Wedding gifting is an honored tradition that dates back centuries. It’s commonly practiced among every culture and race worldwide because every gift supports the couple’s journey. However, newlywed couples will likely prefer a monetary gift as the nicest gesture from their guest.
Factly speaking, there shouldn’t be any rule of thumb for what wedding guests should give as a gift to a couple, but a 2019 report from a news outlet reveals that more American couples are asking for cash gifts instead of physical/ tangible pricey gifts.
This is why, in this blog post, you will find out how giving cash wedding gifts instead of tangible gifts can benefit the couple, how much of it you give, when you should give the couple, and the manner of giving. Let’s dive right into the main gist.
Determining Factors of Giving Cash as a Wedding Gift
Usually, wedding guests need help with which gift the newly married couple will appreciate. However, there is no need for this struggle because cash gifts are becoming a very common and nice gesture at today’s weddings.
This change is because, for the most part, couples prefer to receive cash gifts over physical gifts for valid reasons such as financial reasons like using it to pay for yet-to-be-covered wedding expenses like hall decor, couple’s house, and honeymoon expenses.
So bringing in cash as your gifts for couples will help the bride and groom solve some of their financial situations. Some of the factors to consider when determining the amount of cash gifts include:
Relationship With The Couple
A major factor determining how much cash a guest is willing to give as a wedding gift is their relationship with the bride or groom.
In most cases, the couple’s immediate family pays some of the wedding costs. This is to show love and approval for their union. So if you are part of the couple’s family, it will be responsible of you if you bring an amount that could help with the wedding cost.
You can also bring cash as a guest or special guests such as the bride’s maids, pope, etc. After all, no amount of financial support can be too large. Assuming this is you, consider your financial budget and the location of the wedding party.
Financial Budget
As a guest at a wedding, it is okay to have a personal budget on how much cash you want to give or spend on an actual wedding gift item, especially if you’re a salary earner or an elder in the community.
Remember that you likely have a spending limit based on how much you earn per week or month. So don’t beat yourself up too much and play it safe by not giving an amount that could lead you into a financial mess, such as collecting loans.
Where The Couple Registered
The wedding invitation card, the wedding decoration, the receiving service, etc., says a lot about the money the couple put into the wedding. However, the most important factor is the wedding invitation card.
This is because most modern couples prepare specially for their gifts by putting more effort into the invitation service for guests. They carefully choose the company or designer that styles their wedding card.
So if you thought the method of inviting you and the wedding invitation card itself was a top-tier service, consider gifting the couple enough cash to share your appreciation.
The Location of The Wedding
The wedding location shows how much the couple cares about money. Take for instance, a wedding on an expensive beach in the open air rather than in an enclosed building. It immediately passes the message that the bride and groom are carefree people.
Although it shows they are financially okay, gifting the couple cash is still a lovely gift idea, particularly when you gift an amount within your budget. If you want to do more, but cannot do so for some financial reason, add a nice touch to your outfits for their special wedding day.
Whether or Not It’s Their First Wedding
A second or third marriage usually means the couple will have most of what they need for a household. So, you might want to gift a smaller amount or a nice homemade gift card.
Type of Wedding
The couple’s culture and choice of wedding type will largely influence how much cash is appropriate for gifting. This is because culture is diverse and attracts different gift etiquette levels.
Most couples choose the type of wedding they want based on their preference or financial capacity. The most common types of weddings include formal weddings, destination weddings, 10-person weddings, cocktail weddings, winter weddings, and lots more.
You can search for hints of the type of wedding through the card; the more lively the wedding, the more cash you should gifts. However, it is still important to consider your wedding gift budget.
Cultural Types of Weddings
Weddings are one of the most important cultural events with various fascinating forms of celebration. From the culture whose celebrations adapted to the modern world to strictly traditional cultural celebrations, the cultural type of wedding dictates much of what is considered normal.
Below is a breakdown of some cultural types and their belief in gifting.
American weddings: Generosity level in America varies by region. People from the northern region are likely to give more than in other regions.
Italian weddings: Italian weddings are famed for their romance and elegance. The bride and groom’s families sponsor many Italian weddings.
Friends and families of the couple give generously to support the couple and their parents. Some believe that the cash gifts at an Italian wedding cover the giver’s meals and la Borsa.
Japanese weddings: Japanese weddings believe in giving cash and other gift items as wedding gifts. Goshugi, money kept in shugi bukuro, is a Japanese tradition of gifting cash at a wedding party.
Indian weddings: Indian weddings are colorful and festive occasions, often featuring elaborate Mehndi ceremonies. Giving hefty gifts like jewelry or cash is perceived as normal in Indian culture.
Jewish weddings: Giving cash gifts at a wedding is a customary practice among the Jewish people. It is stipulated in their tradition to give cash gifts in multiples of 18. Figure 18 is translated as “chai” in Hebrew and means “life” in English.
Australian weddings: Australian weddings cost less when compared to other countries, and they are most generous when giving a wedding gift. Generally, Australians spend around $20 billion on gifts per year.
Nigerian weddings: Nigerian weddings are known for their extravagance and the generosity level in this culture is very high. The families of the married couple often share most of the responsibilities, leaving little or nothing for the couple to finance.
Wedding Gift Etiquette of Giving Cash Gift
Wedding gift etiquette refers to the acceptable social manner of gifting couples. It shows a sign of respect and acceptance of the groom and bride’s union. Hence making it important to present your gift with the right speech, mindset and body language.
The best way to gift cash is by putting it in an envelope. Secondly, you can wrap it similar to how physical gifts are wrapped and personally cash gift the couple with a smile on your face and well wishes.
Another accepted manner for gifting cash as a wedding gift is investing in the business of the bride and groom. This makes the couple happy that their financial future is more secure.
In a case where you would like to gift anonymously, you can write your good wishes note and slip the wrapped envelope onto the bride’s table so that both couples will find it before leaving.
Additional wedding gift etiquette considerations include traditional wedding etiquette (which dictates that guests should place their gifts at the wedding reception), common sense (like not spending more than you can afford), and being mindful of the couple’s wishes ( i.e., bringing gifts that they entered into their wedding registry).
Frequently Asked Questions on How Much Cash To Give For A Wedding Gift
Yes, it is okay to give cash as a wedding gift. Recently, research has shown that couples prefer cash gifts more than any other gift because they can use the money to purchase something they wholeheartedly need or want.
How Much Cash Should You Give For A Wedding Gift?
There is no fixed amount you are obligated to give. It depends on your financial power and willingness. However, any amount between $50 – $100 is okay.
What Are The Common Wedding Gift Etiquette?
Some common wedding gift etiquette includes traditional wedding etiquette (which dictates that gifts should be given at the reception), common sense (like not spending more than you can afford), and being mindful of the couple’s wishes.
Should You Give Cash Gift If You’re Not Attending The Wedding?
Giving a cash gift is unnecessary if you’re not attending the wedding, but it is always appreciated. But if you do decide to give a cash gift, be sure to follow proper etiquette.
Are There Rules That Limit How Much Cash To Give For A Wedding Gift?
There are no hard and fast rules about how much cash to give for a wedding gift, but several experts have recommended you give what you can afford.
Final Thoughts
It is beneficial to gift a huge sum or a bit of money to the new couple on their wedding day. Regardless of the amount you gift, your gifting etiquette is more important.
Besides, the total cash you give as a wedding gift should be at the giver’s discretion and you should avoid making a grand show of your generosity except if you intend to start a money dance.
Whichever manner you decide to gift, ensure you follow proper etiquette and include a thoughtful note with your cash gift, and the couple will receive it well.
