Etiquette · Answered

The Awkward Questions, Settled

4 guides

Weddings are a minefield of unwritten rules. Here are clear, modern answers to the questions everyone quietly Googles.

No hand-wringing, no 300-year-old rulebook — just sensible US etiquette on the questions that actually come up: how much to spend, how to ask for money gracefully, and when those thank-you cards really need to go out.

How Much to Spend on a Wedding Gift in the US

What's a normal amount to spend on a wedding gift in the US — by relationship, whether you're a plus-one, and how the cash-gift question really works.

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Giving, Asking & ThankingThe money questions, settled.

Honeymoon Fund Wording Examples

Polite, warm wording for asking for honeymoon fund contributions instead of gifts — ready-to-us…

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When to Send Wedding Thank-You Cards

How long you really have to send wedding thank-you cards, plus a simple structure for writing t…

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Traditional Anniversary Gifts by Year

The traditional US anniversary gift list year by year — from paper and cotton to silver and gol…

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Good to Know

Frequently Asked

How much should you spend on a wedding gift in the US?

$30–$100 depending on how close you are to the couple. Ignore the American 'cover your plate' idea — it doesn't apply here.

How do you politely ask for money instead of gifts?

Invite rather than instruct: thank guests for their presence, mention the honeymoon fund warmly, and leave room for a traditional gift. Keep it off the main invitation.

How long do you have to send thank-you cards?

Aim for within three months of the wedding — sooner for gifts that arrive before the day. Specific, warm notes beat late generic ones.