How Much Money Should You Give as a Wedding Gift?

You got the invitation, and now you're wondering what the gift costs. This article is for guests figuring out an amount - and for couples curious what their guests are reading.

What do etiquette sources suggest?

The Knot's wedding gift guidance, built with an etiquette expert and its guest study, offers ranges by relationship: roughly $250 or more for immediate family and best friends, $150 to $250 for close friends, $100 to $200 for good friends, $100 to $150 for extended family, coworkers, and acquaintances, and $50 to $100 for distant relatives. Zola's guest guide lands in similar territory.

Treat these as orientation, not obligation. The same sources stress that your budget and your relationship matter more than hitting a number, and that a thoughtful smaller gift beats a strained big one.

Is it OK to give cash at all?

Yes. Cash and fund contributions are now a normal part of wedding gift-giving - The Knot, Zola, and Emily Post all cover how to ask for and give money gifts, which is a sign of how standard it has become. Many couples register for a cash fund or an investment registry, so giving money can be exactly what they hoped for.

What if the couple has a cash or investment registry?

Contribute through it. That is what it is for. Most funds let you give any amount and add a personal message, so a modest contribution still feels personal. If the couple has both a traditional registry and a fund, either choice is correct - pick what feels right for your relationship.

What if my budget is tight?

Give what genuinely fits. Etiquette guidance is consistent that a wedding gift is not an admission fee: your presence and your words carry real weight, and nobody who matters is counting. A heartfelt card with a smaller amount outranks a number that strains your finances.

If you're the couple reading this

Guests search this question constantly, and the kindest thing you can do is make any amount welcome. A registry with no minimum removes the guesswork. With The Forever Fund - this site's own registry - guests can give any amount, gifts arrive as cash in your own brokerage account (Fidelity, Robinhood, or Charles Schwab) or bank account, setup takes about five minutes, and the fee is 2.9% plus $0.25 per gift. If that fits your plans, you can create a registry at https://foreverfundregistry.com/CreateRegistry

Investments can go up or down.

The short version

Match the gift to your relationship and your budget, use the ranges above as a starting point rather than a rule, and if the couple has a fund, contributing through it at any amount is a good gift.

Sources and further reading: The Knot, "How Much to Spend on a Wedding Gift" (https://www.theknot.com/content/how-much-to-spend-on-wedding-gifts); Zola, "How Much to Spend on a Wedding Gift as a Guest" (https://www.zola.com/expert-advice/how-much-to-spend-on-a-wedding-gift).