Money Fix: Wedding gift options

Check the calendar and you see that June is fast approaching, along with all those weddings being planned. When it comes to gifts, it may be that the happy couples in your life are not so well off that they're requesting donations to charity, as did the royals who married last month. So if you're new to the wedding-guest scene, here are some tips on what to give and how much to spend:

Budget: When it comes to an amount, Gina Milano, president of Long Island Wedding & Event Planners Boutique, East Norwich, shares these ranges for starters, per person: a minimum of $50 to $75, ranging up to $100 to $200. The two main considerations, she says, are "what your relationship to the couple is, as well as what you can afford."

Gifts: If you opt for a present rather than cash, there's no need to get creative, says TheKnot .com wedding site. Its poll found most brides prefer a gift from their registries, where you can order online and have the gift wrapped and shipped. Of course, if your budget is tight and there are no low-cost registry options, you might give a gift certificate from that same store. Or go in with others on a bigger-ticket group gift.

Option: If you can provide a special service, consider the approach of Ray Malone, an attorney in Miller Place: "I've been gifting smaller checks for the estimated dinner cost for myself and guest. Plus a nicely printed certificate for free legal services (excluding divorce); ideally a pair of wills or something similar. I got the idea from a plumber friend who did the same to me years ago -- a much appreciated gift."