How much money do you give for a Jewish wedding?

As with other Jewish lifecycle gifts, cash in multiples of 18 (chai, 'life') is a common custom — often scaled to relationship closeness and, informally, to the scale of the wedding itself. Acquaintances might give $100-150; close friends and family more. There's no fixed rule.

What is a ketubah and can I gift one?

A ketubah is the traditional Jewish marriage contract, often produced as a beautiful piece of art the couple displays afterward. Couples typically choose their own before the wedding, but if you know they haven't yet, commissioning one from an artist is a meaningful, unusual gift.

Jewish Wedding Gift Guide: How Much and What to Give

The custom, explained

Cash is a completely standard, welcomed wedding gift in Jewish culture, and the same chai (18) custom that shows up at bar and bat mitzvahs applies here too — giving in multiples of 18 (the numeric value of the Hebrew word for "life") as a symbolic blessing for the couple's life together. It's common informally to scale the amount up a bit for a larger, more expensive wedding, as a way of covering your seat at the reception — but this is etiquette folklore, not a rule anyone enforces.

Good to knowA registry is just as normal at a Jewish wedding as any other — many couples register for Judaica specifically: a Kiddush cup for Shabbat, Shabbat candlesticks, a mezuzah for their first home together, or a Havdalah set. If they've registered, giving from the registry is always a safe, welcome choice.

How much is normal?

Your relationship	Typical range
Distant acquaintance, plus-one	$50–$100
Friend, coworker	$100–$180
Close friend, family	$180–$360+

These reflect common patterns, not obligations — give what's right for your own circumstances and relationship.

A less common but meaningful gift: the ketubah

A ketubah is the traditional Jewish marriage contract, historically outlining the groom's obligations to the bride; today it's often commissioned as a genuine piece of art — sometimes painted, sometimes papercut — that the couple signs at the wedding and hangs in their home afterward. Couples almost always choose their own ketubah well before the wedding, so this only works as a surprise gift if you know for certain they haven't yet. If in doubt, ask a member of the wedding party rather than guessing.

Sources cross-checkedThe chai/18 money custom and Judaica registry norms are documented consistently across Aish.com's wedding gift etiquette guide and multiple Jewish lifecycle sources. Ketubah customs are described consistently across the ketubah-artist shops verified for this site.

Curated picks

Jewish-maker picks are flagged and listed first.

Jewish maker Custom ketubah — KetubaHome Jerusalem-based ketubah painter; original paintings blending biblical motifs with Israeli-landscape design, gold-leaf premium option, books out for weddings a year ahead — worth checking their calendar early. See the shop →
Jewish maker Fused-glass Havdalah set — SheviBGlassCreations For their first Shabbat as a married couple — a Raanana, Israel studio specializing in Judaica fused glass. See the shop →
Jewish maker Handwoven tallit — TallisManJudaica A wedding tallit is sometimes used as a chuppah (wedding canopy) covering, then kept for life — from a working weaving studio in Shuva, Israel. See the shop →

The Shuk earns a small commission on purchases made through the links above, at no extra cost to you. See our curation criteria and full disclosure.

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