Destination Wedding - How generous of a gift to give?

I’ve always just given the same amount regardless of whether the wedding is local or destination.

Give what you normally do within your budget.


In reality very few people if any cover the cost of their meal because unless you are paying the catering bill (as in a restaurant situation where you pay for your own meal and drinks) there is no way to even guestimate what it might be. Instead, they will have an amount they are comfortable spending based on their bank account and how close they are to the couple. The latter for the vast majority of folks is how the gift expense is calculated.

I'd give $200. Most destination weddings pass off the costs to guests anyway. However, this sounds like a very small expense for a destination wedding!

A general rule of thumb when it comes to giving gifts is not to spend less on someone else at their wedding than you would expect to recieve at your own if it were the other way around. At least, that's what I was always told.

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It will cover my rent for a week so I'd certainly prefer to spend the money on that! Honestly the only reason I am going is because it is family and I will never live it down if we don't go.

Unless it is close family or friends, I give the same amount at every wedding, regardless of where it is.

Yes, I give a gift for destination weddings. Usually about $50.

Give what is comfortable for you. That may vary for lots of reasons.

Unless I’ve spent thousands to attend a wedding, I gift the same for an out of town wedding as I do for a local wedding. Maybe because I’m from somewhere where the cheapest hotel rooms not in the city are still close to $200, $600 to attend an out of town wedding seems pretty reasonable to me.

I would probably gift the same amount as I normally would locally (200-500). I’m getting married in Bali so we are telling our guests not to get us ANYTHING since they will be spending thousands for travel. $600 sounds like a somewhat small expense for a destination wedding, so I’d think about giving a gift that’s at least $200 (the lowest you’d typically give according to your post).

For a destination wedding I'd probably lower the gift amount, depending on how much I'd be spending to attend the wedding. For a local wedding my FH and I would spend around $100-$200 on a gift from their registry + a monetary amount, OR spend that amount on registry gifts or just a full monetary gift.

I feel you on the price, while some think $600 isn't too bad for a destination wedding, I see it as a large amount. That's rent money for us lol...

I would suggest gifting what you can afford honestly. If you normally gift $200, and you can afford that then gift that amount, but I def. wouldn't go below $100.

View Quoted Comment I live in an area where it will literally cost me upwards of $2mil to buy a small but decent home so every dollar I can save, I do! Honestly if it cost us thousands to attend (like others have said is the norm) I flat out wouldn’t attend because I can’t justify the expense.


I think we will maybe give $300 so somewhere mid range. The bride and groom’s parents are paying for the entire wedding so I don’t feel so guilty about what they’re out of pocket for

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I think meeting in the middle works!

I would stick with what you normally give. Personally I give the gift based on how much I care for the person -family \ close friend $200-300. Acquaintances and work friends $100-200

I am having a destination wedding. We’ve only received one gift so far and it was from our friend that has to fly (most can drive, but it’s about a 5 hour drive). She gave us $50 and I felt that was more than I expected given that she has to pay for airfare and hotel to attend our wedding.
I can’t imagine anyone thinking poorly of any gift you give. I would be perfectly fine if someone comes and doesn’t give a gift at all. I just want people to attend our wedding.
Gift what you can.

I agree with those that have recommended doing what works best for you. I don't think you need to feel pressured to spend money on a gift. They will be so appreciative that you took the time and $ just to be there for their special day.

We are having a destination wedding in Mexico so we have decided to not even create a registry. Instead, we found a cute little poem to nicely express that we don't want/need or expect guests to provide us with a gift. We are just so excited to spend time with them all that week.

Good luck!

I once spent $4k for FH and I to go to a ridiculously expensive family destination wedding. We did not give a gift. I know this is terrible ettiquete and I'll probably get roasted for it, but we just couldn't afford it after the lengths we went to to get there. The bride was very happy we were there and knew how hard it was for us to come, so I don't think there are hard feelings. Most people on the guest list didn't come and didn't give a gift because of the expense and length of travel. Also I believe my parents sent them a gift so I just let that be that.

View Quoted Comment Also this. The wedding I went to was a bargain for the bride and groom and super expensive for guests


Also I typically give $75 for coworkers, $150 for friends, $200 for best friends and family. Am I being cheap?

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Financial gifts, as discussed in this thread, are very subjective and what is reasonable depends on the perspective of the gift-giver. For me, I will not give less than $150pp at any wedding because of just how expensive weddings are. I don't think what you have set out is unreasonable.