depends how close you are to the people getting married

it would be really hard to decide how much to give tho

Gift or gift card. I'd say anywhere from $30-$100. $50 is enough for a new blender.

Between $25 and $100 depending on your relationship. Btw, you don't have to get them a "random" gift either. What about a nice gift basket filled with goodies for their honeymoon or their first dinner home after the honeymoon?

in the chinese culture...cash gifts are pretty common. normally, if the couple is a close friend...i would give $100. if it's a not so close friend...i say $50 is enough. That is per guest..

I saw gift card...like best buy, bed bath and beyond....maybe to a store they registered to, any major department store, or even one of those visa gift cards you can spend anywhere you want. personally, i think the best by card works well bc most couples feel uncomfortable registering for that kind of stuff but would love a new tv/ home audio system/ appliance/ etc.

I've found that cash gifts differ by region of the country. Both my husband and I have relatives in Michigan and Wisconsin, and wedding gifts there tend to be between $25-40. However, most weddings that I've been to in the Chicago area (and other big cities), the gifts tend toward the higher ranges, like 100-250 per couple.

second on callmehoney's comment... Chinese culture is big on actual cash over gifts. And I mean CASH and not gift cards. $100 is what close family and friends usually give.

hey all:

thanks for the comments. it IS a chinese wedding and i AM a bit cash poor since i just finished school. i don't want to look cheap but i also don't want give more than i can just to avoid the appearance of looking cheap :T

How about a different idea? Bring a disposable camera, take a bunch of pictures during the wedding and reception.

About an hour and half, go to the drugstore and get them developed. Come back, put the pictures in your envelope.

And there you have it! A in-expensive and great wedding gift.

I usually do $50 for friends weddings if I'm going solo, and $100 if I'm part of a couple.

$100 per guest is my usual gift.

I think the gift amount depends on how well you know the couple and how expensive the wedding is. If they're having a more expensive wedding where you can guess they're paying $50+/plate you may want to make sure you're at least giving them a gift that would cover your own meal, plus any date you would bring. If the wedding is a little more casual than I'd say $50 is acceptable. I also like the photo idea that Bonne had. Also, if you're strapped for cash , and they know it, don't worry, they'll understand if you can't afford a lot. They should just be happy you are there to celebrate!

$50 per guest if they're not close friends, $100 per guest if they are close. But I think that the notion of "covering your plate" is tacky - I know this is a regional thing but for me to be "expected" to pay for my dinner is rude. I'd rather not go - and NOT give a gift.

I always do $50 if I give money. I like the photo idea too though. If I am close to them, I would do something personal.

Wedding etiquette states that the cost of the gift should balance the cost of the plate. (Which I believe is usually assumed to be around $50/ person)

It may be old, outdated and people may or may not agree (I don't even completely agree), that is just the traditional standard of cost of the gift.

I do think it is even more tacky to go to a wedding and not bring something if you can afford to do so.

I would hope if someone is invited to a wedding they know the bride or the groom well. If a couple has that much money to invite people they barely know to their wedding, it seems like they just want more gifts. In which case I would probably not attend if I or my fiance barely knew the couple.

i've grown up with the whole "at least 50 dollars per person attending the reception" meaning she'd give at least 200 if the four of us were going. that barely covers the plate though, so personally, i'd do at least 75 a person. i dunno though, that's just what i'm used to. i (and my immediate family) have also never given an actual gift for a wedding, just money. maybe it's just my family, but i've always thought that gift gifts were for the shower, and that money was much more appropriate for the actual wedding.

ok, my comment made no sense haha. i meant that my mom would always give at least 200 dollars if the four of us (her, my dad, me and my little sis) were going to the reception. maybe i should go to bed haha.