I am going to a co-worker's wedding with many other people from work. I wouldn't say we're close, but we're in the same crowd at work. There are a bunch of co-worker weddings coming up, so money is definitely tight. Someone at work asked what kind of gift I was going to give him and I said probably $100 (I'm not bringing a guest). They all started laughing and said I was being cheap! It's not like this is the wedding of the century - as far as I know it's not like there's going to be fireworks and a parade! I'm in a union and they all know I'm at the bottom of the pay scale. Enough babbling - Is $100 enough? If not, what is enough?
2007-09-06 12:09:40 · 21 answers · asked by fattapus 2 in Family & Relationships ➔ Weddings
Don't listen to the crowd. It is none of their business how much you decide to give to the couple - and they should not be making you feel like it isn't enough ... especially since it is plenty! The average is about $100 per guest - as a gift. If you're not taking a date, then you're just fine.
2007-09-06 13:10:46 · answer #1 · answered by VAWeddingSpecialist 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It would certainly be enough for me, especially for a co-worker. If that's all you can afford--and that's a very nice gift, by the way--then that's all you can afford to give. If I give someone $100 as a wedding gift, I know them very well and I'm pretty close to them or their parents.
Next time, do yourself a favor and don't disclose the $$ amount of the gift you're planning to give. If someone asks you what you're giving the couple, just say something like "oh, I was going to pick something out from their registry."
2007-09-06 19:17:34 · answer #2 · answered by basketcase88 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
For a work acquaintance that you are not super close with, I think $100 is more than generous. Don't worry about what your other co-workers say. It seems to me that they were being rude by laughing at your gift idea. Hope you have fun at the wedding though!
2007-09-06 21:05:53 · answer #3 · answered by theMrs. 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Acording to all reputable etiquette mavens, a congratulatory note is enough. A wedding gift is always appropriate and never in bad taste (unless the gift is chosen in order to upset of humiliate the recipiant, which I feel certain you would never do), and quite traditional, but it is not absolutely required.
As to the price of the gift chosen, ignore your co-workers. The price of your gift shouldn't reflect: the cost of feeding you (which is something it would be very rude of you to speculate on in the first place), the income of the couple throwing the event, whether or not you've been invited to bring a date, the phase of the Moon, or whether a parade is part of the entertainment or not. The price of your gift is properly based on two things: how much money you have available for gift-giving, and how much of available funds you choose to spend in this manner.
If $100 is what you've got, that's what you've got. And if you've got enough to give $100 each to multiple co-workers' weddings, then I may have to touch you for a loan, because I'm broke!
Next time they start pumping you for the pricetag on your gift, smile vaguely and change the subject. After all, discussing how much you each plan to spend on wedding gifts is just as rude as speculating on how much the happy couple is spending on the wedding.
2007-09-06 19:53:05 · answer #4 · answered by gileswench 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
If you aren't particularly close to the co worker, then $100 is not cheap. I spent $200 on a wedding present, but the bride I were born 2 weeks apart, and have been friends our whole lives.
2007-09-06 21:48:00 · answer #5 · answered by .. 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I had the exact same dilemma as you have at a wedding I went to last week. I was going to give $100 to the 20+ year old bride & groom, but in the end I decided $200 just to be safe.
I'd also take into consideration the area the couple is from. For example the wedding gift value for a newlywed couple living in Manhattan would quite different than a couple living in a more remote part of the US.
Good luck!
2007-09-06 19:17:18 · answer #6 · answered by Florida-Fan1 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I don't know you or your co-worker that is soon to be wed.
However, I think $100 is very generous.
I give $25-$50 (checks) depending upon how close I am to the bride and groom.
I am not sure what kind of crowd you run with, but,honey, $100 is fine! I would have been thrilled to get that from a coworker when I got married!
Besides, it's a gift. It's up to you how much you want to give.
2007-09-06 19:19:22 · answer #7 · answered by Lizzie 5 · 3⤊ 2⤋
I don't know why they would think $100 is being cheap. It sounds pretty good to me, because, unless these people are loaded, I bet they're not spending $100 on YOU (Assuming 200 people at the wedding, you're going to be getting a $25 meal, $15 worth of drinks, and MAYBE $20 worth of entertainment, if everything is broken down int a pro rata share). And you're under no obligation to buy them anything -- you're a guest. If you're not close to them, $100 is more than enough.
What about going in with a group of coworkers to get a really nice wedding present on their registry. If 5 of you kick in even 80 bucks, that's a $400 present (I would be tickled if 5 of my friends got me a 400 present... and I work with attorneys!)
2007-09-06 19:19:19 · answer #8 · answered by Perdendosi 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
I don't know what kind of people you work with but not only was it rude for them to ask you but $100 is a lot when you aren't bringing a guest and the person is just a co-worker. Ignore them. Your gift is great.
2007-09-06 19:15:11 · answer #9 · answered by Luv2Answer 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
I wouldn't spend $100 on a co-workers wedding! I would spend around $50-$75, but definately not $100. They are most likely registered somewhere, and I'm sure all of their gifts do not exceed $100. Check it out and get them something reasonable and something they want.
2007-09-06 19:18:01 · answer #10 · answered by adorethasp 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋