How much a wedding gift of money depends on your relationship with the couple. But a typical wedding gift of money today is $100 to $200, depending on how well you know the couple. $ if you are not as close to the couple, such as a distantly related family member or maybe a friend, $100 will be entirely appropriate. If you are closer, such as an immediate family member, you will want to live closer to $150 to $200 to remain within a reasonable amount.
It doesn’t hurt to consider what wedding gift they may have given you and try to match that amount as much as possible. But don’t let that stop you either. If your gift doesn’t match exactly what they gave you, remember that it is just that, and it’s more important to stay within your budget than to offer a gift that will be a burden after all.
Wedding Gift of Money: The Advantages of a Cash Gift
The clear advantage for both the wedding gift recipient and the gift giver is that a wedding gift of money can be used however the couple would prefer. Even if the couple decides to use this gift on a gift already on the registry, they would have the flexibility to do that with a cash gift.
The other undeniable advantage of giving a cash gift is that there is much less preparation time, and you can give the gift however you want. The couple is not going to be upset with you if you hand them the money at the reception or any time during the wedding, for that matter.
When to Give A Cash Gift
Again, you can always give a cash gift; however, the best time is to prepare it and leave it with the gift table. Of course, you could give just cash, but if you give that way, your couple will not know who the gift came from. They want to know who you are so they can adequately thank you for your generosity. So, the best time is to prepare to gift the gift at the wedding.
But another advantage of giving money as a gift at a wedding is that you don’t HAVE to give the gift at the wedding. It’s better to give at the wedding because you never really know the couple’s financial situation, and they may choose to use the gifts for something before the day is even over, such as tips for drivers or any number of uses.
If you don’t have the chance to give the gift at the wedding, it’s not too late to give it after it. You have a little time, maybe leading up to or right after the honeymoon, to send a gift of money in person before the couple notices that you were at the wedding and send your gift later. But that’s fine. It’s understandable to give what you can when you can. And when it’s all said and done, they will just be glad to receive your gift to help with their wedding expenses and, ultimately, their lives.
How to Give a Cash Gift
The best way to give a gift of money will always be to include it with a thoughtful card and place the card with the other gifts. There is typically a box for cards, and you can include the gift with the others. There is no need to hand the gift directly to the couple however you can. But it is much preferred to include it with other gifts because you never know how busy the couple will be at the wedding.
They will appreciate that you didn’t assume they had time to receive your card from all the other gifts they also received. In other words, think about what it would look like for everyone to hand their wedding gifts to the couple directly. This is why a wedding planner sets up the gift table so that they can talk with guests, dance, make introductions, and enjoy the wedding day.
Wrapping Up
It’s better to give than it is to receive. For this reason, a wedding gift of cash is one of the best gifts you can give, especially for a young family building. This is because a gift of money can be used for things like a savings account, a down payment on a home, or to help pay for wedding expenses. Of course, someone would rarely give you the entire amount for a down payment on a house. Still, the point is that a wedding gift of cash might be the opportunity you need to meet some of your financial goals and move forward in a healthy way regarding finances after your wedding.
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