Do you give less money as a gift at a lunch reception vs. a dinner reception?

View Quoted Comment Tell that to OP. Not me.

Definitely agree that you should not factor potential gifts into your plans. Plan the wedding you want and can afford, and any gifts you receive will be icing on the (wedding) cake!
To answer your question anyway - yes, it is possible that people may give less for a lunch reception as they might assume you spent less on the wedding by doing a lunch. Many people do give gifts based on the formality of the wedding and venue.

View Quoted Comment

LOL I was like huh?

View Quoted Comment I'm terrible at wording things today Haha.
I just wanted it understood it was my interpretation of what OP was asking. Not that it's my mindset!

Okay, I'm going to actually answer your question instead of repeating everyone else's very valid point. And the answer is yes, it would affect what I give.

I would likely give less for a lunch reception as I would know that I would be budgeting money afterwards to go to an after party into the night with other guests or the bride or groom. After parties are the norm in my group and an early end to the reception means a longer after party that would likely have to involve dinner or some sort of food.

I don't think the time of day would affect the gift we gave.

It would not make a difference what time the reception was to us, we gift not based on what our plate costs.

Not at all, in my eyes a wedding is a wedding and the amount I give wouldn't be determined on what type of wedding it was. Good luck planning!

I'll be honest. Yes, the time of day or setting could be factored into the gift I give.

If you are going to "wine and dine" us all night with cocktail hour, appetizers, full course meal, drinks, dessert, etc. Then I likely wont need to spend any other money on us for dinner, etc that day.

If I had to travel any bit of time, and you are having sandwiches and punch (not that you're suggesting sandwiches - just using it as an example), I am going to need to buy myself dinner. Or if there's some sort of after party I would be spending money. This would likely be factored into my budget and in turn factored into your gift.

I am going to be honest with you ....yes, I would probably give a smaller gift if the reception was a luncheon vs a dinner. While I am not strictly a "cover the cost of my plate" person, it is a factor in what i gift (along with closeness to the couple).

I got married this summer and I while I got gifts from 184 of my 185 attendees (which according to so many on this site is a high %), I would caution you against trying to add gift $ to your budget..... my gifts were all over the board as far as value and we did get several physical gifts and gift cards to local restaurants, golf courses, etc.