Wedding gifts in Ireland: what to give when they have the list
By Amy Byrne · · 6 min read
Cash is standard at Irish weddings and there is nothing wrong with it. But it disappears. A print of somewhere that means something to the couple is still on their wall in ten years.
At most Irish weddings the gift is an envelope, and honestly that is fine — couples usually need it. But an envelope is gone by the following March. If you want the gift to still exist in ten years, it needs to be an object.
How much people actually give
For context, so you can size a gift sensibly:
| Relationship | Typical envelope |
|---|---|
| Colleague or distant friend | €50–€100 |
| Close friend | €100–€150 |
| Family | €150–€250+ |
A framed print at €25–€65 works either as the whole gift from a colleague, or alongside a smaller envelope from a close friend. It is the object part of the gift, not a replacement for the envelope.
When a print beats cash
- They already own a home. No list, nothing needed, walls still bare.
- You know a place that matters to them. Where they got engaged, where they walk, the county one of them is from.
- They have an animal. A dog print for a couple whose dog was at the wedding is a very short line from gift to keepsake.
- You are giving as a group. Four people at €20 each covers a framed 16×24″, which is a real piece rather than four small ones.
Choosing the image
Play it safe on subject and generous on size. Landscapes are the safest wedding gift — nobody has strong feelings against a hillside — while animal portraits are best when you know the couple has that animal or that breed.
Two rules that save you:
- Go one size up from what you think. A 12×16″ is the smallest size that reads as art rather than a photo.
- Frame it. A rolled print asks a couple in the middle of moving house to run an errand. A framed one goes on the wall.
Sizing by room is in the print size guide, and if they are moving into a new place, the housewarming guide covers the same ground for an empty house.
Timing
Order two to three weeks before the wedding. Prints ship flat in protective packaging, and you do not want to be tracking a parcel the week of the ceremony. If you are giving it on the day, framed is easier to hand over than a tube.
Prices
€10 unframed for a 5×5″ up to €50 for a 16×24″, plus €15 for oak framing, excluding postage. Half of every order goes to Forever Home Sanctuary, which also gives you something to say in the card.
Start with the landscape prints or the full shop.
Frequently asked
- How much should you give as a wedding gift in Ireland?
- As a rough guide: €50–€100 from a colleague or distant friend, €100–€150 from a close friend, and €150–€250 or more from family. A framed print at €25–€65 usually sits alongside a smaller envelope rather than replacing it.
- Is a print a good wedding gift?
- It works best when the couple already have a home, when you know a place that matters to them, or when several people club together for a larger framed piece. Landscapes are the safest subject.
- What size print should I give as a wedding gift?
- 12×16″ is the smallest size that reads as artwork rather than a photograph. 16×24″ suits a group gift. Frame it so the couple can hang it without an errand.
- How far in advance should I order a wedding gift print?
- Two to three weeks before the day. Prints ship flat in protective packaging, and framed pieces are easier to hand over on the day than rolled ones.
More guides
- Wall art room by room: nursery, home office and hallway
Which prints suit a nursery, a home office and a hallway — sizes, subjects, heights and colours for the three rooms people leave until last.
- How to photograph your dog (and get one worth framing)
Practical dog photography tips — get down low, use the right light, freeze movement, keep their attention, and how to tell if a phone photo will print well.
- Irish landscape photography: chasing light in a country with none
How to photograph the Irish landscape in bad light — golden hour, the twenty minutes after rain, blue hour, and which conditions actually print well.