How much cash to give as a wedding gift?

I'm going to a wedding his Saturday with my girlfriend. The couple getting married are a young Polish couple, typical enough income, not extravagant by any means. I'm adding this small bit of info cause I'd like to know how much cash should be given as a gift at weddings in Warsaw? I've read blog comments ranging from 200 zł in total to 200 zł per person. I know that it pretty much depends on our joint income and current situation , but can anyone tell me what their experiences are? Thanks in advance.

I'm Scottish so I dispensed with that requirement ;) ;) Joking aside, I went to my fiancee's bro's wedding and guests gave 400PLN per pair. There were 90 or so guests so you can see how easily they recouped their lavish outgoings. 4000PLNx9 is 36,000 and they paid out just over 30,000PLN.

Seanus

400 PLN per couple? That would be about 100 Euros. Quite a lot, in Holland, it's about 50 Euros per couple.

M-G (thinks now about getting married in PL - quite lucrative)

200PLN could be normal enough, though. There are no guns pointed to heads :)

I was told and have given 500zl in the past, this is what i was told was the norm.

We normaly give 250zl..

I guess it all depends on how big the wedding is set up. From what I understand at Polish weddings you will eat until you burst and drink until you drop. If that is the case, then 400 PLN would be normal. But I guess it all depends.

M-G (marry merry Mary)

Seanus:


That would be if there were 90 couples, but I think there were 90 guests, approx. 45 couples?
So they got 18,000 zł. I think?

My Polish girlfriend reckons 200 zł but even she admits she doesn't really have a clue and its just a wild guess. I guess if you are only going to the ślub (ceremonial part) then even an 'aul bottle of washing up detergent should do the job. Afterall, you are not getting any grub or drink.

If I was anal, which I am not, I would take into consideration that we are both vegetarians and easily filled. I don't drink alcohol (anymore) and my girlfriend gets drunk just looking at a bottle of wine. But MareGaea has a point, a huge amount of money is generally invested by the hosts in catering for the guests needs. I guess one should try to at least cover the costs of their presence (although at this wedding it could range from 150-400 per person, I'm not sure really).

I didn't bother going to the stag cause I would have known nobody apart from the 'kawaler' (bachelor groom-to-be). My girlfriend is going to the hen party tomorrow. Each invitee has been asked o contribue 110 zł. She and her other close friend think it's really steep. But they haven't a clue what is been organised so I guess their livers will be well oiled by 6am 'za darmo' (for free).

David, I guess you meant 500 zł. as couple. That seems steep.

I'm guessing 200-250 zł is enough. I haven't earned for a year as was working abroad gratis with my partner. She just started a job with NGO that only pays 1600 per month. So she when she heard that the hen was going to be 6% of her monthly wage she was not too pleased.

Well, there were also kids who are not expected to pay so that complicates the picture somewhat. I'd say 100PLN in your case is fine. A nice solid banknote. If you are not enjoying the voluminous food and drink then you are only getting a small part of the deal.

I know that they clawed most of their outgoings back. Some monetary gifts were bigger than others.

Interesting that Poles give cash on weddings. In Sweden a wedding gift is always a thing.

Give them a Toaster or Iron, something the wife can use...lol

I will second that !....................Even maybe Pots and Pans for the kitchen or a Hoover maybe ?

Is it normal for poles to invite people to their wedding and expect them to pay? In the UK we normally give coffee machines and fondue sets as presents......

Exactly anybody can give an envelope with money inside.

I say give the gift that keeps on giving:)

Now a hoover thats self propelled would be the perfect gift for a good friend:)

Imagine walking through the reception with a huge gift wrapped box, the crowd would be very curious to see what is inside?

Then as the anticipation grows, the unsuspecting bride opens it!!!!!

Behold the Hoover super sucking vaccum cleaner that will give her hours upon hours of pain free vaccumming pleasure:)

Surley the invitations for other weddings would soon fill your mailbox!

Well, it depends! Are you somehow related? Good friends or you just know them and see them from time to time?

Anyway, if you aren't related I think that 200-400zl is ok! This is more or less how much they have to pay for you both.....

I was just wondering the same thing myself...the thought of asking for money seems disgusting to me :/ If people want to spend a huge amount of money on their wedding, it's fine by me, but don't expect me to pay!

Yes, that's one of the greatest gifts ever!

Typical money grabbing poles........

Is this a true Polish Custom to give money? Money is typically given by immediate family only in my experience. A registry is usually established with the couples needs. This eliminates the 10 Fondue Sets. The couple establishes their needs of China, Silver, down to linens.

Its not a Polish thing, any sort of decent person would give a nice wedding gift.

Even a cheap wedding reception cost $30k

So what youre saying is that you would go to a wedding eat, drink, dance and have a good time all on somebody elses tab.

It probably cost them $200 a plate per person and yet thier money grabbing Poles?

It sounds like youre a cheap Polock:)

you can buy a robot vacuum cleaner on Amazon, apparently you can program it to do the cleaning before you get home from work; it even learns to go around furniture and stuff eventually. Now THAT is cool, I SO want one of those! :D

really? and how about all those US wedding sites where people who getting married make a list of presents that they want to get... just in case to not have 5 coffee machines and 3 vacuum cleaners...

ok, now - nobody expect money from you..... you can give a gift, there are also people who won't bring anything. Most of people give money because it's just more practical these days.

Not really, i usually take a gift and as another poster has suggested the couple usually make an inventory and people choose what to buy from a list, most shops have the facility to do it online. Simply handing over cash is a bit thoughtless and its a bit like buying a ticket for an event. It also makes to clear how much you have spent on the gift too.

Just as bad, I think. I know I won't have gift lists or anything for mine! I'm cool with getting endless junk that I'll never use - at least people won't feel pressured into spending money that they don't have, just to keep up with everyone else.

Those 'bridal showers' are also a complete joke, as far as I can tell.

Bottom line: The Bride and Groom have invited you as GUESTS. There is no stipulation as to a gift. Use your own guidelines and common sense. Weddings are either traditional or not. Depends, on the wedding your going to? What are the traditions in Poland?