How much should I spend on a wedding gift?

Your presence, a present or both? Knowing what to buy or how much to spend on a wedding gift can be more stressful than walking down the aisle.

When it comes to wedding etiquette, some things are set in stone: don’t upstage the bride, don’t declare your love for the groom and don’t give a spontaneous toast if you’re already…toasted. But when it comes to wedding gifts, what is an acceptable budget? Because once you’ve added everything up, the day could cost you well over $1,000.

The “cover your plate” rule is an old-fashioned guideline. It suggests your gift budget should cover your eating and drinking costs. However, this can make the wedding feel like an exchange – and doesn’t factor in different budgets or personal relationships.

To help you gauge your wedding gift budget, consider the following:

1. HOW CLOSE ARE YOU WITH THE COUPLE?
If it’s your sister from another mister or your brother from another mother getting married, you’ll probably want to spend more on the present – plus, you’ll want your gift to be memorable and meaningful. According to Canstar, somewhere around $250 should be your budget. Remember, you’re (hopefully) only doing this once.

If it’s your new friend from the gym or a work colleague, you should be looking at about $100-$150. Remember, they have still chosen you to be part of their special day. However, if you’ve been invited to your boss’ wedding, your cousin’s wedding and your partner’s auntie’s wedding too, you may need to reduce your budget so you can buy a gift for every couple.

2. IS IT A DESTINATION WEDDING?
Tuscany, Thailand or Traralgon? The wedding’s location can help dictate your present budget.

If you’ve paid for flights and accommodation, a wedding gift isn’t always necessary – the bride and groom will know you’ve splashed a bit of cash to attend their special day.

However, you may still want to give a little something-something. A crispy fifty is an acceptable destination-wedding budget, which could be a nice dinner out in Thailand or something sentimental like a bottle of sparkling from the local Tuscan vineyard.

3. HOW MUCH HAVE YOU SPENT ON PRE-WEDDING ACTIVITIES?
Engagement presents, an extravagant bachelor or bachelorette party / bridal shower – all before the wedding day, too. These events and parties can add up and cause a dent in your budget, especially if you have a few weddings at the same time (Katherine Heigl having 27 best friends is believable, but buying 27 wedding presents is not).

The 60-20-20 rule can help answer the question as old as weddings themselves – how much should I spend? It suggests:

  • 20% of your budget on an engagement party gift

  • 20% of your budget on the shower gift

  • 60% on the wedding gift

Still stuck on a dollar amount? Simply follow this rule of thumb to give you an indication.

wedding chart.jpg
 

4. WHAT’S YOUR CURRENT FINANCIAL SITUATION?
If you’re between jobs, saving for a house deposit or you’ve just received a bunch of wedding invitations, you may not have the luxury of splurging on gifts. But don’t let this stress you out – true friends will not expect you to go into debt for them.

Instead, you can gift the bride and groom with your help and services, especially if you’re a hairdresser, makeup artist, florist, graphic designer, writer or anything else related to a wedding. You might even be a whiz with a spreadsheet (hello wedding planner). Even something as straightforward as driver’s license and offering your chauffeur services can be a big help when organising the big day.

A thoughtful gesture or an extra pair of hands can mean a lot more than an electronic pepper grinder.

5. ARE YOU IN THE WEDDING PARTY?
Bridesmaids and groomsmen can feel the pinch when it comes to their best friend’s wedding. Hair and makeup, a dress that’ll never be worn again – and that’s just the groom on his bucks night! If you’re part of this intimate and VIP crew, the good news is your time, love and support is way more valuable.

If there’s a big-ticket item, the wedding party can band together to give a joint present. A bigger budget means you could buy the couple artwork or furniture – or something extra special from the wedding registry.

PLAN YOUR GIFT BUDGET IN ADVANCE
When choosing a present, a little planning before the big day can help find the perfect gift that won’t break the bank or send you shopping the morning of the wedding. Consider your relationship with the bride and groom, the wedding’s location and your current bank balance. And at the end of the day, the best wedding gifts are thoughtful and sentimental, not necessarily flashy and expensive.

If you want to buy a big-ticket item or go all out on a wedding gift, find out how to save without any unnecessary stress.

View the live article here.