What is the most important factor that determines how much we put into a wedding red packet?

The guest’s relationship with the bride and groom, it seems.

In AsiaOne’s recent survey of 836 Singapore-based users on the topic of marriage angbao rates, the response came out on top, sweeping more than half (51.7%) of the total responses recorded.

The second most important factor was the price of the room (21.9%).

Interestingly, while this is true for female respondents, for males the second most important factor was their financial situation (19.3%), followed by the price of the room (18.8%).

Given that there has been talk, prices for this year’s wedding red packets have risen, with a Moneysmart comparison showing prices for banquet tables at five-star Capella and St Regis hotels ranging between $250 and $370. $ and between $250 and $290 respectively for a weekend wedding, we also asked respondents that.

Unsurprisingly, three out of four believe that the rates have increased (75.1%).

According to Moneysmart, room fees mostly fell or remained constant in 2020 compared to 2019 due to the pandemic.

For five-star hotels, rates looked even lower in 2021, with the figure hovering around $2,200 per table ($220 per person).

For Brandon Ong, 39, who works in finance, the amount he gives depends on the relationship he has with the bride and groom. But making sure the couple can at least cover the cost of their seat is also important to him.

“At least don’t waste money on them, that’s my main principle,” Brandon said when it came to giving angbao.

He shared that before the pandemic, the maximum he gave was $500, “to close friends who got married in Capella.”

Although he was among the 24.9% of respondents who said angbao rates had not increased, he admitted it was because “it’s been a while” since he’s been around. not last been to a wedding.

The majority of respondents in AsiaOne’s poll also said they adhere to the “market rate” for wedding angbaos (64%).

22.1% would give an amount higher than the market rate. The rest (13.9%) would pack an amount below the market rate.

When it comes to the highest amount people would put in a wedding red packet, the majority (34.8%) would give an amount of $100 to $200, similar to the costs of most restaurants and venues. mid-level marriage.

23.8% of respondents would give an amount between $200 and $300. That figure is within the range of what high-end hotels such as Shangri-La, W Singapore, Intercontinental and Mandarin Oriental are charging this year, based on online guides.

Only a small number (11.5%) of users surveyed said the maximum they would donate was less than $100.

One such respondent, Lu Jiaquan, 34, clarified that his response was based on the past two years of a pandemic where weddings either faced severe restrictions or were banned at all.

It was a time when Zoom viewing parties replaced actual in-person wedding events, he shared.

“But still, many of us still wanted to give our blessings to the bride and groom,” Jiaquan said. “So some of us gave $80 to $100,” he shared.

Jiaquan said in the survey that he normally follows the “market rate,” “which is $100 to $150 depending on who I’ve been invited to.”

Seniors and under 18s are more likely to donate over $500

And it seems that older people as well as younger people have a more generous outlook when it comes to wedding red packets.

Among those under 25, one in four indicated that they would give amounts of “more than $500” at a wedding (24.6%). However, the majority (33.8%) would not give more than $100.

Among the most generous under 25s, 41.2% of under 18s said they would give more than $500.

For those aged 55 and over, this group represents 19.3%, or as many as those who would donate an amount between $100 and $150.

Some, however, have noted that there may be other concerns and other ways to contribute to a couple’s big day.

Felicity (not her real name), 38, shared that the maximum amount she gave was $250.

“If it’s a close friend, I can contribute in ways other than money, like doing the flowers and decorating,” she shared.

Felicity, who works in the education sector, admitted that with two young children, “it’s hard to splurge on angbaos”.

Sharing his personal experience of getting married 10 years ago, Brandon said most people “give what they want”.

“Some people don’t see that you should cover the couple’s expenses. More often than not, they don’t care to cover and they give what they want,” Brandon said, noting that older parents and younger people or less financially capable would generally give “less than market rate”.

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“And you can’t blame them because who asked the couple to go to an expensive banquet?” he added.

Echoing the sentiment shared by Brandon, Jiaquan agreed that couples shouldn’t expect guests to cover their costs at a wedding.

“It’s a give-and-take situation. At the end of the day, married couples need to plan wedding-related expenses carefully. They can’t expect wedding guests to offset their expenses.”

Felicity offered another perspective: “It’s not about whether couples should expect it, but because it’s become the norm in our culture or society, it’s now natural to wait there.”

Accordingly, receiving an invitation from less close friends or acquaintances often leads to an uncomfortable question for her.

“Can I afford to attend this wedding when it will cost $200 per person?”

candicecai@asiaone.com