Honeyfund Wedding Invites: Etiquette And Wording Ideas

Wedding registry etiquette has evolved, and it is now common to register for things like gift cards and cash for honeymoon activities. While it is considered a breach of etiquette to include information about any registry on a wedding invitation, couples can include a separate insert card with their invitation that includes their wedding website and wording specific to their registry wishes. Guests want to gift things that will enhance the couple's newlywed life, so it is important to include a wide range of options, ideally priced from $10 to $200, to ensure guests have choices that fit their budgets.

Wording for wedding invitations

When it comes to wedding invitations, traditional etiquette suggests avoiding direct mention of registries. However, modern couples often include registry or website links on invitation inserts or through virtual invites. Here are some suggestions for wording your wedding invitations and website tactfully to request contributions to your Honeyfund:

Wedding Invitation Wording Suggestions:

• Please visit [insert wedding website link] for more information and registry details.
• For more information about our wedding and honeymoon fund registry, please visit [insert honeymoon registry website link].

Wedding Website Wording Suggestions:

• In lieu of gifts, please consider making a contribution to our honeymoon fund.
• We can’t wait to celebrate with you. Instead of gifts, we would appreciate a contribution to our honeymoon fund.
• We would love to create lifelong memories, instead of receiving physical gifts. Please consider making a contribution to our honeymoon fund.
• We are fortunate enough to already have all the physical items we need for our home. Instead, please contribute to our honeymoon fund to help us experience the trip of a lifetime.
• We’re planning an exciting adventure! Instead of physical gifts, please consider contributing to our honeymoon fund.

You can also include a separate insert card with your wedding invitations that includes your wedding website and wording specific to your registry wishes. This approach allows you to direct your guests to your website for more information without directly mentioning your Honeyfund on the main invitation.

Wording for wedding websites

Wedding websites are a great way to centralise all the information your guests will need to know about your wedding. They can also be a place to include your registry details, such as your Honeyfund page. Here are some tips and examples for the wording you could use on your wedding website to ask for contributions to your Honeyfund:

Be Creative

You could get creative with your wording and write a poem. For example:

> Roses are red; violets are blue,

> We can’t wait to share our big day with you!

> Afterward, we’ll be on the way,

> To our adventurous honeymoon getaway.

> There are ways to help us take flight,

> Have a spa day or a date night.

> Be a part of our first married trip,

> We’re so excited; we could flip!

> To contribute, simply visit [insert link to online Honeyfund]

Keep it Short and Sweet

If you'd prefer to keep the wording short and sweet, you could say something like:

> Our wedding wouldn’t be the same without your presence. However, when it comes to presents, please be aware that we would appreciate a donation towards our Honeyfund in place of wedding gifts. To contribute, simply visit [insert link to your online Honeyfund]

Provide More Detail

If you'd like to include more detail, you could explain why you're asking for Honeyfund contributions. For example:

> We are excited to start our lives together, and we are thankful for our loved ones. As we enter our marriage, we realize that we have enough belongings. Therefore, we have decided to plan the honeymoon of our dreams. Our wedding registry includes a Honeyfund along with personalized experiences — such as excursions, meals, and spa days — that can be given as wedding gifts. We are excited to share our special day with you, and we also look forward to providing glimpses into our honeymoon when we return. Thank you!

> To contribute, simply visit [insert link to your online Honeyfund]

Be Informal

If you'd like to keep the tone informal, you could say something like:

> We are thrilled about our wedding, and we hope you can attend! Because we are combining households, we have more than enough stuff. So, instead of a traditional wedding registry, we have decided to establish a Honeyfund. Contributing to our fund will help pay for our honeymoon — you can also give us specific gifts, such as date nights, spa treatments, and adventurous excursions. We can’t wait to head off on our honeymoon, and we’ll be sharing lots of photos of our time.

> To contribute, simply visit [insert link to your online Honeyfund]

How to share your registry

There are several ways to share your Honeyfund registry with your wedding guests. Here are some tips and best practices to ensure you're sharing your registry in a tasteful and thoughtful manner:

• Link your registry on your wedding website: Create a wedding website using a platform like Honeyfund, which has become a popular choice for sharing wedding details, including registry information. This is convenient for guests as they can find all the information they need in one place. Include a dedicated registry tab on your website, where you can link your Honeyfund page and express your dreams for your honeymoon.
• Include a registry card with your invitations: While traditional etiquette suggests against mentioning registries directly on invitations, including a separate card with your invitation is a great solution. This card can include your wedding website URL, where guests can find more information about your registry. You can easily create these cards directly from your Honeyfund account.
• Spread the word through your loved ones: Your close family, friends, and wedding party are your biggest supporters and can help spread the word about your registry. Make sure they know where you are registered so they can answer any questions your guests may have.
• Use word of mouth and personal communication: If your guests ask you directly, it's not rude to answer their question by expressing your preference for cash or contributions to your Honeyfund.
• Create a wedding shower invitation with registry information: Wedding showers are intended for gift-giving, so including your Honeyfund registry information with the invitation is entirely appropriate. You can include a simple line on the invitation, such as, "The couple is registered at Honeyfund."
• Be mindful of wording and etiquette: When sharing your registry, it's essential to be genuine and heartfelt in your communication. Keep the wording regarding gifts to a minimum on your wedding invitation, focusing on the most important details like time, place, and venue. You can include a separate insert card with your wedding website link and specific registry wishes.
• Provide a variety of options on your registry: It's important to give your guests choices that fit their budgets and preferences. Include a range of options, ideally priced from $10 to $200, and consider adding unique items that guests may find more interesting.
• Regularly update your registry: As your wedding day approaches and guests start purchasing gifts, remember to add new items to your registry. This ensures a constant variety of gifts for guests to choose from and allows you to collaborate with your partner to reflect your desires and needs.

Wedding registry mistakes to avoid

• Not creating a registry: While it may feel awkward to ask for gifts, a registry takes the guesswork out of gift-giving for your guests. It is a courtesy to your guests, who will appreciate having options that they know you will enjoy.
• Waiting too long to register: It is recommended to create a registry within a few weeks of your engagement. This gives guests plenty of time to buy gifts for any pre-wedding celebrations and ensures you can receive engagement gifts.
• Only registering in one place: Registering at two or three different retailers provides guests with options, especially if some guests prefer to purchase gifts in person rather than online.
• Not considering alternative registries: Honeymoon, cash, and experience registries are great options for couples who already own many home items. Honeyfund, for example, allows guests to contribute to your honeymoon or other savings goals.
• Only having an alternative registry: Some guests will prefer to give a tangible gift, so it is recommended to also register for some physical gifts at a retailer.
• Not registering for enough gifts: It is common etiquette to register for at least one gift per guest per occasion (including bridal showers). Guests appreciate having options, so consider doubling your guest count and registering for that many gifts or more.
• Registering for too few items: Don't worry about appearing greedy. Register for a lot of gifts at different price points to give your guests options that fit their budgets.
• Not mixing price points: Include gifts at various price points, from inexpensive options to pricier items. This allows guests with different budgets to contribute, and some may even go in as a group to purchase more expensive items.
• Putting registry information on printed invitations: Including registry details on invitations is considered rude, as it appears as though you are directly asking for gifts as the price of admission to your wedding. Instead, put your registry information on your wedding website and direct guests there.
• Not checking your registry often: Visit your registry every few weeks to ensure there are still enough gifts for guests to choose from and make any necessary adjustments.
• Procrastinating thank-you notes: It is important to send thank-you notes promptly. For gifts received before the wedding, send notes within two to three weeks, and after the wedding, aim to send them within two to three months.

Wedding gift etiquette

Although gifts are appreciated and expected, especially if you're close to the couple, it's important to remember that the decision to give a gift should always be voluntary. Making it clear that your guests' presence at the event is more valuable than their presents can be a thoughtful way to communicate this perspective.

Although it can feel awkward to ask others for gifts, guests will want to celebrate you with something you'll love. A registry takes the guesswork out for them, ensuring they gift you something you want and need. Your registry makes it easier for them to pick out something they know you'll love if they feel inclined to get you a gift.

Although traditionally discouraged in American etiquette, honeymoon registries and cash registries are much more common these days. Platforms like Honeyfund allow guests to contribute towards your honeymoon, a home down payment, or anything else you are saving for.

Who should pay the transaction fee on a cash gift?

Guests should never pay a transaction fee when they’re giving cash gifts. This is common on most registry sites, with some justifying their high fees by claiming they’re lower than the taxes and gift wrapping costs associated with a traditional gift. Honeyfund is proud to be the only fee-free cash registry.

Traditional registry etiquette generally advises against directly mentioning your registry details on your invitations. Instead, many couples choose to include a separate registry card along with their invitation. This card might specify the places where you're registered or simply feature a URL to your wedding website, where guests can find more information.

Incorporating your registry into your wedding website is an easy way of sharing your honeymoon registry or cash gift registry. Honeyfund also offers convenient sharing tools like printable invitation inserts, QR codes, and even email or social media sharing directly in your Honeyfund account.

It's recommended to create at least one conventional gift registry for traditionalists on your guest list. This is especially beneficial for the bridal shower, where gift-giving is customary. This ensures your guests have a way to choose from a wide range of things they know you'll like.

How much you spend on a wedding gift depends on a few key factors: how well you know the couple, how far you're travelling for the wedding, and how much you can afford. The average wedding gift amount is $100, which is a solid place to start.

• $20–$50: For acquaintances and coworkers, especially if you’re attending solo.
• $50–$100: Most wedding gift amounts should fall in this range, especially for a distant cousin, friend or coworker.
• $100–$250: Expected range for close family members and dear friends, especially if the gift is coming from you and your wedding date.
• $250–$500: Customary for relatives of the couple, or if a high-price item appears on a wedding registry, you can contribute to a group gift.
• $500+: Not expected, and would usually come from close friends and family.

There are a few different time periods before and after a wedding when you should give a gift:

• Anytime after receiving the invite but before the wedding.
• Two weeks before the wedding: Ideal, so the couple isn’t holding on to it for months and can incorporate your gift into their home by the time they’re back from their honeymoon.
• Within three months of the wedding.
• Up to a year after the wedding: Most etiquette experts say you have up to a year, though it’s the least ideal timeframe.

The amount of cash you give as a wedding gift depends on your relationship with the couple.

• $50: Most wedding etiquette experts advise against giving anything less than this, though it’s acceptable if attending alone or as a loose acquaintance or coworker.
• $50-$70: Friends and distant family members who want to give cash usually stay within this range.
• $75–$100: Close friends and family members usually give between this amount.
• $100+: Giving this amount as a wedding gift should only happen with close relatives, like parents, grandparents, siblings, aunts and uncles.

Group gifting

Group gifts are acceptable and encouraged. Couples will likely add a few big-ticket items to their wedding registry, which are perfect for group gifts. If the to-be-weds registered for something that's out of range for just one person to afford, ask some other guests to go in on it with you.

Frequently asked questions