Wedding season is in full swing. According to an INSEE study published in February 2021, nearly 60% of unions celebrated in 2019 took place between June and September.
“Only 10% of marriages took place during the first three months of the year, and 16% during the last three,” notes the institute.
In fifty years, the month in which people get married the most is always either the month of June or the month of July.
If the organization of a reception requires a great organization, which naturally involves choosing the best possible date, being invited is not easy! Choose your outfit, book your trip or even your accommodation… And take care of the gift.
Indeed, it is customary to offer the two lovebirds a present or a sum of money in order to compensate for the costs related to the wedding and/or to help them start their life together, if necessary. But how much to put in the envelope?
Several elements come into play when it comes time to offer a gift or money at a wedding.
First, the bond you have with the couple. Is it a close friend? A member of your distant family? A colleague ? A neighbor ? If you don’t know the couple very well, the budget varies between 0 and 75 euros, and can go up to 300 to 500 euros for someone you know very well. But that’s not all !
If you come alone to the reception, it is natural that you have a lower budget than someone who comes with their spouse and three children.
You must also take into account your own costs: if you had to book a plane or train ticket, a hotel room… It is natural that you do not have the same budget as someone who lives not far from the place of reception.
Also, you can reduce your budget if the bride and groom have asked their guests for a particular dress code, forcing you to invest in an evening dress or a tuxedo.
Let’s imagine: you are going alone to the wedding of a work colleague who has decided to get married in Greece, three hours by plane from your home. You can give him a gift or an envelope worth 50 to 75 euros, for example.
If it’s your best friend who’s getting married a ten minute drive from your house, doesn’t impose a dresscode, offers accommodation, you witness it and you go there with your whole family.. The budget will undoubtedly be higher, why not between 200 and more than 500 euros. It’s all about balance!
