Who hasn't been invited to a wedding and wondered: what should I give the bride and groom?
Something personal? Something original? Or simply money?
The wedding is an emotional day of love. The bride and groom have planned this special day long and hard and look forward to it full of anticipation and excitement. As a wedding guest, you don't want to be left empty-handed, but a gift doesn't always have to be physically tangible. Supporting the planning and preparation of the wedding is already a great pleasure. Even if the bride and groom would prefer to give each other 10 hands, helping hands are a great gift, especially when it comes to organizing the ceremony.
In general, no one is expected to give a particularly expensive or unusual gift. It should always match the personal circumstances and the relationship with the bride and groom.
Money
The bride and groom are planning a big celebration where everyone should have fun and a special, beautiful day. A wedding like this can be quite expensive - for a "befitting" wedding, you plan to spend between €6,000 and €15,000. Depending on the planning and prioritization, the amount may be lower or higher. The money is saved for a long time, borrowed or even financed with a loan. Many couples use gifts of money to partially refinance the wedding or to be able to go on a honeymoon.
Some people only want money as a wedding gift.
But how much money is an appropriate gift? As a rule, it is said that at least one guest's food and drinks should be covered. Of course, this can vary greatly, as not every wedding is equally simple or pompous. On average, we assume €50 per person. Everyone has to decide for themselves whether this is appropriate, because you also have to take your own financial situation into account. The bride and groom know their guests and will not reproach a full-time student or someone in difficult financial circumstances, for example.
Depending on the relationship to the bride and groom, more money is often given as a gift:
Acquaintances/companions/colleagues usually give sums of money according to the principle described above, on average €50.
Friends/close friends usually give the bride and groom more than €50.
Family members are particularly generous and support the bridal couple with up to €200.
Gifts of money are particularly suitable as a last-minute gift. However, it doesn't have to be given in a traditional envelope. There are many original wrapping ideas and even beautiful origami folding instructions for banknotes.
If you know that the bride and groom are well off or otherwise don't think much of monetary gifts, you can also donate money to a charitable organization in their name. For example, if they have a big heart for animals, you could support the local animal shelter or similar. This would not only make the bride and groom very happy.
Homemade gift
Something homemade can also bring great joy to a wedding!
How about a voucher booklet filled with different activities? If you get together as a group, the budget and the fun of the activities can be increased even more! Why not make a small booklet together and put together activities for the bride and groom to choose from. From a meal together to exciting escape games - whatever everyone enjoys is allowed. This creates shared experiences and strengthens the relationship.
A photo book of the guests or a guest book is a particularly popular gift from close friends or witnesses. Photos of the guests are taken on the wedding day (perhaps with an instant camera). These photos can be glued into the guest book and signed or personalized with congratulations. As an alternative to the signature, fingerprints can also be left behind. This creates a unique keepsake, created by all the guests together.
Flowers
Bouquets of flowers are one of the classic wedding gifts. Giving flowers is an affair of the heart. They are not only beautiful, but also convey a message. It is not for nothing that there is the "language of flowers". The colors and scents of flowers touch our emotional senses and convey a feeling of admiration and appreciation to the recipient.
Online delivery makes flowers particularly suitable as a wedding gift for guests who are unable to attend the wedding.
A modern version of the classic bouquet are flower boxes with preserved flowers. These are particularly long-lasting and remind the bride and groom of their special day even years later. You can add a personal touch by decorating the box, for example by having the names of the bride and groom and the date of the wedding printed on it.
Personalized gifts
Customizing drinkware is a classic way to honour the wedding couple. To do this, the couple's names are engraved on champagne glassesthat they can use on the wedding day. Alternatively, the city skyline can be engraved on a set of stemless wine glasses. This is a personalized idea to capture where the couple met.
Some bridal couples have a wedding table, i.e. a wish list with a supplier, from which family and friends can choose items so that no gifts are duplicated. If there is none, it is also not wrong to ask the bride and groom directly if they would like anything in particular. In general, the wedding gift should always be chosen according to your own means and possibilities. There is no right or wrong.
In the end, the best thing is to make the wedding day unforgettable for the bride and groom with lots of good vibes and great moments.
