Wedding reception, evening invite … how much money to give?

[FrenchandSaunders]

The bride and groom want money towards their honeymoon … I’ve no idea how much to put in a card.

Evening only, not whole day.

I did ask and they said “if you want to bring a gift”, so not expected but I can’t turn up empty handed.

I think £30-50 is fine personally I'd give £50. If you don't want to give money maybe a personal Mr and Mrs gift or a fancy bottle if something .

Of something *

50 quid, job done

Depends on a lot of factors really, most important of which are your financial situation and your relationship with the couple. I’d say £25-£50 would be fine. £25 if you’re not overly close and feeling the pinch (like everyone else!) at the moment, £50 if they’re your buddies and you’re doing okay money-wise!

I tend to do £50 for a full day invite so wouldn’t want to match that for an evening. £20 feels a bit too little, £25 a faff for having to break a note, so I’d go with £30.

General rule is for full day you cover the cost of your meal (double if two of you) and evening 50% of that.

£40 converted into the currency of their destination

We usually do £100 for day guests and £50 for evening as a couple, a couple of times when we’ve known their honeymoon destination we’ve put it in dollars for example.

It's only on MN that I've heard the "cover your meal rule" it's not something that I've heard in real life.
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This is the first time I’ve seen it on here, but always live by it.

It is just common sense, surely. I don’t ever expect anyone to pay for my meal in other circumstances, so try to replicate that at a wedding. In practice it’s usually £50 I’ll put in the card.

Me neither.

If that was true you would be spending a small fortune on a gift.

I would say £25-50 is more than reasonable for an evening guest, depending on how flush your feeling.

We give
£120 for all day
£60 for evening
Anything over £20 is fine.

def give money rather than a bottle - it might be that they don’t have space for physical gifts

£20 is too low. I’d say £30-50 is fine

Which basically covers your meal!! Nothing to do with being on MN - decent etiquette.

Well I always give a decent gift but in no way have I heard it being exchange for your meal !

£20 for evening. No one has much money now, it will cost to get there, pay for drinks.... anyone saying it's too low obviously isn't aware there is a COL crisis...

I've always considered it even before Mumsnet existed. I didn't always follow it as a fixed rule as it depends on other things but it's a good starter figure that you can take up or down.

I don't know anyone in real life who gives this sort of money at weddings. Most arrive with a nice bottle of something or nothing at all. I also find it a bit cheeky when the bride and groom ask for money for their honeymoon. Surely if you can't afford a honeymoon you just don't have one?

Giving money as a wedding present to cover your meal is an interesting concept. In the past when items of gift were the norm some people gave place mats, storage jars, silverware, china etc. all of varying monetary value. Nothing to do with paying for the reception.
However, we give the money gifts according to our relation to the couple, family get one amount, godchildren slightly less and friends children another amount.

It completely depends on your budget.

I'd personally give the same whether I was invited to an evening reception or the whole day - and normally it'd be £50-100 depending on my circumstances at the given time.

You're giving them a gift to celebrate their marriage, not in return for an invitation.