The average wedding gift check in Israel is NIS 275, according to a survey by Mutagim Consulting, commissioned by “Globes”. Under the Jewish calendar, this week begins a three-week period until 9 Av (marking the destruction of the Second Temple), during which no family celebrations are held. But this is only a brief hiatus in the hot wedding season that always catches us unprepared, and adding another large item to the family budget.
NIS 200 is the most frequent amount given (27% of respondents), followed by NIS 250 (20%), and NIS 300 (17%). Checks given to new couples range between NIS 100 and NIS 1,000.
3% of respondents stick to the old-fashioned method of giving gifts, and 4% said they do not go to weddings at all. Those who go to weddings face a more or less complicated set of calculations before each event in order to figure out how much money to spend. What is the deciding factor? 78% of respondents said the closeness of couple was the most important factor, with the amount received at a preceding event lagging far behind (8%). The event’s location and lavishness influenced the decision of 7% of respondents. Financial ability ranked fourth 4%. 2% of respondents said they give the same amount for all weddings.
Other considerations are the guest’s expectations, estimated cost of the meal per plate, and personal feelings.
The highest standard is apparently in the Dan region, where the average check is NIS 290, followed by residents of the north (NIS 282), Sharon (NIS 279), south (NIS 262), and Jerusalem (NIS 240).
Wide differences were also found between gift givers: the average gift by secular people is NIS 297; religious NIS 226; and haredi (ultra-orthodox) NIS 182. Religious and haredi people frequently prefer modest weddings over attraction-laden affairs, both because of the character of these communities, and their tendency to follow rabbis’ calls to avoid ostentatiousness and unnecessary expenses by a new couple.
No return on investment
“People now know that they won’t cover the cost of a wedding,” says wedding planner Tal Samuels. “The average gift amount, except from close relatives and friends, does not even cover the basic cost per person. At best, it covers the cost of food, but not everything else. This is true for a small wedding, let alone when whole families are invited.”
“Globes”: How much does the average couple take gifts into account when planning their wedding?
Samuels: “They don’t expect too much. They might be able to cover the catering, but there’s no chance of covering everything else.”
Samuels estimates the average cost of a wedding at NIS 70,000-80,000, of which the couple cover 70%. The rest apparently falls on the parents, or else on the new later.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes.co.il - on July 27, 2005