Giving money as a wedding gift is a timeless choice. Not only does it take the guesswork out of choosing a present, but it’s a heartfelt way to show your support to the newlyweds. Plus, giving money as a wedding gift allows the couple to buy what they need and invest in their financial future.
Learn how much money to give as a wedding gift and some thoughtful ways to make your contribution special.
Key takeaways
- The average cash wedding gift is $100 to $150, according to wedding experts.
- Another guideline for cash wedding gifts is to “cover your plate,” meaning to give an amount that reflects the cost per guest.
- If you are close to the couple and can afford it, consider giving more than is customary.
- You can gift cash at the wedding by enclosing it in a card or pairing it with a small, thoughtful item.
- If you can’t be there in person, you can send cash for the wedding by mailing a check as a traditional option.
- More secure ways of gifting cash for a wedding are to send it through Western Union or transfer funds to the couple’s mobile wallet, honeymoon fund, or money transfer app.
How much money to give as a wedding gift
Deciding how much money to give as a wedding gift can be a bit tricky. You want to celebrate the newlyweds, of course, but you also need to stay within your budget. And like many questions of wedding etiquette, there are traditions—but no hard and fast rules—to guide you.
Knowing how much others give may help you decide. For context, the average cash wedding gift in the US is $150, according to 2024 data from The Knot. Wedding experts in a report from Brides.com offer a similar guideline, suggesting $100 to $150 is the typical cash gift amount given by American wedding guests.
That said, the right amount depends on your circumstances. Ultimately, you should give an amount you can comfortably afford while making the gift meaningful.
Decide on a budget
The first step in giving money as a wedding gift is deciding how much you feel comfortable giving. While there aren’t any strict rules to gifting money for weddings, consider your budget, your relationship with the couple, and what’s typical in your region.
Take a moment to look at your finances first. After all, even one-off occasions like a wedding still need to fit your goals. If you’re in a good place financially and thinking of giving a larger amount, it’s helpful to know that the IRS allows gifts up to $19,000 per person in 2025 without having to report it for gift tax purposes.
A general guideline for cash wedding gifts is to cover the cost of your plate (the cost per guest) or more. However, the value of the gift is not just about the dollar amount. It’s the thought behind it that really matters.
Consider your role in the wedding
Your role in the wedding can help guide how much to give. If you’re part of the wedding party, for instance, you’ve probably already contributed a lot of time and money. Maybe you even hosted a bridal shower or bachelor party weekend. In that case, it’s perfectly reasonable to give a smaller cash gift at the wedding.
On the other hand, if you’re attending as a guest without those added responsibilities, you might give a bit more as another way to show your support and celebrate the happy couple.
Consider the couple’s culture or traditions
Looking to the couple’s cultural background can add meaning to your gift.
Some cultures shower the couple with money during a wedding dance, a common tradition in Polish, Albanian, and Mexican communities. In Greek, Puerto Rican, and Filipino cultures, guests might pin cash directly to the wedding dress during the dance.
In Chinese and Japanese traditions, decorated envelopes filled with cash are often presented on the wedding day. In others, like Italian and Nigerian weddings, guests may collect cash in a special purse for the occasion.
Honoring the couple and their cultural traditions can make a cash gift of any size more meaningful.
Are you bringing a plus-one?
As you decide how much cash to give as a wedding gift, consider whether you’re bringing a plus-one. Even though your plus-one is an invited and welcomed part of the wedding, beefing up your cash gift is a considerate gesture that can help cover the cost of their plate.
Your plus-one might also give their own gift or contribute to the gift you’re giving. If the newlyweds and your plus-one don’t know each other that well, you might prefer to cover the cost of the gift yourself. It all depends on what feels comfortable for both of you.
Think about your relationship to the couple
Whether you’re close to one or both partners, your relationship can help you decide on a thoughtful gift amount. The closer your relationship, the more you will likely want to give.
For example, cash gifts to family members like siblings are likely to be above average, sometimes as much as $200 or more. Parents often give much more to their children, as do aunts and uncles to their nieces and nephews. Meanwhile, for someone you aren’t close with—say a coworker—it’s common to give a bit less.
What if it’s a destination wedding?
If the engaged couple in your life plans to say their I-dos at a destination wedding, they may see your presence as their present. After all, traveling to a far-off destination usually includes time off work, not to mention the cost of airfare and lodging.
Even so, you might still want to give a cash wedding gift, especially if you’re close. If you’re sticking to a budget, it’s reasonable to take travel expenses into consideration when deciding how much to give.
Cash, check, or transfer?
Once you’ve landed on how much cash to gift for the wedding, the next step is to decide whether to give it as cash or a check. A cash gift is versatile and can be spent immediately, while a check is more secure, safer to travel with, and easier to track. Go with what feels right for you and fits the couple’s preferences.
If the wedding is overseas and you can’t make it, or if you don’t want to travel with a large amount of money, consider a money transfer instead. It’s a practical way to get funds to the couple, even if you’re transferring money to someone without a bank account.
Personalize your gift
After you’ve chosen the amount, add a personal touch. This helps you give money as a wedding gift in a warm and meaningful way. Place the money inside a card, envelope, or decorative box. Choose a beautiful design or decorate it by hand, and don’t forget to add a handwritten note to congratulate the couple and wish them the best.
If the couple has a shared hobby or their wedding has a specific theme, choose creative ways to give money related to their interests. For example, you could stuff it in a book, fold it into a shape, or enclose it in an item that speaks to their personalities.
How to give money if you can’t attend the wedding
If your schedule or circumstances keep you from attending the wedding, you can still send cash to the couple. There are many methods of sending cash to someone besides handing it over in person. You can:
- Mail a personal check, cashier’s check, or money order to their home.
- Give a prepaid debit card.
- Transfer cash with a money transfer app.
- Send money using your mobile wallet.
- Send money using a money transfer service like Western Union.
Gifting cash when you can’t be there lets the couple know they’re still in your thoughts during this happy time.
Give money with Western Union
Giving money as a wedding gift is a thoughtful gesture that communicates your love and support for the newlyweds. It gives them the flexibility to use it as they see fit and helps with the financial challenges of starting a new life together.
If you want a secure way to give money as a wedding gift, try Western Union’s services and mobile app. Our commitment to security and connecting individuals around the globe makes it easy to send money to a newlywed couple anywhere in the world.
Download the Western Union® app today, send money online, or visit an agent location near you to send money in person.
FAQs
The average amount for a cash wedding gift is usually between $100 and $150. One guideline is to gift enough to “cover your plate,” or the cost of hosting you as a guest. You might consider giving more if you’re close to the couple and can afford it. If you’ve traveled extensively to attend the wedding, you might factor your travel expenses into your gift amount.
It’s perfectly acceptable etiquette to give money as a wedding gift instead of an item from the couple’s gift registry. The newlyweds can use the cash toward their honeymoon or to help launch their new life together. They may even have a fund set up for that purpose. Cash can also help them save up for a house or other goals, so you can feel good about contributing to their dreams.
If you can’t be at the wedding, there are plenty of ways to give money as a wedding gift. You can mail the couple a check or money order along with a card. If you want to avoid the risk of the check getting lost in the mail, send cash securely with Western Union. You could also send money to their honeymoon fund if they have one.
