As the wedding season picks up pace in various parts of Canada, attendees are facing a common dilemma amidst rising costs: how much should they budget for a wedding gift? With expenses like travel, accommodations, and attire adding up quickly, the financial burden of attending weddings is evident. Moreover, an increasing number of couples are opting for cash gifts or contributions towards their honeymoons instead of traditional registry items, leading guests to question the expected gift amount.
Determining a set figure for every wedding can be challenging due to varying circumstances, as mentioned by Sydney MacDonald during a conversation with CBC in Calgary’s Beltline. However, she typically leans towards a range of $100 to $200 for wedding gifts. Meghan McKay suggests $250, while Patrick Griffin from St. John’s opts for $100. Faye Bian prefers gifting between $50 to $100. These considerations reflect the evolving landscape where Canadians navigate wedding etiquette against the backdrop of a higher cost of living.
Lauren Dubie, who is planning her wedding in 2028, factors in her financial constraints as a young person in today’s expensive climate when deciding on gifts. She prefers cash over traditional registries, which she views as outdated. The changing dynamics of wedding costs are apparent, with the average Canadian wedding ranging from $30,000 to $42,000, according to WeddingWire Canada and The Knot’s 2025 Global Report.
Various factors contribute to the escalating costs of weddings, with inflation soaring by nearly 20% since 2021, as per Statistics Canada. Specifically, hotel rates have surged by over 40%, while flower prices have increased by around 18%. Amanda Figueredo, the owner of Day of Diva Planning & Coordination, highlights significant cost increments in food and beverage expenses, such as higher prices for signature drinks, now averaging $17 compared to $10 previously.
Figueredo advises against directly linking gifts to wedding expenses, emphasizing that numerous factors influence overall costs. She suggests a starting point of around $100 for gifts. Wedding industry experts stress that there is no fixed rule for wedding gifts, and guests should never feel pressured. Lenora Kingcott, a veteran in the wedding industry, notes that the notion of guests covering their plate cost is outdated, with $100 per guest being a common guideline.
Social media discussions on wedding etiquette can sometimes create unrealistic expectations, according to Kingcott, who emphasizes that gift-giving should come from the heart and align with one’s financial means. As lifestyles evolve, traditional registries are giving way to alternative gifting options, especially as many couples already cohabit before marriage. For instance, Jennifer Bruce and her husband opted for a honeymoon fund instead of physical gifts at their wedding.
Across different cultural backgrounds like the South Asian community, monetary gifts hold significant cultural value as symbols of prosperity and success for the couple. Sarika Verma from Two14 Events and Accessories in Toronto underscores the symbolism of money in wedding gifts, highlighting the tradition of guests presenting cash gifts at various wedding events. Lisa Lee-Truong from Shing Weddings in Vancouver notes the increasing trend of monetary gifts, with guests now commonly giving between $150 to $200 per person, reflecting a shift towards higher gift amounts in recent years.