As wedding season picks up in various regions of Canada, attendees are facing a common dilemma amidst escalating costs: determining an appropriate amount to spend on a wedding present. With expenses for travel, accommodations, and attire adding up quickly, the financial burden of attending weddings is significant. Moreover, an increasing number of couples are opting for cash gifts or contributions towards their honeymoon instead of traditional registry items, leaving guests uncertain about gift expectations.
Sydney MacDonald, discussing the issue with CBC in Calgary’s Beltline, highlighted the challenge of setting a fixed gift amount due to varying circumstances. She typically leans towards the $100 to $200 range for wedding gifts. Meghan McKay suggested $250, while Patrick Griffin from St. John’s proposed $100. Faye Bian expressed a preference for tangible gifts, suggesting a range of $50 to $100 as suitable.
These deliberations mirror a growing trend among Canadians as they balance traditional wedding norms with the realities of a soaring cost of living. Lauren Dubie, preparing for her own wedding in 2028, emphasized considering personal financial constraints and closeness to the couple when deciding on a gift. She favored cash gifts over registries, which she deemed outdated.
The evolving landscape of wedding etiquette coincides with a rise in wedding expenses nationwide. Statistics from WeddingWire Canada and The Knot’s 2025 Global Report indicate that the average Canadian wedding costs between $30,000 and $42,000. Factors such as inflation, which has surged by nearly 20% since 2021, are contributing to the overall increase in wedding costs. Specific expenses like hotel rates have spiked by over 40%, and flower prices have risen by approximately 18%.
Amanda Figueredo, the proprietor of Day of Diva Planning & Coordination, noted significant cost escalations in food and beverage services, particularly with signature drink prices soaring to around $17 from $10 in the past. She cautioned against directly linking gifts to wedding expenses, emphasizing that there are numerous other cost factors involved in hosting a wedding. Figueredo suggested a starting point of around $100 for wedding gifts.
Wedding industry experts stress that there is no universal rule for wedding gifts, and guests should not feel pressured to conform to specific expectations. Lenora Kingcott, a veteran in the wedding industry with over 30 years of experience, emphasized the importance of heartfelt gifts within one’s means. The notion of guests “covering their plate” to offset meal costs is considered outdated, with a suggested benchmark of approximately $100 per guest.
Changing societal norms, such as couples living together before marriage and established households prior to weddings, are reshaping traditional gift-giving practices. Consequently, conventional registries filled with household items are declining in popularity. For instance, Jennifer Bruce and her husband opted for a honeymoon fund instead of physical gifts at their wedding, reflecting a shift towards more experiential present choices.
Cultural variations also influence gift-giving customs, with monetary gifts being a longstanding tradition in several communities, including the South Asian population. Sarika Verma from Two14 Events and Accessories in Toronto highlighted the symbolic significance of money as a gift, representing prosperity and success for the couple. Lisa Lee-Truong of Shing Weddings in Vancouver noted the prevalence of monetary gifts in Asian weddings, often presented in red envelopes for good luck. The monetary gift amounts have seen an upward trend over the years, with guests commonly giving between $150 to $200 per person as a standard gift in contemporary times.