Wedding gift etiquette is often a hot topic for both the wedding couple and wedding guests. While some recent articles have suggested we do away with wedding gift giving altogether, we still think it’s a sweet/appreciated tradition that should be honored. And while we know that the cost of weddings is expensive for not only the bride and groom but the guests as well (not to mention the wedding party), a small gift can mean as much as, well, that giant crockpot. Here are wedding gift etiquette tips that will help you choose the best present(s) this wedding season.
Top Wedding Gift Etiquette Tips
Give a gift for every wedding event you RSVP to
Engagement parties, wedding showers, and ultimately the wedding itself are all events that wedding gift etiquette suggests you should buy gifts for if you are invited to them. If you’re attending 2 or 3 wedding and pre-wedding events, figure out how much you want to spend in total so you can budget a certain amount towards each. We recommend 20% for the engagement party, 20% for the bridal shower, and 60% for the wedding.
Send your gifts in a timely manner
You technically have a year to give a wedding gift, but we thinking sending a gift within a month after the wedding is good, and BEFORE the wedding is even better.
Stick to the wedding registry
These days, wedding registries are no longer cut-and-dry lists of kitchen goods and linens. HoneyFund allows couples to register for something as fun as a two-week Hawaiian
Unsure of where the couple is registered? There are easy ways to find out!
Most couples will include information about where they are registered on their wedding website. If you can’t find it there, you can always ask the mother of the bride or the groom! Even googling the names of the couple can usually help you locate their registry online, worst-case scenario.
You don’t have to spend a fortune
If you’re on a tight budget, go in on a gift with a group of friends or family. Wedding gifts don’t need to be expensive to be meaningful…even a small book of poems or a framed photo and a card can do the trick. Most registries will include gifts in a wide range of prices, so pick what you can realistically afford.
Checks or gift cards are always appreciated
If you’re invited to a wedding as a single guest, a general range is $50-$75 for a co-worker, $75-$100 if you’re a more distant friend/relative, and $100-$200+ if you’re an immediate relative or close friend. If you’re a couple you can give slightly more than listed above (if possible). Of course this all depends on your financial situation and what you feel comfortable giving (see above), as well as what’s common in your area and among your group of friends or family.
Brides, don’t forget to thank your guests!
How much do you give for wedding gifts on average? Is there ever a situation where you don’t give a wedding gift? Tell us in the comments section below!
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