How much to give as a wedding gift in Greece?
Oct 6th, 2008, 12:39 AM
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How much to give as a wedding gift in Greece?
Hello,
Next weekend I'm flying to Athens to attend the wedding of one of my best friends from our year-abroad study in Barcelona.
She is Greek, marrying a Greek guy.
I am clueless on what to give to her as a wedding present. But above all: how much is custom to give as a wedding present. I know this can vary a lot from country to country, so I definitely don't want to give too little, but als not too much, as this might make them feel a bit uncomfortable or something.
Also any ideas/tips for gifts are welcome.
Thanks !
Next weekend I'm flying to Athens to attend the wedding of one of my best friends from our year-abroad study in Barcelona.
She is Greek, marrying a Greek guy.
I am clueless on what to give to her as a wedding present. But above all: how much is custom to give as a wedding present. I know this can vary a lot from country to country, so I definitely don't want to give too little, but als not too much, as this might make them feel a bit uncomfortable or something.
Also any ideas/tips for gifts are welcome.
Thanks !
Oct 6th, 2008, 07:25 AM
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For weddings, I always like to present something that will stay with the couple for many years. Thus, like to shop for something like a small jewelry item from Tiffany's,or some nice item from Lenox or even some good wine glasses. The stores can package them well for travel in carry-on. For a best friend, I think $100-150 or so would be appropriate. But of course, you have to think of your own budget. Even with little bit less, you can find some very good name brand crystal items at any big Department store.
Oct 6th, 2008, 07:41 AM
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Found this on Wikipedia, so take it with a grain of salt:
"One famous tradition is the pinning of money on the bride's dress. This custom originated in one part of Greece, where it is a substitute for wedding presents, however it has become more widespread recently."
Yet, I think it is wise to wait for someone with real expertise, someone Greek, since tastes and customs differ a lot. And a gift worth $150 can be way too much and embarrass his or her relatives, or be just adequate.
And you can still ask her. After all, you are good friends, and she will understand that you have questions about the "right" procedures.
"One famous tradition is the pinning of money on the bride's dress. This custom originated in one part of Greece, where it is a substitute for wedding presents, however it has become more widespread recently."
Yet, I think it is wise to wait for someone with real expertise, someone Greek, since tastes and customs differ a lot. And a gift worth $150 can be way too much and embarrass his or her relatives, or be just adequate.
And you can still ask her. After all, you are good friends, and she will understand that you have questions about the "right" procedures.
Oct 6th, 2008, 07:43 AM
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No offence Ileen - but do have any experience of wedding gifts in Greece? Your advice sounds very general...it's not helpful just to guess. Apologies if I'm wrong, but wedding customs vary wildly in different countries.
I can't help Stardust, sorry, but I hope someone comes along who can.
I can't help Stardust, sorry, but I hope someone comes along who can.
Oct 6th, 2008, 08:17 AM
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I asked my friend Spiro the Greek. He gave the following advice.
Several things you could do:-
1. Purchase some gold Jewellery from Greece (Buy it there,in a Goldsmith and not a tourist shop 18ct is normal) around £150.
2. Or if you want to give money and can afford £150-£200 that will be acceptable.
3. Or if they already have an apartment it is acceptable to buy some something for the apartment for a similar amount.
4.Or you can buy the white lace bed linen, on the Thursday before the wedding there is a ceremony to make up the bed. If you are invited to that ceremony you may want to arrange that. At the same time you can put €50 on the bed.
This of course depends upon what you can afford.
Your gift will be appreciated no matter how much you spend, as you have made the effort to travel and paid no doubt for your fare.
They will be pleased you are there.
Crikey this Greek wedding stuff is expensive !!! ;-)
Hope this helps
Muck
Several things you could do:-
1. Purchase some gold Jewellery from Greece (Buy it there,in a Goldsmith and not a tourist shop 18ct is normal) around £150.
2. Or if you want to give money and can afford £150-£200 that will be acceptable.
3. Or if they already have an apartment it is acceptable to buy some something for the apartment for a similar amount.
4.Or you can buy the white lace bed linen, on the Thursday before the wedding there is a ceremony to make up the bed. If you are invited to that ceremony you may want to arrange that. At the same time you can put €50 on the bed.
This of course depends upon what you can afford.
Your gift will be appreciated no matter how much you spend, as you have made the effort to travel and paid no doubt for your fare.
They will be pleased you are there.
Crikey this Greek wedding stuff is expensive !!! ;-)
Hope this helps
Muck
Oct 6th, 2008, 08:26 AM
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Why not wait until after the wedding? Be observant while you are in Greece, subtly probe the bride's family or Greek friends for ideas about what might be needed or appropriate. Then do something that's within your budget. Send it later, perhaps ordered from a Greek shop or website to avoid duty hassles. Surely your friend would not expect lavish gifts from friends who travel long distances at significant expense.
Have a wonderful trip.
Have a wonderful trip.
Oct 6th, 2008, 09:52 AM
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Thanks all for your replies. 100-150 GBP for just me sounds like a lot of money, I usually give about half. But might be that the guy thought about how much you give as a couple.
Some good ideas there.
Any other input still appreciated !
Some good ideas there.
Any other input still appreciated !
Oct 6th, 2008, 01:38 PM
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stardust
I have been to a few Greek weddings over the years and have given the same gift each time i.e. money
We have a local card-maker in our town and he personalises a hand-made card for the happy couple using their names and the date of the wedding. Inside I usually put euro's to the value of between £80 and £100 with a small, personal, handwritten note from me.
My Greek friends seemed to love the cards in particular, and one of the couples still has theirs framed, and on the wall of their home.
Just an idea of you.
Bill
I have been to a few Greek weddings over the years and have given the same gift each time i.e. money
We have a local card-maker in our town and he personalises a hand-made card for the happy couple using their names and the date of the wedding. Inside I usually put euro's to the value of between £80 and £100 with a small, personal, handwritten note from me.
My Greek friends seemed to love the cards in particular, and one of the couples still has theirs framed, and on the wall of their home.
Just an idea of you.
Bill
Oct 6th, 2008, 11:20 PM
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I got married in Greece and many of our guests were Greek. Because we were married on an island, everyone (even the Greeks) who attended our wedding had to travel and pay for hotels. The Greeks who came to the wedding gave us little or nothing as a present - they had already travelled and paid for their hotels and we didn't expect anything (though maybe they were ready and waiting with their EUR50 notes for me to break out the pins).
Some greeks who we invited did not come to our wedding but sent presents instead. Those who sent non-cash presents sent items of silverware, I am guessing pretty expensive (many were very ornate and not really to my taste
Any of the Greeks who did not come to the wedding but sent cash sent absolute maximum GBP100 per couple -that would have been a lot of money for them.
I suppose the message I took was: If you are travelling to the wedding then a token present is fine. (By the way one of the best presents we got was also one of the cheapest - a subscription to National Geographic Magazine which was still popping through the letterbox for a year after the wedding itself). If they have the money-pinning then you may not even need a present, just pin some cash on the dress.
Some greeks who we invited did not come to our wedding but sent presents instead. Those who sent non-cash presents sent items of silverware, I am guessing pretty expensive (many were very ornate and not really to my taste
Any of the Greeks who did not come to the wedding but sent cash sent absolute maximum GBP100 per couple -that would have been a lot of money for them.I suppose the message I took was: If you are travelling to the wedding then a token present is fine. (By the way one of the best presents we got was also one of the cheapest - a subscription to National Geographic Magazine which was still popping through the letterbox for a year after the wedding itself). If they have the money-pinning then you may not even need a present, just pin some cash on the dress.
Oct 7th, 2008, 02:28 AM
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The traditions of money-pinning and making of the bed are not always kept by Greek families and I haven't seen that for the last 10-15 years and I go to at least 1 Greek wedding a year. Maybe if it was a wedding in a traditional Greek village it might still be happening -is it not possible to ask? Same with jewellery I have not seen that given for some years (except from family).
According to my sister (a wedding photographer based in Cyprus) nowadays it is all wedding planners and five star hotels (for some).
Money in an envelope or card (personalised sounds very nice) is most appropriate, the amount doesn't matter.
According to my sister (a wedding photographer based in Cyprus) nowadays it is all wedding planners and five star hotels (for some).
Money in an envelope or card (personalised sounds very nice) is most appropriate, the amount doesn't matter.
Oct 7th, 2008, 03:49 AM
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Thanks all for your replies. Very much appreciated!
Not sure how traditional the wedding will be. It's supposed to be in a fancy place in Athens. But a few years ago I watched the movie "My big fat Greek wedding" together with her, and she laughed so much, saying Greek weddings were exactly like that
Will tell you how it went next week !
Not sure how traditional the wedding will be. It's supposed to be in a fancy place in Athens. But a few years ago I watched the movie "My big fat Greek wedding" together with her, and she laughed so much, saying Greek weddings were exactly like that
Will tell you how it went next week !
Oct 10th, 2008, 01:25 AM
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I think cash is the best solution
around 100 would be a sufficient amount. Or maybe one of the digital picture frames would be neat, at least that was what I was thinking of getting for a friend thats getting married. but i suck at picking presents (so says the wife)
around 100 would be a sufficient amount. Or maybe one of the digital picture frames would be neat, at least that was what I was thinking of getting for a friend thats getting married. but i suck at picking presents (so says the wife)
Oct 13th, 2008, 06:40 AM
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Hi all,
Well, in the end me and 2 Italian friends (we all studied together in Barcelona) put our money together, and bought a digital picture frame, which we pre-loaded with lots of pictures we had from our good times together during the year abroad and the times we met afterwards.
We also bought some funny and naughty stuff for her bachelorette night by the way ;-)
My friend had asked me and an Italian friend if we wanted to be "godmothers" of the wedding, which I assumed was something like bridesmaids. However, it turned out we were to be her witnesses !!! Which was of course great, but also quite stressed as we were supposed to do some things in church, while barely speaking a word of Greek !
Anyway, it turned out to be a wonderful wedding. We had a nice but quiet bachelorette party on Friday night when we arrived and went to visit the Acropolis on Saturday morning (as last time I was in Athens last Frebruary it was closed due to 20cm of snow !). Then in the afternoon the hair dresser came to her house to make all of us ladies look at our very best.
The church wedding was at 7 pm in a beautiful little orthodox church in Kifissia (the posh neighbourhood a bit outside Athens, not too far from where she lives). It was quite interesting as some fancy bars were just opposite the church Now I am used to catholic weddings in Belgium, so things were quite a bit different !
We all arrived at the church before, with some 300 people around, all dressed up very nicely, also bringing their wedding gifts along and then at 7 my friend arrived with her father. It was all a bit chaotic, but in the end everybody got their place in the church: the couple with the witnesses, parents and brothers standing up in the middle around the altar, and all other people sitting and standing around. The priests performed the whole ceremony, which was luckily rather short (around 30 min) as my heels were killing me First the other witness from the groom's side had to switch their wedding rings 3 times, then my Italian friend had to switch a crown on their heads 3 times, and then the couple had to go around the altar 3 times, with me behind them holding the crowns.
Guests were given little bags of rice to throw on the couple as they got out of church, and then the couple together with the witnesses and the family stood in a row outside the church to receive everybody's wishes. Apparently people wished me around 300 times for a happy wedding myself, so I would not be surprised if I get married within a year from now
After church we walked to the hotel where the dinner was held. The couple entered the room about half an hour later, cut the cake and danced the first dance. Then the buffet was open with delicious cold and warm Greek food. After being brought a piece of the (chocolate!) wedding cake for dessert, the dancing started ! And of course, there were plenty of traditional Greek dances. For the easier ones, me and my Italian friends joined in as well, and had plenty of fun !
The wedding ended around 2h30, after which some of the young people still went to one of the fancy bars next door to do some after-partying
All in all a great experience !
Well, in the end me and 2 Italian friends (we all studied together in Barcelona) put our money together, and bought a digital picture frame, which we pre-loaded with lots of pictures we had from our good times together during the year abroad and the times we met afterwards.
We also bought some funny and naughty stuff for her bachelorette night by the way ;-)
My friend had asked me and an Italian friend if we wanted to be "godmothers" of the wedding, which I assumed was something like bridesmaids. However, it turned out we were to be her witnesses !!! Which was of course great, but also quite stressed as we were supposed to do some things in church, while barely speaking a word of Greek !
Anyway, it turned out to be a wonderful wedding. We had a nice but quiet bachelorette party on Friday night when we arrived and went to visit the Acropolis on Saturday morning (as last time I was in Athens last Frebruary it was closed due to 20cm of snow !). Then in the afternoon the hair dresser came to her house to make all of us ladies look at our very best.
The church wedding was at 7 pm in a beautiful little orthodox church in Kifissia (the posh neighbourhood a bit outside Athens, not too far from where she lives). It was quite interesting as some fancy bars were just opposite the church
Now I am used to catholic weddings in Belgium, so things were quite a bit different ! We all arrived at the church before, with some 300 people around, all dressed up very nicely, also bringing their wedding gifts along and then at 7 my friend arrived with her father. It was all a bit chaotic, but in the end everybody got their place in the church: the couple with the witnesses, parents and brothers standing up in the middle around the altar, and all other people sitting and standing around. The priests performed the whole ceremony, which was luckily rather short (around 30 min) as my heels were killing me
First the other witness from the groom's side had to switch their wedding rings 3 times, then my Italian friend had to switch a crown on their heads 3 times, and then the couple had to go around the altar 3 times, with me behind them holding the crowns.Guests were given little bags of rice to throw on the couple as they got out of church, and then the couple together with the witnesses and the family stood in a row outside the church to receive everybody's wishes. Apparently people wished me around 300 times for a happy wedding myself, so I would not be surprised if I get married within a year from now
After church we walked to the hotel where the dinner was held. The couple entered the room about half an hour later, cut the cake and danced the first dance. Then the buffet was open with delicious cold and warm Greek food. After being brought a piece of the (chocolate!) wedding cake for dessert, the dancing started ! And of course, there were plenty of traditional Greek dances. For the easier ones, me and my Italian friends joined in as well, and had plenty of fun !
The wedding ended around 2h30, after which some of the young people still went to one of the fancy bars next door to do some after-partying
All in all a great experience !
Jul 1st, 2010, 08:57 AM
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A late reply, but if you buy from an online shop based in Europe there is no issue about customs or duties within EU countries.
The one I use in Germany (that delivers all over Europe) is:
www.wunschboutique.de
Gifts I have bought in the past from them include a Holmegaard vase, charitable donations (Oxfam goats), stemless Riedel wine glasses and an Alessi cocktail set. What I would like for myself is a sterling silver bowl from Robbe & Berking, but I'm still saving up!
The one I use in Germany (that delivers all over Europe) is:
www.wunschboutique.de
Gifts I have bought in the past from them include a Holmegaard vase, charitable donations (Oxfam goats), stemless Riedel wine glasses and an Alessi cocktail set. What I would like for myself is a sterling silver bowl from Robbe & Berking, but I'm still saving up!
