1. Cash. I always do $100, if I am closer to the person I will go higher or pair it with a gift. For some good friends of ours that just got married my wife and I gave them the cash and an "old fashioned kit" as the groom and I like to drink them at the lake. Top end bourbon and all the tools/ingredients necessary to make the drink done up nice in a wooden crate. At that point price is irrelevant I just buy what I need to complete the gift. He did the same for us initially giving me the Bear Grylls Ultimate Knife with an envelope of cash. It was my favourite gift.
I will also add that Gift Cards are actually a cool gift to get. It took us to stores and restaurants that we normally wouldn't go to and gave us an excuse to go out on a few date nights (which become important in marriage as things can start to get a little to routine).
2. For my wedding we just did tux rentals and I paid the deposit for my wedding party and they paid the rest. I think it ended up costing each guy around $60. They then tried to give me the money for the deposit even sneaking 20's into my bag the night of the wedding. Any wedding party my wife has been a part of they buy their own dresses. One thing that I have seen and we did the same was just pick a colour for the dress and let the girls find their own, that way they can use it again at future weddings/events. And it also helps them be more comfortable during the day standing up there in front of all those people. If they are stuffed into a dress that obviously isn't built for them it can be a crappy experience for them and you want to make sure your wedding party is always having fun.
3. I think most girls just like to help each other at weddings, my wife goes nuts over helping her friends and it is 'fun' to her. She spent hours gathering wine bottles and spray painting them for center pieces, wrapped twine around others, made a window frame look 'vintage', poured over color combinations.. etc.. it was a labour of love that she really enjoyed.
4. Gifts are a norm for your wedding party. They spend money on their outfits, spend time helping you get stuff organized before the wedding and then setting up the night before. They show up to the rehearsal and the dinner and then they stand up front with you while you get married. I got my guys watches, nothing super fancy I think they were around $150 each on sale. My wife got her brides maids clutches, again I think they were around that $150-200 price range.
The other thing I will add is that for your wedding or any wedding you are involved in there should always be a limo. Asking your wedding party to stay sober and drive you around all day is a slap in the face! They have done enough, buck up and spend the extra thousand on a limo and stock it to the roof with beer, champagne, coolers, whatever they drink and lots of snacks to carry them over from ceremony to supper. It's a long day for everyone.
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"In brightest day, in blackest night / No evil shall escape my sight / Let those who worship evil's might / Beware my power, Green Lantern's light!"
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