How much to give as a wedding gift

There is no rule, only a range. Most UK guests give somewhere between £30 and £100 per person, and nobody at the wedding will ever know which end you chose.

The figures below are typical for 2026. Treat them as a sanity check, not a bill - what you can comfortably afford always beats what a list says.

Typical amounts by relationship (per person)

• Colleague or distant friend: £30 to £50.
• Friend you see regularly: £50 to £75.
• Close friend: £75 to £100.
• Sibling, cousin or close family: £100 to £150.
• Parents of the couple: whatever you have agreed privately - often a contribution to the day itself instead.
• Evening-only guest: £20 to £40, or a gift from the list.
• Attending as a couple: most people give one joint amount rather than doubling.
• Bringing children: no expectation to add per child.

What changes the number

• A destination wedding - your flights and hotel are already the gift, and most couples say so.
• Being in the wedding party - the outfit, the hen or stag and the hotel usually replace a large cash gift.
• A long-standing gift list - stick to the list rather than second-guessing it with cash.
• Your own circumstances - a £25 gift with a good card is never remembered as mean.
• Multiple weddings in one year - spread the same total across them rather than matching each one.

Honeymoon funds and cash requests

• A honeymoon fund is a gift list with a different label. Give what you would have spent on the list.
• Round numbers are easier for the couple to track - £50 rather than £47.
• Contribute to a named item if the fund offers them. Couples remember 'the dinner in Rome' far longer than a transfer.
• If you would rather buy something physical, do. No couple has ever objected to a wrapped gift.

What to write with money in the card

• Something small towards the honeymoon, with all our love.
• For your first proper adventure as a married couple.
• Towards whatever makes the day after the wedding just as good.
• A little something for the new home. Congratulations to you both.
• Not a gift list item, just a thank you for having us. Have a wonderful day.

Etiquette people get wrong

• Never write the amount inside the card - the couple will see it when they open it.
• Put cash or a cheque in a sealed envelope inside the card, not loose.
• There is no obligation to give a gift at all if you have travelled a long way to attend.
• You have up to a year to send a gift, though most people give on the day.

Browse wedding cards

How to write it so it lands

• Decide what you can afford first, then check the range. Never the other way round.
• The card is what gets kept. Spend two minutes on the message before you worry about the amount.

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Frequently asked questions

How much should you give for a wedding gift in the UK in 2026?

Most guests give £50 to £100 per person. Colleagues and distant friends sit nearer £30 to £50, close family nearer £100 to £150.

Is £50 enough for a wedding gift?

Yes. £50 is squarely within the normal UK range for a friend, and with a handwritten card it is a generous gift.

Do evening guests have to give a gift?

It is optional and usually smaller - £20 to £40, or something from the list. A card on its own is perfectly acceptable.