It's hardly the most romantic tradition, but in some parts of the world, particularly in Ireland, it's customary to give cash as a wedding gift. While in the UK, US, and Australia, cash gifts, wedding registries and honeymoon funds are all very popular, in Ireland, cash is by far the most common option. This poses a conundrum for the wedding guest; how much money should I give as a wedding gift?

Well, we're tackling this frequently-asked question, and offering up a handy formula for calculating the value of your gift. Of course, it goes without saying that there are no hard and fast rules, and everyone's financial situation and relationship with the couple is different.

Image by Colin Ross via One Fab Day

How Much Money Should I Give as a Wedding Gift?

Let's start by discussing the range within which most cash wedding gifts fall. The average cash wedding gift in Ireland is somewhere between €75 and €200 per guest. The figures are really similar in other parts of the world, ranging from £50 to £150 in the UK, from $50 to $200 in the US, and from AUS$100 to AUS$300 in Australia. It is worth noting that Irish people do tend to stay closer to the upper end of the gifting scale, and that is not the case in other countries where it is perfectly normal to give a smaller amount.

Photo by Cristiana Fiorini Photography via One Fab Day

Obviously, there's a big difference between a €50 gift and a €200 gift, so how do you decide exactly how much cash to put in the envelope? Well, there are a few additional factors to take into account;

• How close you are to the couple. When the couple are immediate family members or very, very close friends, guests tend to give on the higher end of the range, AKA €150 or €250. When the couple are casual friends or colleagues, guests tend to give less, €50 or €100. If in doubt, €100 per guest is a pretty safe amount to go for.
• How much you can afford. Couples are aware that attending a wedding is expensive, and the vast majority will completely understand that some guests just can't afford a €100 cash wedding gift. If you're in this position, it's completely fine to just give what you can afford, give them a physical gift, which can be less expensive, or just give them a thoughtful, handwritten card. On the flip side, if you're feeling extra generous, it's fine to give above and beyond the average.
• Whether you're attending the wedding. We've discussed this in more detail in this feature, the gist being that giving a gift when you aren't attending a wedding is a nice gesture, but it's generally not expected or necessary.
• Did the couple elope? The last few years saw many couples ditch their big wedding plans, opting for an elopement instead or micro wedding instead and it's a trend that will continue. Some couples hold a party for friends at another time, more like a Day Two celebration, and if you are invited then it's a nice gesture to give a gift on the smaller end of the scale. However, if there's no celebration for friends, there's really no need to give a gift unless it's close family or a friend.
• How much your meal will cost the couple. Some wedding guests like to give a cash gift that will cover the cost of their meal on the day, and maybe their plus one invite as well. If you'd like to take this into account, it's worth noting that this ranges from around €75 to €300+ per guest in Ireland, depending on the venue, averaging at about €120 per guest. Wedding venues will sometimes give an indication of this on their website, or their online wedding brochure, if you'd like to look there for more information. While it's nice to keep this in mind, don't feel that couples expect you to cover the cost of your meal, they're delighted to have you attend their wedding, and a gift is really just a nice bonus!

Got another question that needs answering? Check out our wedding FAQ page, including How to (Politely) Ask For Money as a Gift!