Do you cover your plate?

Nope. I've never heard of that and I live in a boxed-gift area. I usually spend $50-$100 on the couple, depending on their relationship to me.

We cover our plate, and then some if they are closer.

There shouldn't be "rules" to gift giving.

Get what you decide is right for the couple from your heart.

To be fair I've only been to 2 weddings as an adult, once gf of the grooms brother, he bought the gift. Once for FH brother's wedding we more than covered our plate. Can't say I've developed a rule but now being a bride I think I would as long as it was in our means.

I've never heard that rule before. People usually give what they can or give off the registry and I've lived in MN, PA, IL, and TX and never seen it done any other way. If people had tried to cover their plate at our wedding they would have been out $300+ a couple. I think that's a bit ridiculous since they are already gracing us with their presence. That's really all I care about.

I don't follow this because honestly, how do you know how much your plate cost? I've had friends plan weddings where a plate was $15 and ones where a plate was $100 and I'm sure as heck never going to ask.

We just plan on $50 - 100 depending on their relationship to us. Sometimes more than that if it's a specific/special gift or someone much closer to us.

We usually give about $200 total - more if we're really close to the couple - so I'd say we usually cover our plate. Unless their wedding food is incredibly expensive, then too bad for them lol

I don't really have a set standard for gift giving. It all depends on the couple and our relationship with them.

I hate this idea/rule. I buy what I can afford that seems like a good gift for the couple. Sometimes I do a wedding keepsake (personalized cake toppers) if they would like it on top of that gift. Gifts are from the heart on my opinion.

Double post

What we give usually depends on a few things mostly our relationship to the couple, if we had to travel but we do usually try to cover our plate.

I always give enough to cover my food plus what I plan to drink. For DH and I it's usually $50. Like the cost of a night out to dinner

In my area, it's pretty common to cover your plate. I honestly never thought anything of it until I came on here and heard from others that it wasn't the norm!

I've heard of this but I do not follow it. We usually give between $100-$200 depending on how far we have to travel & how close we are to the couple. I never take the venue into consideration.

I don't usually go by the cost of per plate. I just give $50 - $100 per person. Maybe a little more if I'm close to the couple. If I was invited to the shower and gave a gift, sometimes a little less.

We give a set $200 or the registry equivalent if we think they actually want boxed gifts. I think for most weddings that covers a significant portion of the cost of the plate.

How much people choose to spend on their wedding is not my concern. I go by what I read on here once "give as you are moved and are able". For my younger brother I gave over $700 (and flew across the country for several days). For a casual business acquaintance, it'd be more in the $50 range.

I wouldn't expect people to cover their plate - as others have said, it's hard to know what has been spent and if you have a blow out on food it's not fair to expect people to stump up.

Although in saying that, one of DH's cousins and his wife gave us £10 (US$16). Their combined food and beverage cost was £180 (US$290). We found out though and aunt that the cousin thought we were showing off with our venue and if we could afford to have our wedding there then clearly we didn't need money from him. He's a high ranking police officer (and a Scrooge) and his wife is an obstetrician. I felt like sending them back the £10 in a card because they're clearly so hard done by.

It's not an etiquette rule. Gifting is completely personal and is based on what you can afford and what you want to give, as well as your relationship with the couple.

Some people may have a lavish $400 per plate wedding paid for by their parents. Why do they "deserve" more than a couple paying for their own wedding who may be paying $60 per plate? It doesn't make sense and what others choose to spend should have no relation to what you choose to gift. A wedding invitation is not an invoice!

We generally give $300-$400 from both of us, depending on relationship to the couple.

I always give $100 per plate and extra depending on who it is.