As wedding season picks up momentum throughout Canada, many attendees are facing a common dilemma in a time when expenses seem to be on the rise: how much should they budget for a wedding gift? With the added costs of travel, accommodations, and new attire, attending a wedding can quickly become a significant investment. Moreover, an increasing number of couples are opting for cash gifts or contributions towards their honeymoon instead of traditional registry items, leading guests to question what is considered appropriate.
Discussing this issue in Calgary’s Beltline, Sydney MacDonald highlighted the variability of circumstances, making it challenging to define a set amount for every occasion. She typically leans towards the $100 to $200 range for wedding gifts, while Meghan McKay suggests $250, and Patrick Griffin from St. John’s proposes $100. Faye Bian prefers a gift in the $50 to $100 range as a maximum.
These deliberations are becoming more prevalent as Canadians navigate wedding etiquettes against the backdrop of a higher cost of living. Lauren Dubie, who is planning her wedding for 2028, factors in her own financial constraints and proximity to the couple when deciding on a gift amount. She expresses a preference for cash over traditional registries, viewing them as outdated.
The landscape of wedding expenses is evolving alongside changing etiquettes. The average Canadian wedding now ranges between $30,000 and $42,000, as reported by WeddingWire Canada and The Knot’s 2025 Global Report. The surge in wedding costs mirrors the broader trend of escalating prices, with inflation having surged close to 20% since 2021, according to Statistics Canada. Notably, hotel prices have spiked by over 40%, while flower costs have risen by around 18%.
Amanda Figueredo, the owner of Day of Diva Planning & Coordination, identifies food and beverage expenses as the most significant cost increases in weddings. She notes a notable rise in the price of signature drinks, which have elevated from $10 to about $17. Additionally, the price gap between buffet and plated meal options has narrowed.
While conventionally, guests were expected to cover the cost of their meal through their gift, Figueredo advises against directly tying gifts to wedding expenses. She recommends a gift amount that guests can comfortably afford, proposing around $100 as a reasonable starting point.
In the realm of wedding gifts, industry professionals stress that there is no fixed rule, and guests should not feel pressured into specific gift amounts. Lenora Kingcott, a veteran in the wedding industry with over 30 years of experience, emphasizes that the sentiment behind the gift is paramount, aligned with the giver’s means and heartfelt connection to the couple. She suggests that a common benchmark is approximately $100 per guest, with potential variations based on the guest’s financial capacity and relationship with the couple.
As societal norms shift, gift-giving traditions are also undergoing transformation. With many couples cohabitating before marriage and having established households, traditional registries are losing popularity. Jennifer Bruce, who married in Calgary last September, requested contributions to a honeymoon fund instead of physical gifts, reflecting this changing trend.
Cultural traditions also influence gift-giving practices, with some communities, like the South Asian community, having a longstanding tradition of giving money as wedding gifts. In these cultures, monetary gifts symbolize prosperity and success for the couple, with guests often presenting cash in red envelopes for good luck. The dollar amounts for these gifts have seen an upward trend over the years, with guests commonly offering between $150 to $200 per person today.
In conclusion, as wedding expenses soar and gift-giving traditions evolve, guests are encouraged to consider their means and relationships when determining suitable gift amounts, focusing on the sentiment behind the gift rather than adhering to rigid guidelines.
