I want to give a cash gift to my neighbor's son who is getting married. What
amount is appropriate?
The appropriate amount of a wedding gift (whether a
cash gift or the value of an actual gift) is very much dependent on a
number of factors, mainly, your relationship with the couple, your
social circle, and (most important) your own financial situation.
However, it's possible to share some generalities about gift size, which
I hope will be of some help to you.
In the West, where I live and work, I would say that at the average
middle income wedding, the average gift for a niece/nephew/godchild or
similar relationship probably averages about 30 to 75 dollars.
For upper income social circles, the numbers are probably more like $75
- 100.
In eastern and southern US cities, the average amounts seem to
be a bit higher. Also, the general gift-giving etiquette appears to be bit more strict.
A special relationship between you and the bride or groom might suggest
a slightly higher gift amount. Also, a general habit of giving larger
gifts would also need to be considered.
For example, if you are the kind of person who would give $20 for a
birthday or graduation gift for a person with whom you have a similar
relationship, then for a wedding, you would probably want to spend
closer to $50 than $20. A wedding, since it's a "one-time-only" event
and such an important rite of passage, usually merits a slightly more
elaborate gift than some other events.
Hope this helps. Best wishes to you, and to the bride and groom.
Foreverwed.com expert-- Sara L. Ambarian
author of "A Bride's Touch: A Handbook of Wedding Personality and
Inspiration"/ creative consultant/ custom bridal designer
mailto:sara@www.foreverwed.com
For more wedding information:
http://www.foreverwed.com/~sara
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