When it came to wedding gifts, china used to be fine; even a plate could be great.
But more and more, experts say, it’s just “give us the money, honey.”
With many millennials marrying later, after they've accumulated all the waffle makers and place settings they'll ever need, cash can come in handy to pay off those college loans or even a mortgage.
But what do the lucky newlyweds really do with the dough you give them?
More than half (54 percent) said they will put at least some of the money toward the cost of a honeymoon, according to a new survey of 4,000 couples, and about a third (34 percent) said they plan to use it to help pay off debts.
Other uses include paying for “wedding stuff,” saving up to buy a house, and paying for home renovations.
Only about 7 percent of couples say they will use it to start a nest egg.
The survey was done by Tendr, an online site that for a service fee lets couples accept cash gifts which they request on personalized digital stationery.
It’s a long way from the card with a check inside dropped on the gift table.
Unlike the situation with buying gifts off a wedding registry, though, there is the question of how much cash to give.
One guidepost also comes from Tendr whose data shows what people give, state by state.
The national average cash wedding gift, the company says: $120. Cash gifts are largest in Connecticut at $229 on average, while they are smallest in Utah at $57.
And Georgia? A little below average at $108.
A last piece of data suggests that spring weddings may not only be more traditional, but also more lucrative for the couple. Cash gifts in the spring average $178, compared to $128 in the fall.
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