How much cash is reasonable to give as wedding gift?

KateLiana27

I'm English. My husband is Irish. When we got married a couple of years ago, the average gift from an English couple/family was £30-50. The average gift from an Irish couple/family was £100-200.

Just my personal experience - draw your own conclusions!

My own opinion is that gifts should never be expected, or asked for, and whatever you receive should be accepted graciously. Travelling to weddings is hugely expensive and any bride or groom with class would be happy that the guest went to the effort and expense to attend.

I also feel that as a guest, it's much easier to get away with an inexpensive gift (such as a photo frame or album, home-made item, etc) than the equivalent in cash. The best gifts we received were a good quality knife (cost about £25) and a handmade picnic blanket (priceless). If you're on a budget, I'd be tempted to go this route.

gibson123

I must over-gift, I would expect to give £50 to a friend and £100 for a close relative. Weddings are expensive and asking for US dollars for honeymoon spends means that the couple can really splurge probably following two or three years of careful saving for the wedding. Foreign currency spending always feels less sinful than using Sterling. They only get married once (hopefully) so I would give as much as I could afford.

moneypuddle

Thanks everyone. I think we'll stick with $40.

alison6692

I recently went to a wedding and we gave £40.

claire16c

Pollycat wrote: »

I think asking for US dollars as a gift is not very nice.

It means (assuming that you haven't been to America recently) that you (the giver of the gift) has to pay additional costs to change the money from sterling (or euros for their friends in Ireland) into dollars.

There's often a minimum amount you can order or a mimimum commission charge which will either devalue the gift or cost the giver even more money than they would normally give.

It seems a very poorly thought-out idea and it would have been far better for them to ask for cash and then change all the gift money into US dollars themselves.

If I was the OP, I would give whatever she thinks is appropriate in sterling.

What additional costs would you incur getting some dollars? I havent paid commission on getting holiday money for probably around 10 years now. And you can change as little as you like in most places. Sounds like youve been going to some odd places to change money!

bluestarlight wrote: »

Im glad I dont have the same friends as GracieP. I've never experienced people asking for £100s for their wedding. Dont tar us all with the same brush.

Its not about people asking. Its about the custom.

claire16c

embob74 wrote: »

Bear in mind that Americans have a different set of etiquette rules to the UK. It is normal for their bridesmaids and ushers to pay for their own attire so they might not be expecting guests to pay much as they will have already paid out to stay.

Most Americans Ive known have similar expectations in terms of gifts and some do gift lists like we do here, but theyve often told me its considered rude to put anything about it in the invite, and that if someone wants to know what to buy the couple, they should find out through the bridesmaids or mother of the bride, rather than a request dropping out the envelope of the invite.

RuthnJasper

thegirlintheattic wrote: »

I'm only giving £25 for a wedding next weekend. Even though it's relatively local it's all I can afford.

I can appreciate that my ideas of monetary worth and generosity have changed since I went from being relatively affluent to my current life of poverty - but I think that £25 is an extremely generous gift.

I think that, sadly, the way of the world is so materialistic and 'must-have' these days that a lot of people feel guilty for spending under £50/£100 on a lavish bit of gadgetry that will probably be used once and then sit untouched in a cupboard for decades.

And there's all the emphasis on fripperies like "save the date" cards (just send out the invite and be done with it!) and "favours" for the guests. Why?!? At a recent wedding that I attended, instead of higher-priced "favours" for the guests, everyone was given a little packet of English Wild-flower seeds to take away and sow in their garden/window-box when they got home as a "party-gift". Everyone's names were written on the seed-packets, so they served as place-cards too. REALLY cheap and sweet idea, I thought. My seeds have already started to grow and the flowers are the sorts that attract bees and butterflies and will re-seed themselves to grow again year after year. That, to me, is a really thoughtful and sweet gift and better any day than the latest Microsoft Wii all-in-one ice-cream maker chip fryer 'n' exercise bike for a modest £1,200...! Oh dear, I'm getting a bit 'ranty' now - sorry about that.

GirlintheAttic - I think your £25 is a lovely gift to give - Hope you enjoy your day out of the attic at the wedding! xx

Pollycat

claire16c wrote: »

What additional costs would you incur getting some dollars? I havent paid commission on getting holiday money for probably around 10 years now. And you can change as little as you like in most places. Sounds like youve been going to some odd places to change money!

OK, say you have decided to give £40 as a wedding gift but the bride & groom have asked for US dollars.

The exchange rate according to here:
http://www.oanda.com/currency/travel-exchange-rates

Can you really walk into anywhere doing currency exchange and get $62.72 for your £40?

Okydoky25

If it was in the country I normally give £50-£100 but I've been to a wedding abroad in europe and didn't give money I sent a personalised photo frame with a picture of their day once we were home (£20) more than enough after spending out for travel. I think £25 is more than ok it's you being there that will coun

jm2926

Pollycat wrote: »

OK, say you have decided to give £40 as a wedding gift but the bride & groom have asked for US dollars.

The exchange rate according to here:
http://www.oanda.com/currency/travel-exchange-rates

Can you really walk into anywhere doing currency exchange and get $62.72 for your £40?

You can check rates and what you will get Here

But it really doesn't matter, you change the £40 and give them whatever you have in dollars. It still costs £40 regardless of the rate