For a coworker’s wedding in Taipei several people recommended exactly the same amounts to me: 1.600 if going alone, 2.200 if bringing one spouse / GF / etc.
The most recent questions in this thread were posted by Mr Pina, who’s the groom’s boss’s boss. Should be a bit more in that case.
Couple of extra things I am surprised no one has yet clarified.
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Regarding the comment about the money going to the parents. In my experience what really happens is the parents pay for the wedding, collect the hongbao, take from the hongbao how much they paid for the wedding, then give the rest to the newly weds. ie The parents see the paying for the wedding as a loan that will be paid back with money in the hongbao. This may not be true in all cases, but it is in my experience.
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Regarding the comment about how much money to give, just want to re-iterate what someone else alluded to. The couple getting married will keep an account of exactly how much you gave them so that when you get married, they will give back usually the exact same amount.
In general I like how this works, its kind of a community loan scheme, not free money. When you get married everyone else helps you out getting started with your married life, then when they get married you return the favour. Much better than getting a bunch of kitchen appliances and utensils that these days most people already have by virtue of already having moved out of home.
Hello everyone,
I’ve been invited to a wedding in Taipei City. The bride is a former colleague now living down under, back for a wedding banquet in Taiwan. How much do you think is appropriate to include in the hong bao in 2025?
Guy
5000NT seems an appropriate amount.
I should clarify that I will be attending the banquet alone, not with a partner or spouse.
Guy
How low are you aiming for?
As little as possible , she’s shaking you down
I wouldn’t low ball. People write down the amount. Either don’t go or go but don’t be stingy.
How about for a couple? NT$10,000?
7000?
Thanks.
Is it common to give money when attending funeral (if so how much?) or is it more appropriate to give flowers?
No idea on that one, sorry.
Along with posting here, I have checked in with a Taiwanese colleague who quoted an amount sans the number 5 (this appears to be a matter of superstition as noted early in this thread) and around half the amount quoted by Chewie.
Perhaps Chewie travels in the chateau-in-France crowd which differs from my own.
Guy
So . . . would NT$44, presented as a fist full of one dollar coins, be acceptable? 
I wonder if they will take Easy Card. 
Guy
2600NT? That’s what I gave in 2007.
As I wrote, I’ve read no use of the number “5”.
EDIT: You wrote NT$2500 in your post initially. You can use the strike out function to indicate a deliberate change.
Guy
Not very close- 2600/2800 (if younger and just starting a career 1600/1800 is fine).
If you maintain a better relationship, communicate often then 3600/3800.
If you are considered a good friend then sky’s the limit, up to you, but something like 6600/6800 is probably minimum.
Adjust up and down a bit if bringing a +1, but don’t double it.
Sometimes people feel an obligation to attend even when they don’t really feel like they have a close enough relationship. In this case, you don’t need to. Politely decline with an excuse that allows them to save face.
She’s presumably never going to reciprocate, so whatever you give is lost money.