How Much for a Wedding Guest Right Now?

[Anonymous]

I am out of the loop on weddings. What would you say is customary to give for a good friend for a wedding right now for someone in the area? As a single person and as a couple? Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Single person $150, couple $300

[Anonymous]

This really depends on your social circles. Some people here claim they always give $300+ but I've been to a lot of UMC weddings in DC and never seen that for friends. I've seen more along the lines of $100-150 for a single person and $100-250 for a couple. Adjust down if guests are still in their 20's.

[Anonymous]

How old are you? DCUM always answers high on this question and I suspect it’s because it skews older. PP is correct for late 20s/early 30s weddings.

[Anonymous]

$200 per guest, so $400 a couple. I am planning my wedding in DC now. Honestly $200 is probably on the “acceptable” side- $250 is more reasonable.

[Anonymous]

It's a minimum of $150 / guest for a "basic" wedding. Definitely goes up if it's black tie, NYC, etc

[Anonymous]

Thanks. OP here. This is for a couple in their mid 30s. This is around what I said, and I also felt it varied by age and location.

My younger partner worried it was too much and felt weird about it. I said better than you give too much than too little. I think I was right on the money. (Ha.) I am older, so most of the people I know are getting divorced....not married for the first time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:$200 per guest, so $400 a couple. I am planning my wedding in DC now. Honestly $200 is probably on the “acceptable” side- $250 is more reasonable.

You are going to be disappointed with your haul.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:$200 per guest, so $400 a couple. I am planning my wedding in DC now. Honestly $200 is probably on the “acceptable” side- $250 is more reasonable.

You are going to be disappointed with your haul.

Hah - all im saying is that catering prices are all in the $180-$240 range and this is pretty in-line with what my friends also tend to give. A lot of my friends are starting to get married which is probably why they're more attune with catering prices and the concept of "cover your plate". I am in the boat of - giving an extra $100 isn't going to be something I'm up at night about. I realize i am incredibly privileged and can afford to be generous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:$200 per guest, so $400 a couple. I am planning my wedding in DC now. Honestly $200 is probably on the “acceptable” side- $250 is more reasonable.

You are going to be disappointed with your haul.

Hah - all im saying is that catering prices are all in the $180-$240 range and this is pretty in-line with what my friends also tend to give. A lot of my friends are starting to get married which is probably why they're more attune with catering prices and the concept of "cover your plate". I am in the boat of - giving an extra $100 isn't going to be something I'm up at night about. I realize i am incredibly privileged and can afford to be generous.

I never understood this “cover your plate” thing. Why not just post someone at the door to collect exact change from guests?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:$200 per guest, so $400 a couple. I am planning my wedding in DC now. Honestly $200 is probably on the “acceptable” side- $250 is more reasonable.

You are going to be disappointed with your haul.

Hah - all im saying is that catering prices are all in the $180-$240 range and this is pretty in-line with what my friends also tend to give. A lot of my friends are starting to get married which is probably why they're more attune with catering prices and the concept of "cover your plate". I am in the boat of - giving an extra $100 isn't going to be something I'm up at night about. I realize i am incredibly privileged and can afford to be generous.

The idea of covering your plate is gross, and I hope it goes away soon.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:$200 per guest, so $400 a couple. I am planning my wedding in DC now. Honestly $200 is probably on the “acceptable” side- $250 is more reasonable.

You are going to be disappointed with your haul.

Hah - all im saying is that catering prices are all in the $180-$240 range and this is pretty in-line with what my friends also tend to give. A lot of my friends are starting to get married which is probably why they're more attune with catering prices and the concept of "cover your plate". I am in the boat of - giving an extra $100 isn't going to be something I'm up at night about. I realize i am incredibly privileged and can afford to be generous.

The idea of covering your plate is gross, and I hope it goes away soon.

?
I have only ever seen it on DCUM. Had no idea it was a thing when I got married. I had no expectation that someone should "pay me back" for being invited to my wedding. Why even have guests if you feel that way?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:$200 per guest, so $400 a couple. I am planning my wedding in DC now. Honestly $200 is probably on the “acceptable” side- $250 is more reasonable.

You are going to be disappointed with your haul.

Hah - all im saying is that catering prices are all in the $180-$240 range and this is pretty in-line with what my friends also tend to give. A lot of my friends are starting to get married which is probably why they're more attune with catering prices and the concept of "cover your plate". I am in the boat of - giving an extra $100 isn't going to be something I'm up at night about. I realize i am incredibly privileged and can afford to be generous.

The idea of covering your plate is gross, and I hope it goes away soon.

?
I have only ever seen it on DCUM. Had no idea it was a thing when I got married. I had no expectation that someone should "pay me back" for being invited to my wedding. Why even have guests if you feel that way?

Technically, you don't have guests, you have customers.

[Anonymous]

I went to a expensive wedding $500
A plate wedding in 1992. I still recall the Band called 747 and just peaked on line and they still play weddings. She booked the Jumbo 747 package with around 20 musicians and she fed them all. She had it at the Harrison Mansion (think Great Gatsby) I recall full Lobsters and Caviar at the cock tail hour. Must have been 500-60 people. black tie event.

Even then at 29 I gave $400 for me and my girlfriend.

Another I went to hired round trip car service every guest!! I recall we got picked up in a Luxury van with liquor, cold beer, bubbly you name it.

I also got invite to a VFW hall with tap beer and a really crappy wedding by a cheapskate.

My cousin actual leaves the check blank till after main course.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:$200 per guest, so $400 a couple. I am planning my wedding in DC now. Honestly $200 is probably on the “acceptable” side- $250 is more reasonable.

You are going to be disappointed with your haul.

Hah - all im saying is that catering prices are all in the $180-$240 range and this is pretty in-line with what my friends also tend to give. A lot of my friends are starting to get married which is probably why they're more attune with catering prices and the concept of "cover your plate". I am in the boat of - giving an extra $100 isn't going to be something I'm up at night about. I realize i am incredibly privileged and can afford to be generous.

The idea of covering your plate is gross, and I hope it goes away soon.

?
I have only ever seen it on DCUM. Had no idea it was a thing when I got married. I had no expectation that someone should "pay me back" for being invited to my wedding. Why even have guests if you feel that way?

It’s definitely the expectation in the NY/NJ area. I don’t think it is a common notion in DC.