Wedding gift etiquette made simple

Read time: 3 minutes

As the classic show tune goes, June is bustin’ out all over, and with it comes two of the best sounds in the world. First, the sizzle of long-awaited outdoor barbecues, and second, of course, wedding bells.

Long thought of as the peak of wedding season, June has a storied past of being the go-to month for weddings. This tradition dates back to the month’s supposed namesake — Juno, the Roman goddess of childbirth and marriage.

While wedding traditions have evolved since then, let’s explore some different gift options and .

First, let’s state the obvious: you can never go wrong with giving cash or using the couple’s registry. If that’s not your cup of tea, here are some sentimental and practical ways to celebrate the newlyweds.

A note on digital registries and RSVPs

Some couples take their wedding planning fully online. This may include a wedding website, a page to RSVP, and links to their registry (or registries). When they do, the wedding invitation may include links to the RSVP page, a registry or wedding website. Sometimes the link is a URL. For others, it’s a scannable QR code. For help navigating these sites, ask a fellow guest or the engaged couple.

Different kinds of wedding gifts

As with most presents, consider your relationship with the couple. A wedding gift is a great opportunity to commemorate experiences you’ve shared with the bride or groom. One way to do this is by giving a sentimental or handmade gift.

Sentimental or handmade wedding gift ideas

These are gifts that come from the heart and help pass on cherished memories from one generation to the next.

Family recipes in a box or embroidered on a kitchen towel
A scrapbook of special family memories
A collection of family ancestral history
Handwritten marriage advice
Jewelry passed down from previous generations

Practical or functional crowd-pleasing wedding gift ideas

These gifts are ones that the newlyweds can use as they begin to build their lives together, remembering you and your generous present during every use.

Luggage and travel essentials for honeymoon
Towels and bedding
Dinnerware and glassware
Donations to a new home/honeymoon cash fund
Quality tools for home projects

How much should I spend on a wedding gift?

Here comes one of the prickliest questions: What’s the right amount to assign to a wedding gift? Ask four people, and get four different answers. Fear not, wedding experts have a simple solution.

Some say the present should meet or exceed the cost the couple incurs for each guest at the wedding. This gets a little tricky as you can’t always know and it’s not very polite to ask the cost “per plate.” For reference, the average wedding catering service cost is about $80 per person, so if you have a plus one, that would end up being about $160.

Here are some more facts to guide your gift-giving philosophy:

A recent study found close family members spent about $160 on average for wedding gifts.
Grandparents typically give gifts ranging from $100-$500.
In 2024, 50% of wedding guests gave a physical gift, 40% opted to give cash, and 10% went with a gift card.

Remember — only spend what you can comfortably afford, but keep in mind travel expenses or a new ensemble.

The soon-to-be-married couple want you to be a part of their special day, that’s for certain. Don’t forget that your presence at the wedding is a present in and of itself, no matter what you may have in hand.