At both Italian and Greek weddings, the wedding reception is a landmark display of family hospitality - multi-course feasts, flowing wine, antipasti or meze tables, late-night pastry spreads (bomboniere and koufeta), and hours of dancing. In return, guests honour the couple through the cash envelope tradition: known as la busta ('the envelope') in Italian and fakelaki ('little envelope') in Greek.
Whether you are attending an Italian or Greek wedding in London, New York, Melbourne, Toronto, or a destination celebration in Tuscany or Santorini, here is what to put in the envelope in 2026.
Why Mediterranean cash envelopes skew slightly higher
In Italian and Greek wedding culture, the gift is traditionally intended to cover the generous multi-course reception hospitality and leave an extra nest egg to help the newlyweds establish their household.
Because Mediterranean banquets typically run 15% to 20% higher per head than standard three-course hotel dinners, guests who can comfortably afford it often add a modest hospitality bump to their baseline figure.
How much to put in la busta or fakelaki in 2026
Use the table below as a practical 2026 guide across the UK, US, Canada, and Australia:
| Relationship to Couple | UK (£ GBP) | US ($ USD) | Canada ($ CAD) | Australia ($ AUD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colleague or distant acquaintance | £75 – £100 | $100 – $125 | CA$100 – CA$150 | A$100 – A$150 |
| Good friend or extended cousin | £100 – £150 | $150 – $200 | CA$150 – CA$225 | A$150 – A$225 |
| Close friend or sibling | £150 – £200 | $200 – $250 | CA$225 – CA$300 | A$225 – A$300 |
| Couple attending together | £175 – £250 | $250 – $350 | CA$275 – CA$400 | A$275 – A$400 |
| Godparents (Compare / Koumbaro) & Immediate Family | £300 – £600+ | $400 – $800+ | CA$450 – CA$900+ | A$450 – A$900+ |
How the busta is given (and the modern IBAN / digital shift)
Traditionally, guests handed their sealed busta directly to the couple or their parents during the table-visit greeting at the end of dinner, when the bride and groom walk from table to table gifting sugared almonds (confetti in Italy, koufeta in Greece).
In 2026, most couples in the UK, US, and Europe prefer receiving contributions before the day via their wedding website honeymoon fund or direct bank transfer, sparing everyone the stress of guarding thousands of pounds or euros in cash at midnight. If you send your gift online, still bring a handwritten card on the day.
Traditional Italian and Greek wedding card wishes
Adding a short phrase in Italian or Greek makes your card immediately memorable:
- Italian wedding wishes: 'Tanti auguri agli sposi!' (Best wishes to the newlyweds!) or 'Viva gli sposi - wishing you a lifetime of love, health, and happiness.' (Note: in Italian, 'confetti' refers to the sugar-coated Jordan almonds given as favours, which always come in odd numbers such as 5 to symbolise health, wealth, happiness, fertility, and longevity.)
- Greek wedding wishes: 'Na zisete!' (pronounced nah ZEE-seh-teh, meaning 'May you live a long and happy life together!') or 'Bíos anthóspartos' (wishing you a life strewn with flowers).