She married abroad in Ibiza and “didn’t expect any gifts”, but guests still gave about £100 per couple.
“We had hoped we’d conceive naturally, but we’d started trying long before our wedding and it wasn’t happening,” she says.
When “reality kicked in”, using the money for IVF felt like the right thing to do. It covered a large chunk of the cost, and she says she is grateful to friends and family for “playing a part” in bringing her son into the world.
Georgia Finch, 26, says she asked for money towards a loft renovation and received £2,500 from 80 guests, which “was amazing” and covered roughly half the cost.
As a wedding guest, Georgia says she likes to contribute cash and particularly liked it when a colleague set up a site where people could pay towards specific honeymoon experiences, such as a couples’ massage, scuba diving or a luxury breakfast.
It made it easier for her to buy an experience as the most she would personally give to a fund at the moment is £20, because “money is tight right now”.
How much to give can also expose cultural differences.
Ewa Lewszyk-Howes says her Polish relatives gave between £250 and £400, while the usual contribution from her husband’s English friends and family was around £100 per couple.
“But that comes with different expectations,” she says, explaining that Polish weddings are often expected to include a large celebration, endless food, an open bar and free accommodation.
“In the UK, guests are more likely to spend that money on travel, hotels, taxis and other costs that come with attending,” she says.
