Decide how much to spend on a wedding gift.
Wedding gift convention scales with closeness, party size and local prices, and it recognises that guests who travel have already spent significantly to be there. A second guest adds about 60% rather than doubling the gift, and a quarter of travel costs is offset against the gift up to a floor — so distance reduces the expected gift without eliminating it.
Wedding gift budget
Gift = relationship base x local index/100 x (1 + (guests - 1) x 0.6) - min(40% of gift, 25% of travel cost), floored at half the per-guest base
Closeness matters most, adjusted for local prices and how many of you are attending. Guests who travel a long way are conventionally expected to give less, which is reflected here.
Not usually. Adding roughly 60% for a second guest matches common practice better than doubling.
Follow the couple's stated preference. Where none is given, cash or a registry contribution of the amount shown is safe.