Finally an answer to this frequently asked question!
It’s May, and that means the time for bridal couples to seal their love has arrived again. If you are also invited to such a day full of loving happiness in the coming weeks, it is sometimes difficult to determine how much money should actually be in an envelope for the bridal couple. Fortunately, Glamial has sorted it out for you.
Wedding etiquette
According to official wedding etiquette, it is actually not done for a bridal couple to ask for an envelope on their special day. The problem with this is that the bridal couple can literally see how much money you spent on their wedding. This can cause guests to become embarrassed because they have given too much or too little. In many cases it is not clear what a ‘normal’ amount is to give to the bridal couple.
But let’s be honest: given how expensive life has become, such an envelope is not a crazy wish at all. For example, the bridal couple immediately has a nice budget together for a grand honeymoon. And that is just a little more useful than, for example, a second kettle, a third duvet, or yet another set of towels, right?
Categories and guidelines
At most weddings, guests are roughly divided into three categories: 1. colleagues and acquaintances; 2. friends and family; 3. Close family and best friends. None of those categories have a fixed, ‘mandatory’ amount. This is initially determined by what you can spare. If you have already spent a lot of money on the bachelor party or your outfit, it is understandable that you donate a small amount. Yet there are amounts that are generally seen as socially acceptable.
For the first category, that of colleagues and acquaintances, an amount between 20 and 40 euros is considered reasonable. Friends and family are usually expected to pay between 35 and 50 euros. The highest amount applies to best friends and close relatives: between 50 and 150 euros. If you come to a wedding alone, you will be charged a lower amount than if you go as a couple. Moreover, you can feel free to give a slightly lower amount if you have contributed a lot to the wedding (for example in the form of the design of the invitations).
The 10 percent rule
In addition to those guidelines, there is something called the 10 percent rule. Wedding planner Trish Simitakos explains that you have to take into account what you earn. She recommends calculating 10 percent of the gross amount you earn weekly. If you receive 2,200 euros into your account every month, that amounts to about 550 euros per week. So you could give the bridal couple 55 euros.
What you want
What is most important, however, is that you give the bridal couple an amount that you feel comfortable with. Of course, it is not the intention that you will have difficulty making ends meet for the rest of the month due to someone else’s wedding, so it is wise to choose an amount that you can afford to miss anyway. Is it lower than the guidelines? No problem. You can assume that you were invited for your company, not for your money. Moreover, there will undoubtedly be people who donate an amount that is on the high side, which will bring each other into balance.
Source: Marie Claire | Image: Adobe Stock
