There is no standard rate or whatsoever. Don't believe what others say here. My dad marry my mum without paying a single cent. Even the wedding dinner bill was shared between them. This is considering my mum's mother is a tradional type as well too, but being logical & giving... my this grandmother accepts it although she also wants face (since they are from a small town & easy to gossip around).

The money is just about sincerity & customary. Talk to your fiance truly whether he has not enough savings or could be some other reason. Or maybe he do not want to borrow from parents, from you or whatever. You know, it can be pretty tight forking out all those wedding stuffs especially if he is not that well to do currently & he is paying everything for the wedding. If he can afford it without burdening himself at all, but still do not want to pay then it is a different story.

You mean TS is an item or goods determined by its quality & price? How can you judge this on a relationship between two person by paying what the in-law asked?

By the way during our parents time, this is even more important than it is now.

If you want to talk about the world now, heck people starting not to have any wedding ceremony at all... this 'ping kam' or 'lai kam' is way off to be heard for cases like this.

All my male relatives & including male friends, none of their in laws asked for a specific amount of money.

Unless the fiance of TS is damn kedekut, rich enough but not willing to pay... I am gonna stand my point on this.