Wedding Gift Calculator
Figuring out how much to spend on a wedding gift can be incredibly stressful. You want to be generous, but you don't want to break the bank.
Use our free wedding gift calculator below to determine the socially acceptable amount to spend based on your relationship to the couple, your attendance, and modern etiquette rules.
Wedding Gift Calculator
Answer four quick questions to find out the socially acceptable amount to spend on your gift.
Recommended Gift Amount
Etiquette Note
The "Cover Your Plate" Myth
For decades, wedding guests were told they must "cover the cost of their plate." For example, if the venue charges $150 per head, you and your plus-one should give $300. This is an outdated myth.
The couple's decision to host an extravagant luxury wedding does not dictate your financial obligation as a guest. Your gift should be dictated by your closeness to the couple and your own personal budget.
Destination Wedding Etiquette
If you are required to purchase a flight and book a hotel room to attend a wedding, the rules change entirely. Traditional etiquette agrees that for destination weddings, your presence is your present.
It is perfectly acceptable to give a smaller, sentimental gift or a modest cash envelope when you have already spent $1,000+ just to attend.
Cash vs. Registry Gifts
While physical registry gifts were once the standard, modern couples heavily prefer cash, honeymoon funds, or house funds. Giving cash is never considered rude in modern wedding etiquette, and it is almost always the most appreciated gift.
Explore Real Dilemmas
We see hundreds of stories about weddings gone wrong. From entitled brides demanding exorbitant gifts to guests causing a scene at the reception. Read our wildest stories in the Wedding Drama category, and cast your vote on who is at fault!
