we asked for gift vouchers for home reno's as we'd combined two houses full of stuff into one and were still in the process of trying to sort and donate what wasn't needed. we ended up getting vouchers ranging from $10 up to $150 i think (i just took all the gift cards of their backing and didn't look at the amount cos i didn't care!) and managed to completely paint (well, buy the paint - it's a work in progress!) inside and out, renovate our garden - and with the cash we were given we bought a video recorder.

what we GIVE for a wedding is definitely related to how close we are to the couple getting married. basically we look at how far we have to travel, how much we fork out on accommodation, and things like that. i'd never give more than about $100 as a family cos there is so much more to consider than just the dollars you give them! i'm usually more likely to buy a gift than to put cash or vouchers in a box unless i KNOW what it's going towards - and i'm glad i'm like that - DH's nephew and wife got married over four years ago and asked for cash for a new fence out the front - they used the money they got on bills for someone else (her eldest son from prev relationship!) and it's only now, over 4 years later, they've made a start on replacing the fence! it's not usual for me to judge stuff like that, but really, if you say you want money for X, use it for X!!! i ended up not giving them money - i was bridesmaid and did soooo much for them - so i got them something i knew they didn't have (a meat keeper for bbq - not exxy but i was sick of having to find plates for hot food and try to keep it warm while we were there!). i also put a lot of effort into making sure they got a lot of other sentimental things from the wedding that they didn't think of... i think a well thought out gift (sentimental or something you know they don't have and could use) is much better than cash

as to the expectation of $150 a head - that's just bloody greedy!