As wedding invites start to pile up on your mailbox, your bank account starts to feel stressed. The idea of having to spend your hard earned money on traveling for flights, hotels, bridesmaid dresses, and a present can cause you a serious headache. A wedding gift etiquette being a little taboo can certainly complicate matters. The biggest question being how much to spend on a wedding gift. But that isn’t the only question that will pop up while wedding gift shopping. Below, I compiled the answers to a few of the most asked questions about wedding gift etiquette. I truly hope that these answers will be useful while you tackle the difficult task of picking the perfect wedding gift.
1. How much should I spend on a wedding gift?
If you are a friend of the couple spending around $100 for a wedding gift is a reasonable amount of money. Family members are expected to spend a little more money around $150. Even if you aren’t close to the couple, it’s a little inconsiderate to spend less than $50 on a wedding gift. If you’re a coworker or a distant friend, you can spend around $50 to $75 for a wedding gift for the happy couple. Of course, you can always spend less or more depending on your budget and your relationship with the couple.
2. Is it OK to give cash at a wedding?
There’s nothing wrong with gifting a couple cash. Many guests prefer to give cash as a wedding gift. As the majority of couples are getting married later in life and already have fully furnished houses, they prefer cash to traditional wedding gifts. If you are giving cash, send it ahead of the wedding day. In the day itself, it is easy your cash gift to be misplaced or lost. Some couples may even register for cash to go directly into their bank account. You can wire your cash wedding gift and send a hand-written card as the keepsake for the couple.
3. Is it OK to buy gifts that aren’t on the wedding registry?
When you want to get a wedding gift that isn’t on the registry, you still can sometimes. A couple takes the time to select items that they need, so it makes sense to choose a gift from a wedding registry. If you are close to the couple, you can always ask the couple if they would like something off their registry. For example, air tickets or getaway trip for the happy couple.
4. Should I buy a gift if I can’t attend the wedding?
If you have a close relationship with the couple, it’s probably best to send a gift. On the other hand, if you feel you are the last guest in a long guest list of a distant relative or friend send your warm wishes with a handwritten note. However, if you decide to send a gift, feel free to spend less than you might spend if you were attending. For example, a $30 wine opener still makes a lovely token of congratulations that the couple will surely appreciate.
5. Should I increase the wedding gift amount if I have a plus one?
According to the wedding gift etiquette, your wedding gift amount doesn’t have to increase if you bring a date. However, if you have a close relationship with the couple, you can always choose a slightly more expensive wedding gift.
6. Should I ship a gift directly or bring it to the wedding?
The best method for gifting is to send it to the couple’s home, versus bringing it to the wedding. There are just so many things to keep track of the day of the wedding. However, bringing a physical gift to the wedding is appropriate in you to choose an off the registry wedding gift. Yet, again it is best to send your wedding gift to the couple’s house even if it’s off the couple’ registry.
7. How long do I have after the wedding to get the couple a wedding gift?
Traditionally, you have up to six months to get the couple a wedding gift. However, the sooner you can give the wedding gift the better.
