How much money should I give them?

[LG]

I have just reunited with a good friend from school whom I lost contact with about 9 years ago.

Anyway, she was kind enough to invite us to her wedding, which I wasn't expecting because when we last met up a few weeks ago she had been saying how they wanted to keep numbers down due to the fact that it is being held at the Prince of Wales Hotel in St Kilda, Melbourne (its a 5 star hotel which is probably why).

Instead of a gift registry they have requested gifts of money into their honeymoon account. So my question is, how much should I give them? I haven't been to a wedding in years, so I have no idea what would be appropriate.

Poll to come....

[SilverStarfish]

I'd usually give about $50, that seems standard these days. I'd certainly consider spending more on a close family member or friend depending on what I wanted to buy etc.

[MW&S]

I think $100 is quite a normal figure. Esp if you and ur partner are invited.

If its just you then id give $50.

[SalTheGal]

The ettiquette is to cover your costs for attending. ie, meals and drinks- which can obviously be hard to estimate as it can vary so much.

So generally speaking $100 per couple would be a acceptable amount.

When we got married the majority gave us $100 (form a couple), and we were more than rapt with that! :)

[oleander]

I think $200 is a good amount if it's you and your partner going.

[cheezelz]

I would give an amount which you think they would be paying to cover dinner for you and your partner to attend the wedding.

[michelleR]

I think $100 is quite a normal figure. Esp if you and ur partner are invited.

If its just you then id give $50.

Agreed :thumbsup:

[Ange&Seth]

I would give an amount which you think they would be paying to cover dinner for you and your partner to attend the wedding.

I'd do this too.

[punkbaby]

i would give either 50 or 100 usually things like that i would spend around 70 on a gift and depending how well i knew then thats what it would come down too :)

[Shanaynay]

I'd give about $80 for a friend that isn't so close anymore.

For a closer friend or family member probably more like $150.

[melbryan]

I agree the unspoken rule is whatever the meal would cost. Most places these days is about $100 a head if not more. I have given $200 in the past depending on the place it has been held at. Sounds like it is about money they are not inviting many people so that much would cover I reckon.

[Odessa]

We went to a wedding in March for close friends, we gave them $100. They gave us the same for our wedding :) It's pretty standard without being unreasonable.

[LG]

Thanks for the replies so far everyone! I have a better idea what to do now :thumbsup:

[missie_mack]

I would give an amount which you think they would be paying to cover dinner for you and your partner to attend the wedding.


The ettiquette is to cover your costs for attending. ie, meals and drinks

:yes: Yep I agree. Being in a ritzy hotel might be expensive though.... So if it were the two of us at least $100 maybe a little extra if I could afford it.

[Queen]

I usually give about $50, but depends on who they are;)

[jasesmum]

I'd give $150-$200 if it is both u and your partner or $100 if just you. I think it is nice to try cover your meal cost and if it is at a 5 star hotel you can imagine it be close to the $100 mark per head. :thumbsup:

[Hokey Pokey]

Really up to you. We spent $50 on a friends gift and $100 for a family wedding in the past.

[poshBecks]

For a very close friend or family I would give $100, but for someone I am not as close to I would give $50.
I voted $50.

(ETA: For the record I hate giving money. )

[maiko]

I'd say $100 if you were going alone and $150 if you were with DH. For close friends we'd give $200 as a couple. $50 isn't usually enough to even cover the meal let alone drinks as well.

[Noah_and_Elijah]

No less than $100 is what I would give.

[LG]

UPDATE:
We have decided to only attend the wedding part which is at 4:30pm and not go to the reception because it starts at 6:30pm and that's right around DS' bedtime. DS won't take milk of any kind from bottles (not even expressed milk :(), so I'm the only one who can put him to bed. It's such a bummer as The Prince is one of the best hotels in Melbourne and the food is amazing there (DH took me there once, yum).

I was thinking that because of this the amount of money could be slightly less. What do you reckon? I was going to give $100, but now think perhaps just $50-$80. I'm sure she would understand, as we're now on one income and will only be at the marriage ceremony.

[mumdadandgrace]

I would give whatever amount that was generous enough but still fit within your personal budget:yes:

[*Chels*]

$100.I think thats a fair amount:yes:

Oops-just read your last post.Yup,I think thats very reasonable!

[Me]

$80 sounds reasonable to me - especially if you are just going to the ceremony. If you were to go to dinner though I would have said $100+.

[kccmylife]

If you had never lost contact and were really close I would say go all out of you can afford it! However I would not have invited someone if we had just met up again after years estranged, so if I were to attend I would maybe give $50. Where they chose to have their reception and how much it is costing them should not be an issue as that was their choice.

[sairpaul]

Hi we got married in Jan and instead of gifts we asked for guests to pay for meals but worked on the same ratio that $50 per guest as that is what most would spend on a present so $100 per couple. Thats the acceptable amount our friends did the same and they were married the week before us