Wedding Gift Amount Calculator

The most widely cited guideline is to cover your plate — approximately $100–$200 per person depending on how well you know the couple and the cost of living in your area. For a close friend or sibling attending a dinner reception, $150–$200 per person is appropriate. For a coworker or acquaintance, $50–$75 total is generally acceptable.

Wedding party members typically spend more than regular guests — both on the gift and on other wedding-related costs (bachelor/bachelorette, attire, travel). A common guideline for close friends in the wedding party is $125–$175 for the gift itself, separate from other wedding expenses. There's no strict rule, and the couple should never expect wedding party members to bankrupt themselves.

Yes — cash is universally appreciated and increasingly the preferred gift among couples, especially those who are already established in their homes. If the couple has a cash fund or honeymoon fund on their registry, contributing directly is ideal. If not, an envelope with a personal check or card is perfectly acceptable and thoughtful.

Yes — when you're not attending, it's appropriate to give less than you would if you were there for the reception. A commonly cited range is $50–$75 regardless of relationship, though close family members often give more. Sending a gift at all when you don't attend is a gracious gesture that's never required but always appreciated.

Indirectly — weddings in major metro areas typically cost significantly more per head, and gift amounts tend to scale accordingly. Guests in New York or Los Angeles generally give more than guests at a similar wedding in a smaller city or rural area. The relationship to the couple matters more than geography, but location is worth factoring in when you're on the fence between two amounts.