How Much Should a Bridesmaid Spend on a Wedding Gift?

Finding yourself as a bridesmaid can be exciting — after all, where else can you get a gorgeous dress, dance all night, and throw confetti until your hands are sore? But of course, it also comes with lots of responsibilities. One big question you may come across is: how much should I spend on a wedding gift as the bridesmaid? From budget-friendly tips to first-hand experiences, we’ve put together this guide to help point you in the right direction. So get comfortable and let’s dive right into it!

How Much Should Bridesmaid Spend on a Wedding Gift?

So you’ve been chosen to be the bridesmaid for a friend’s wedding… Congrats!

Now it’s time to start thinking about wedding gifts.

Long gone are the days when a toaster oven or a china set was the perfectly acceptable gift for newly weds — unless you still want a toaster over or a china set, we don’t judge!

As a member of the bridal party and a close friend to the bride, it’s understandable to feel some pressure in buying a lavish gift that you hope the bride will appreciate.

Read also: Do You Need To Give A Gift If You Don’t Attend The Wedding?

But how much should you spend on a wedding gift?

The answer is… it’s entirely up to you!

The key here is to find the right balance between sentimentality and your budget (a bridesmaid dress is already quite pricey!).

After all, your friend chose you to stand by her as she gets married on her special day, and not to break the bank on a wedding gift for a wedding party.

So whether you feel comfortable with a $20 gift or a $200 gift, it’s entirely up to you!

How Much Should Bridesmaid Spend on an Engagement Party Gift?

So now we know from the previous section how much should you spend on a wedding gift as a bridesmaid.

But what about for the engagement gift? How much should you spend on an engagement party gift as a bridesmaid?

Read also: Do Bridesmaids and Groomsmen Give Wedding Gifts?

Of course you want to be able to show the happy couple your love and support, but you definitely don’t want to break the bank.

The good news? There’s no set and defined amount that you have to spend on an engagement party gift.

It all comes down to finding something thoughtful and meaningful that the bride and groom will appreciate.

If you’re strapped for cash or if you already plan to give a gift for the main wedding event, then you can skip out on giving an engagement party gift altogether.

But if you plan to give an engagement party gift too, you can typically find things the couple will appreciate from their wedding registry.

Some common wedding gift ideas that can work well for engagement parties include a personalized wine or champagne bottle, a cookbook with the couple’s favorite recipes, or a simple gift card to their favorite restaurant.

Read also: What is a Wedding Gift Registry?

Remember, it’s not about how much money you spend, but rather the thoughtfulness behind the gift.

And as far as the wedding gift etiquette goes, always remember to only give as much as you feel comfortable with.

How Much Should Bridesmaid Spend on a Bridal Shower Gift?

So your friend is getting married and you’re one of lucky bridesmaids that’s tasked with planning and organizing the bachelorette party and bridal shower.

It’s a great time but things can quickly get stressful, especially if you don’t know what to gift the bride for their bridal shower…. better yet, how much to spend on a bridal shower gift.

You definitely don’t want to come off as cheap but you also don’t want to break the bank here.

So the answer? Well it depends.

We strongly recommend considering your financial situation, relationship with the bride, and whether you’re already pitching in for a group wedding gift.

As we’ve mentioned before, if you’re strapped for cash and/or already plan on getting a wedding present for the wedding day, then a bridal shower gift may not be necessary.

Read also: How To Make a Wedding Registry on Amazon

But if you want to get a gift to let the happy couple know how much they mean to you, then typically, the average wedding gift amount is $100.

So you can use that amount to gauge how much to spend on a gift for the bridal shower.

For instance, if you feel like the bridal shower isn’t as big of an event as the main wedding event, then you can adjust the engagement gift budget accordingly and opt for something around $20-$50.

Remember, it’s the thought that counts!

So don’t put too much pressure on yourself and instead have fun celebrating a special day with all the wedding guests.

Read also: How To Make a Crate & Barrel Wedding Registry