We have just been invited to a wedding that is in 6 weeks time. Originally we were not invited as we are not really close friends of the couples and it is at a very expensive place so they are keeping numbers small which we completely understood. However they have just had another couple that were going drop out so therefore we can take their place. We will have to organise to have the kids babysat and husband will need to take a day off work and we will need to pay for a nights accommodation. We are on a very strict budget so this will be tight however will would love to go. My question is what would be reasonable to give them as a gift or money (considering we haven't got much time to save for it) they are paying about $130 per head.
9 Replies
Why not try something basic like some beautiful photo frames?
Can get some as cheap as $10 that still look great.
We did an optional wishing well at our wedding, a lot of people i know don't like giving money so we gave them the option. Some people gave us $20 others $50. Some gave us towels, some gave us a platter etc.
For us it was more important to have our friends at the wedding. Presents and money don't make the day memorable its the people and special moments of the day.
We usually do $100 as a wedding gift.
This is going to be an unpopular opinion, but I really do not buy into this whole "They're spending $X to have us at their wedding so we have to spend $Y."
I think it is an absolute load of bollocks.
If they want to spend $130 a head on their wedding reception, that is their choice, not yours. I will not now, nor will I ever, be guilted into spending more than I can afford on a present.
If your budget is $20, spend $20. Buy a lovely bowl, or a photo frame, or something pretty. If you can afford a bit more, spend a bit more.
But please, do not feel that you have to spend a silly amount of money on a present, especially if you can't afford it.
A gift is not supposed to be about the amount of money spent but about the thought that is put into the gift. A gift from the heart is always more meaningful than something expensive and frivolous.
I think around $50 is a fair gift amount for a wedding, but if you can only afford less then put in what ever doesn't break the bank.
Don't feel bad most couples wouldn't expect a big hefty amount just from there friends at a wedding anyways especially as you's arnt really close.,
What ever you can afford, something with a personal touch may be nice and cheaper... You could buy a big jar and a pink and blue pad and have instructions to put in a love note to each other once a week or so then they can open it at Christmas and read them or something along those lines. Cheap and fun and lovey
I think it's what you can afford. If its $20 that's it if its $100 that's it. What they choose to oay per head is up to them and thir budget and shouldnt refelct on how much you soend and oersonally i dont lime people bragging about what they pay per head, i didnt tell anyone what we paid its none of anyones business and Seriously if I wasn't close enough to be invited from the beginning I probably wouldn't want to go, but that's just me.
I bought my best friend a beautiful photo frame ($40 reduced to $10) placed a nice photo of them in it and had the frame engraved with '(brides name) and (grooms name) Forever in love' on the top and then the wedding date on the bottom of the frame. They loved it as they put a wedding pic on it and.it still sits at their entrance to their home to this day . Cost me roughly $40 all up. Cheap and very special as they will feel you went the extra mile to make it personalised. Just make sure the frame is metal or plated so it can be engraved. The engraving is the expensive part so get a quote there firsttthen decide how cheap to go eith the frame.
Why don't you do an "I owe you" in the card and offer to pay for their favourite photo to be printed on canvass once they get the professional photos? Usually photos take around 6-8 weeks so that gives you time to put money aside each week to pay for it. And they get to choose which photo they want so they will absolutely adore it
Digital photo frame is a nice gift. We always want to make sure the gift is equal to what they are spending, but that's just us. I'm sure they wouldn't expect anything extravagant being last minute.