There are an infinite number of wedding gift options. Choosing the right one can be tricky and also expensive. Here are some tips to help you narrow down the alternatives.
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How Much Should You Spend?
There are several factors that can help determine how much you should spend on a present. They include your budget and relationship with the couple. If are invited to multiple parties in addition to the wedding, experts recommend spending 20 percent of your budgeted “gift money” on an engagement present, 20 percent on a shower present and the remaining 60 percent on the actual wedding gift. TheKnot.com, a leading wedding planning website, suggests the following amounts for wedding presents.
- Distant relative, family friend or co-worker: $75-$100
- Family member or good friend: $100-$125
According to TheKnot.com, friends spend approximately $79 on wedding gifts, while family members, on average, purchase presents in the $146 price range.
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Cash
Many couples really appreciate, and even prefer, cash gifts. They can use it on anything, including items that can’t be put on a gift registry. The typical cash present is approximately $150, according to one financial website. If you are more financially constrained, you may be better off forgoing a gift of money and choosing a less expensive gift off the registry.
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Buy From the Registry
If you want to give an actual present, pick something off the wedding registry, unless you know the couple really well and have special insight into their tastes and needs. Registry gifts are typically super easy and convenient to order and send. They are also usually simple for the couple to return or exchange, if needed. With all the money you are spending, you want to be sure it will go to good use; purchasing something the couple has picked out themselves will accomplish this objective.
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What If You Can’t Go to the Wedding?
According to several wedding etiquette gurus, there is an expectation that you will send a wedding gift even if you cannot attend the nuptials. If you bring a present to a shower or engagement party, it is appropriate to send a wedding gift as well. If you attend multiple showers for the same couple, it is only necessary to bring a gift to the first one.
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Give a Group Gift
A growing trend is for friends, family members and even bridal parties to pool their funds and buy one more expensive present they could not afford individually. Some examples of these types of gifts are:
- Furniture
- Appliances
- Art work
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Don’t Bring Presents to the Reception
Avoid bringing gifts to the reception. Newlyweds typically want to spend time enjoying their big day with family and friends – not worrying about storing and transporting presents. If you do bring a gift, it may get lost or broken. The conventional rule is that you have one year after the wedding to send a gift, but try to do it within two months. Online ordering makes the process so easy that there is really no excuse for not getting it done. The more time that passes, the less inclined you may be to send a present.
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Provide a Service
If you are a photographer, baker, florist, seamstress or DJ, consider offering your services in lieu of purchasing a gift. This type of present may be absolutely perfect for the couple.
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Contribute Toward the Honeymoon
An increasing number of couples are setting up honeymoon registries. This allows family and friends to donate money toward a trip rather than buying a present. A truly spectacular and unique honeymoon may be much more feasible with the help of family and friends.
Shopping for a wedding gift shouldn’t be a time-consuming source of frustration. These eight suggestions can help you accomplish the task in a snap.