There should never be a time when attending a wedding of a friend or loved one turns into less of a time for fun celebration, and more into a social and financial obligation. But those times exist. It may not make wedding season fun to think about it in terms of dollars and cents; why should you have to? You’re a guest!
But in reality it is always great to be prepared, and you can’t work with what you got, as they say, if you can’t figure out how to work with it, and make the most of it. Even if scaling back financially is not a concern, big spenders aren’t immune to etiquette, and while flashy displays certainly have their place, large gifts (cash or not) typically should be given discreetly.
Of course that jumps the gun a bit, but since we’re on the subject; cash registries makes discreet gifting a lot easier! So keep reading. You’ll find great ideas for items and ideas that stray from the category of expensive or cheap; labeled simply as great gifts!
Etiquette
It is alight, and necessary in the greater scheme of things, to stay true to your own budget. That said, there is only one rule to follow when it comes to deciding how much to spend on a gift.
1. Consider how much money you can spend comfortably at the time of the wedding; how well you know a couple matters too.
$120.00 is the national average when it comes to cash gifting via monetary registrations. According to top nuptial donation registration site Tendr… not to be confused with another very tech world present app that helps couples in a different way. Amounts trend up or downwards in different cities and within different social circles, and this applies to gifting of all sorts.
Consider and accept cultural traditions. Cash registries are new, but cash gifting certainly is not. We’ve likely all seen cash gifting at elaborate weddings in the movies, even if we haven’t seen it take place at a wedding you’ve attended.
Gifting Ideas
Now that you know how much to spend, or at least how to determine how much to spend, let’s talk about wedding gifts!
- Subscription Services: Something like Taste the World which sends monthly curated boxes of regional foods from around the world, or something more health leaning like ALOHA.
- Their Favorites: Consider a box of his favorite cigars and a bottle or case of her favorite wine or champagne.
- A Work of Art: Have it commissioned by a talented friend or stroll through an art festival, or even the gift store at your favorite museum, for something that reminds you of the couple.
- Collectibles: A signed album or book, 1000+ cool points if it’s a rare print or first run copy, is an amazing gift for just about any event. Make sure it isn’t just something you’d like; remember it’s for the couple!
Vacation, All They Ever Wanted: A honeymoon or secondary post-wedding trip is always a big gift, and always a great one. Flexible may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think about paying the cost of a trip. If the couple lives a short drive away from the woods, or even a forest reserve/campground, consider renting a weekend cabin; something that can be quite cost effective. Although if you’ve got the money and the will to gift an all exclusive to the Virgin Islands, why not?!
