Wedding gift etiquette: how much money to give in Italy

Italian etiquette experts advise that a standard cash gift for a traditional restaurant wedding is around 100-150 euros per adult, according to Elisa Motterle, author of 'Il tao delle buone maniere'. The amount varies based on relationship closeness, with siblings and witnesses often giving more and sometimes contributing to wedding rings. Wedding planner Claudia Gambacciani notes that cultural differences exist, with foreign guests in Italy often opting for personalized gifts rather than bank transfers. Comedian Amedeo Colella devised a humorous 'busta algorithm' formula that calculates gift amounts based on relationship coefficient, restaurant cost, number of guests, and a 'squarciumaria' factor measuring desire to impress. For destination weddings, where guests already pay for travel and accommodation, Motterle suggests a sentimental gift instead of monetary one. Some couples rely on gifts to cover reception costs, but Gambacciani says most who include their IBAN do so for honeymoon funds or charity. The practice of giving cash via bank transfer has become common for large, lavish weddings with over 100 guests.