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As wedding season ramps up across Canada, many guests are grappling with a familiar question at a time when seemingly everything costs more: how much should they spend on a wedding gift?
Between dishing out money for travel, hotels and new clothes, attending a wedding can add up quickly. At the same time, more couples are asking for cash gifts or honeymoon contributions rather than items from registries, leaving some guests wondering what is expected.
“There’s so many different circumstances … that it’s hard to have a concrete number that you give every single time,” said Sydney MacDonald, whom CBC spoke with on a recent afternoon in Calgary’s Beltline.
“I think for some of the weddings that we’ve gone to, usually the $100 to $200 range has kind of been what I’ve gravitated towards.”
“I’d say $250,” said Meghan McKay, also from Calgary.
Patrick Griffin, visiting from St. John’s, said $100.
“I prefer a gift,” said Faye Bian. “$50 to $100 — that’s maximum for me.”
Those calculations are becoming increasingly common as Canadians balance wedding etiquette with the realities of a higher cost of living.
“I am factoring in how much I can give as a young person living today, which is way more expensive than it used to be, and also how close I am to them,” said Lauren Dubie, who is planning her own wedding in 2028.
“I would much rather cash,” said Dubie. “I feel like registries are so outdated.”
Wedding industry veteran Lenora Kingcott and planner Amanda Figueredo weigh in on wedding gift dilemmas.
Wedding costs rising
Wedding etiquette is evolving at a time when the festivities themselves are becoming more expensive.
The average Canadian wedding costs between $30,000 and $42,000, according to WeddingWire Canada and The Knot’s 2025 Global Report.
Weddings are more expensive because practically everything is costing more these days. Inflation is up nearly 20 per cent since 2021, according to Statistics Canada. More specifically, hotel prices have increased more than 40 per cent over the same period, while flower prices are up roughly 18 per cent.
Amanda Figueredo, owner of Day of Diva Planning & Coordination, said food and beverage costs have been among the biggest increases.
“Definitely we’re seeing a hike in the cost of signature drinks,” she said. “Back in the day, they used to be $10. Now they’re more like $17.”
She said the price gap between buffet and plated meal options has also narrowed.
She cautions against tying gifts directly to wedding expenses.
“In the past it used to be: cover the cost of the meal,” she said. “But there are a lot of other factors that play into the cost of a wedding.”
Her advice?
“Whatever people can give. But I think maybe around $100 is a good place to start.”
No fixed rule, experts say
Wedding industry professionals say there is no universal rule for wedding gifts, and guests should never feel pressured.
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