OP wants to be perceived as generous but not ostentatious. $300 for the whole family when kids are not otherwise invited will not accomplish that. She doesn't want to look like a cheapskate ($300). |
| That is why you purchase a gift, no cash. People appreciate the memories of a gift and no one knows how much you spent. |
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I think the $500-$1,000 people are on track. A decade ago, my closest aunts and uncles gave me and DH around $500 per family for our wedding.
DH and I are late 30s and don’t have a ton of disposable income by DCUM standards. However, we gave DHs sister $700 for her recent wedding. That’s by no means what we give at any old wedding! But OP said it’s someone dear to them. |
| Upon consulting the experts, a wedding gift should range from $75 to $750—but most agree that $300+ is the sweet spot. -Emily Post |
| Everyone on this thread is NEW money. |
There are two different posters being replied to. One is shocked by the higher figures but that is not OP. |
| I basically give $250 per family member attending if it is in a luxury hotel. If it is a budget wedding then I give $100-$150. If it is a DIY backyard wedding, I give $50. |
+1 |
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If you can afford it, I try to cover our cost of the meal (@ $100/pp) + gift ($100-200) to be generous.
Give what you can - just don't be a blatant ass ($10/pp doesn't cover Subway meal). |
| Give what you can afford! |
Presbyterian and we do not expect guests to cover cost of their meal! Guests are invited because we want them to share our joy and not rib their bank account! |
This is what we do. |
| When I got married 5 years ago in DC, cash gifts ranged from $100 to $300. Our friends were mostly lawyers in their 30s. But not big law. |
I got married in 1998 and $500 was going rate for families. I had a very modest wedding but even in 1998 cost me around $100 a person just for actually meal. Add in DJ, limos, flowers, hosting rehearsal dinner my mom doing breakfast next day it was like $150 a person in 1998. We were paying out own wedding and at time I made $55k and wife made 55k. So yea be nice to at least cover the food you are. $500 a family of five in 1998 was good as covered most of cost. Today in 2024 $500 is a restaurant bill for a family in a nice restaurant sadly. |
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Does anyone have a clue? I was at Nemacolin last summer and upscale weddings they charge one million. Run of mill weddings $250,000.
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