When you have accepted a wedding invitation, it is expected of you to not only attend the wedding but get the couple a gift. No one wants their gift to seem cheap, but this is no excuse to spend an arm or leg on a wedding gift. Remember you might need to spend on traveling costs and lodging if the wedding is out of town and this means spending more. So how can you as a guest make sure you have met all the financial obligations and bought the best gift for the couple?
Some of the factors that will determine how much you should spend on a wedding gift are as follows:
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Consider Your Expenses When attending
If you are paying a lot of cash to attend the wedding especially if it is a destination wedding during peak season, it will likely cost a lot. If you are paying for everything, you will probably pay for accommodation and flights. If the couple is sensitive about the costs that every guest is incurring to attend their wedding then they would expect a cut back on how much people spend on the presents they buy. After all, if you show up at a wedding as the couple’s friend, that means a lot and it is a present on its own.
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How Close Are You To The Couple
As a wedding guest, give what you feel best celebrates this important day of that couple’s life. The average wedding gift amount could be about $100 which is a lovely amount to start with and you can increase it based on how close you are. If you really understand this couple and have been part of their life, then you might consider getting them an item worth $100 or more because you know how much they need this item and would be thrilled to have it. If you know this couple and aren’t spending a lot on wedding attending costs, then you can spend more than $200 on their wedding gift.
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Buy Only What You Can Afford
Well, times are hard and as much as you love this wedding couple, if you can’t afford an expensive gift, just spend what you can afford. Remember your life goes on after the wedding and there will be pending personal expenses. Even when you can’t find an item that fits your budget, consider buying smaller items to reach that amount that works for you. If you have to buy a smaller gift so you can afford enough fuel to get you to the venue and back, then make that smart choice. Get that gift within your budget because, at the end of the day, it is the thought and the good heart behind the gift that counts.
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Know When A Gift Is Necessary
Gifts are indeed expected during the wedding. But if you have contributed serious time, money and other resources to the wedding then you don’t have to spend an additional amount on a gift. Your sacrifice toward the other aspects of the wedding to make it successful are good as a gift. If you have the money to buy a gift even after your contribution of resources, then by all means buy this gift. But if your budget does not allow it, then consider your contributions to the wedding activities as the best gift.
Gifts at a wedding are important and how much you spend on a wedding gift will depend on your finances. If your finances allow you to splurge and buy the most expensive gift, then go ahead and spoil the couple. Never feel bad for spending less on a gift if circumstances force you to. Besides, there are awesome low-budget wedding gifts out there to choose from.