]

Another solution. Flip a coin and either go to the wedding or save your money and go camping. Either way 50% of all weddings are over in 5 years, but camping memories last forever!!!

[Micro469]

I usually figure the cost of the meal x2and then 10% tip

[Woodbutcher]

My Daughter just got married 2 years ago. They got from $50.00 to $100 per couple most often . Some gave 200.00-300.00 per couple. The younger guests tended to give more then the middle aged folks. Most likely they know what weddings cost. Bottom line, we give $200.00 as a couple if it's at a nice place. Less if it's an outdoor casual wedding. We try to more then cover the cost of having us.

[Nytewyng]

I hate to go to wedding knowing that the odds are against it lasting ( coming from a 33 year veteran) We give 100 to close relatives

[Arne]

I just try to cover the plate charge, as most are not that close.... but that is in the $250/couple range now.

I am giving serious consideration to just saying 'no' unless Shirley twists my arm, or they are close relatives..... it has gotten to 'enough is enough' with me. I'm not the party animal I used to be, and making small talk with mostly strangers has lost its novelty.