Are you getting ready to attend a wedding? If so, you might be feeling a bit overwhelmed by the need to purchase a wedding gift. After all, you don’t want to come across as cheap and uncaring, but you don’t want to buy something that you cannot afford either. So, just what are you supposed to by for your friend or family member?

Many people think that a wedding gift should be worth the same amount as it costs couple to pay for their meal. In other words, if the couple is paying $30 per guests and you are bringing your family of four to the wedding, the gift would be $120 because 30 times 4 is equal to 120. While you can certainly use this as a rule of thumb if you like, it isn’t a hard and true rule. In fact, there is no monetary requirement when it comes to what you spend on the gift. The gift can cost just $10 or can even be handmade. Truly, it is the thought of the gift that matters.

Since it is the thought that counts, you should also realize that you are not obligated to purchase from the wedding registry. While you are sure to get something the couple wants when you go this route, you are free to give anything else that you think the couple might enjoy.

Whether or not you should bring the gift with you to the wedding is pretty much up to the custom of the family and even the region in which you live. In some regions, it is customary to send the gifts to the bride’s home. In many cases, however, a table is set up at the reception where guests can drop off the gifts they have brought to the wedding. According to etiquette, you have up to a year after the wedding to give a gift to the happy couple. So, if you aren’t ready to give a gift at the wedding, you can certainly send one later. Still, it is best to avoid waiting so long to give your gift.