I never heard about the dreaded “cover your plate” theory till I moved from Florida to NJ.
My family is from the south - NC - and actually $$$ used to only be given by close family. Gifts were more common from friends.
“Cover the plate” is crass to me as well; invite people to a party with the expectation they’ll pay for it is not very polite.
I give what I can afford; if I know the couple extremely well, I will pick out a personal gift.
VCNJ~
[QUOTE=Dewey Finn]
I agree that the “cover your plate” guideline is really crass. (I mean, are you supposed to ask how much the meal will cost when you’re getting the card ready?) But I’m not sure that it’s appropriate to compare it against how much you’d spend on a Saturday night out, since it’s not a entertainment event. Presumably, you’re there because you like (perhaps even love) the happy couple. I’d probably give $100, partly because I like round numbers. But the general guideline is to give what you can afford and depending on how close you are to the couple.
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