I read about this topic on some other blogs recently, with regards to just how much should one spend. The general consensus seems to be that ~$100 is good for friends, more for family, less for co-workers/acquaintances. That seems about right, and I’d only add the caveat that perhaps students get a bit more of a slack when it comes to giving wedding gifts. Between flying someplace to attend the wedding, booking a hotel room, and getting a present, it certainly adds up, and it’s especially hard on a graduate student budget.

Regardless, I didn’t think there was a hard and fast rule. I thought in general, you give what you’re comfortable with, and there’s not so much of a science about it. BUT, I overheard a random conversation the other day in which a girl proclaimed her formula for deciding how much to spend on a wedding gift: she would somehow find out the name of the reception caterer, contact them directly, and get an actual per head number on how much the couple are spending for the reception. She would then buy a gift around that number, figuring that she’s giving a gift around the price that the couple is spending on her for food.

Isn’t that completely and utterly insane???? Not to mention, if she were to go through all that trouble, why not take into account the cost of the church/minister/receptionsite/weddingdress/etc.etc??? Really, I did think that it was the thought that counted. Matching the dollar amount of the present to the dollar amount of the food is completely overboard.