How Much Money Would You Spend on a Wedding Gift?

Nobody is obligated to get a gift from the registry, and most people realize that. If your daughter has gone overboard on registry items, well, that's her lookout and people can think what they want. They will anyway.

I read so many posts on this site from people who seem to be trying to equate the value of the gift with the quality of the food at the reception, or some value judgement they make about the extravagance of the wedding and reception, or they want to use the value of the gift as a way to punish the bride for whatever perceived slights they have experienced, or for etiquette violations by the bride or her family.

For gosh sakes. This is your daughter. This will be (hopefully) the only wedding she ever has. It's supposed to be an occasion of joy and love. Forget for a day whatever transgressions your daughter has committed and get her something that represents love from the heart. Geez, two of the news stories I'm hearing over and over tonight are about people who were killed or found dead on the eve of their weddings. You don't know what the future is going to bring, what will happen to you and your daughter. Are you going to make an irrevocably petty memory out of what could be one of the most memorable days of your daughter's life?

Go chill. Crack open a bottle of champagne or something. Do the loving thing, be happy for the wedding, and let your daughter be her husband's problem from then on.

Travel shouldn't make a difference in the amount spent on a wedding gift, but it often does because it reduces how much spare money someone has to put towards a gift.

Also, your region seems to have alot to do with how much is spent. I've noticed answers on here from people in other areas of the country where they are comfortable giving $25 gifts.

I attended a wedding in the midwest and the gifts given for the wedding were stuff people in the northeast (where I'm from) would give as a shower gift - - not the wedding itself.

I usually give cash for the wedding as opposed to a physical gift, so if it is in my budget I start at a gift of $50 - $100 depending upon how well I know the couple - - A co-worker would get $50; A relative would get $100 (double if the gift were from my fiance & I). There was a time, when my fiance was unemployed, that we were only able to pull together $100 as a total gift from the both of us for a relative's wedding. It happens.

If it were my sister getting married, I'd try to give her more.

I think that it depends on where you live for how much you are willing to spend on a wedding gift. I would never give less than $75 (or the equivalent gift off a registry). If you have people coming from out of state their ideas on wedding gifts may be different than your own. If your daughter wants to put some big ticket items on the registry that is fine. You may have a generous aunt or uncle who would like to give them the gift. In addition, I have pitched in with other people to give the bride and gift a more expensive gift. If you have young adults coming they might be planning to do this.

You should always have a variety of items on your registry for guests of all different incomes. Someone may be only able to spend $25 on a gift and get her the spatula and cookie sheets, but someone may be able to spend $100 on a gift and that same person doesn't need to be competing for the spatula and cookie sheets as the person who can't afford more.

The idea of a registry is to pick gifts you want in varying price ranges. You should usually register at one place for china, silver, crystal. Then register at a department store for the rest, like canisters, salt and pepper shakers, everyday dishes etc.

There should always be at least 2 expensive gifts on the list. The reasoning behind this is that the wedding party usually combines their money and buys the happy couple a great gift.

WOW, apparently Cassie B has a lot of money to throw around, lol. I never spend more depending on whether or not I attend the wedding. I do spend more on immediate family and close friends. I spend approximately 20 to 50 dollars per wedding gift. If we've been invited to the wedding usually I've also had a shower gift to purchase and I like to keep that around 25. I like to find something on their gift registry that is a very practical, useful gift, yet reasonably priced. In these economically hard times I think brides & grooms need to realize that not everyone will be spending $100+ on them. So stay within your budget and don't feel pressured to outdo anyone! Maybe if you are close friend or family member & you have a talent you can share, like making bouquets, taking pics, playing the piano or cake baking that could be your gift to the couple. I wouldn't want to take those on unless I was really good at it or I was a professional.

I would say $50 is a great budget for a friend or someone you do not know that well. When it is a close friend or family member you know their needs and wants but more so you desire to do more for them. In that case it is easy to spend a $100 or more on them or simply get them something you know they need or want. Basically it is not a limit when it is a close friend or family member, when it is a co worker or not so close friend $50 is a great gift attending or not.

Good Luck :)

well as a daughter i dont find it wrong not going over 50 bucks to me the most important thing is that having family and friends that care. the gifts shouldnt really be a big deal besides sometimes people just get carried away when they make a list of things they want, maybe shell realize that she was wrong when the guest dont giver her exactly what she askd for but you shouldnt worry bout, thats her problem.

If it's someone I don't know that well but my husband and I are attending the wedding I would give a minimum of $100. If close family or friends probably around 200-300. If we are not attending the wedding and it's not someone we know very well I would probably just pick something around $50 off the registry and have it sent to their house.

I spend around 50 bucks. Some times more if I find something that just SCREAMS they will love this.

Depending on how well you know them a minimum of $100