After reading the threads about cash bars, public dances and $50 meals...I'm curious how much your average guest gave as a gift. If the guests are spending less on average, I can justify having a partial cash bar.
Here in NJ, the average middle class wedding gift is $100 per person. We had ONE person give a non-monetary gift. He brought a bottle of scotch that he drank himself, but that's other thread-worthy.
What are customary gifts where you live?
(Tasteless discussion topic, I know. But after the below threads, I'm curious)
Re: What's the average $$ you received as a wedding gift?
The average that I received was about 100 bucks. I generally spend 50 to 100 dollars depending on who it is. Sometimes a little more if it's family. I didn't receive any cash for my wedding. Most of our gifts were fine china and Waterford Crystal.
Around here it seems to really vary. The older ladies (my mom's generation) will spend $200+ for a wedding present, plus sometimes another $100+ on bridal shower presents.
I have the first wedding we've ever been invited to coming up, and I have no idea how much we'll spend. It's for F's cousin who he doesn't really like all that much.
My best friend from back in the day bought us a $20 picture frame. But she drove in from Chicago so I didn't side eye her twice.
Most people gave *about $200/couple... So $100/person
Some did like $125-150/couple.... Then some ballers gave $300, $400 &$500.
Average was probably $100. I think the highest cash gift was $500. We got very few actual gifts at the wedding.
I'd say depending on the couple we usually give anywhere from $100-150, unless it's immediate family then it's more.
I would say the average was $100/couple. One of DH's brothers gave us $30, two of my fab cousins gave us gift cards to their personal online store bwahaha. My brother gave us $1000.01. Yeah, .01 because he lives to be odd. He also wrote a note on it that he'd be over for dinner the next day because he's a mooch so the grand was sort of to cover the fact that he would show up for food all.the.time
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sorry not a regular, but i am bored and this thread is interesting. ive never been to a wedding without an open bar. actually every function anyone has from our area that requires/assumes you will bring a gift includes an open bar from the host. this includes bridal showers, baby showers, baptisms, etc. i have only been to one baby shower in the past 10+ years that didn't have an open bar but it had that sherbert punch stuff, one offered in virgin and the other made w/vodka.
Wow I'm glad I don't live where you all live!
We probably averaged about $50 per couple/family from those who gave money. We had a couple $25 cheques/gift cards and a couple $100 (maybe???), but we only got about $1500 cash/gift cards the rest was gifts from our registry. I have never been to a wedding that didn't have a gift table loaded with gifts, so it would be weird to me to see no gifts at a wedding! The average cost of actual gifts was probably around $50 as well, unless people went together then it was probably more like $150-$200.
We haven't been in great financial freedom the last couple of years, so until now we've only done about $25 gifts, but now we are a bit better off so I can see us doing around $40ish to $50 for gifts.
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Most friends and coworkers gave $50-$100.
Close friends and family $100-$150.
Same here. I also live in NY
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I had a small wedding (<50 people). We mostly got cash gifts from anyone in the generation older than us. They ranged from $300-500 each. Everyone in our generation was poor (kind of like us). I don't think any of them gave us anything. Not in a bad way. We were just glad to spend time with them. We all love each other and they had to travel so we were stoked they were there. Of course I'm divorced now....
We got a few envelopes with only $50 and many with $400-$500, so I'd say average was $200-$250 per couple.
Cash bars do not exist here.
This. (with my edits)
This for us, too.
Wow Shaolin, that;s balla.
I am literally LOL!!
You islanders bring us the best...Wu Tang AND mob wives. Come to find out your peeps are generous too. Love you guys.
Don't forget some of the very talented cast members of Jersey Shore.
ditto
In NJ, where I live average was 100 per person. (200 for couple). Or more depending on how well you knew the person---some of them (family and non-family) gave upwards of 500-1000.
Open bar is the norm. Every wedding we went to also had hard liquor at the bar--not just beer and wine
Also, gifts were given at bridal showers. I think we got maybe 4-5 gifts total at the wedding.