Wedding questions · 4 answers · updated 30 October 2026
Shagun amounts, return gifts, who pays for what, and the tax on gifts.
A small gift guests take home as thanks for attending, usually handed out at the reception or placed in rooms at a destination wedding. The ones that work are useful or edible: dry fruit or mithai boxes, a scented candle, a silver coin, a potted plant or a regional sweet. Our working range is ₹200–1,500 a household; skip anything heavy to carry.
How Much Money to Give at an Indian Wedding: Shagun Amounts, Who Gives What, and Why It Ends in 1 →
The extra rupee keeps the blessing open. A round number reads as complete, an ending; the one rupee on top cannot be split and signals that the relationship continues. The coin in the envelope stands for Lakshmi. ₹501, ₹1,100, ₹2,100, ₹5,100 and ₹11,000 are the usual steps, so ₹11,111 and ₹3,100 are both proper shagun amounts.
How Much Money to Give at an Indian Wedding: Shagun Amounts, Who Gives What, and Why It Ends in 1 →
No. Gifts received by the bride or groom on the occasion of their marriage are exempt from income tax in India whatever the amount or the giver, under the income-tax rules on gifts. Gifts received at other times are taxable above ₹50,000 a year unless from relatives, so keep the envelopes and the guest list as proof of occasion.
How Much Money to Give at an Indian Wedding: Shagun Amounts, Who Gives What, and Why It Ends in 1 →
Traditionally the baraat and its travel, the groom's outfits and jewellery for the bride, the reception if it is hosted by his side, and gifts to the bride's family, while the bride's family bore the venue and catering. Urban families now negotiate: by function, in proportion to each side's guest list, or into one shared pool.
Who Pays for the Wedding in India? What 2,000+ Couples Reported in 2025-26 →
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