Wording Wedding Registry Cards For Uninvited Guests

When it comes to wedding planning, one of the most important considerations is how to communicate your wishes to your guests. This includes letting them know about your wedding registry, or lack thereof, without coming across as presumptuous or aggressive. While traditional etiquette suggests avoiding direct mentions of registries on wedding invitations, modern couples often include registry or website links on invitation inserts or through virtual invites. To navigate this situation gracefully, it's essential to strike the right tone and follow registry etiquette.

Wording for wedding websites

Your wedding website is the go-to place for all your wedding details, so it makes sense to include your registry information on your site. It is considered bad etiquette to include registry wording on your wedding invitation, but you can include the URL for your website on your wedding invitation to direct guests to the web page to RSVP and to find more details, including your wedding registry.

Most wedding website templates offer a dedicated registry tab, allowing you to link your registry and express your dreams in your own words. Here are some tips for wording your wedding website registry:

• Be genuine and heartfelt in how you communicate your gift preferences.
• Get creative with a poem!
• Write a simple, yet thoughtful message.
• Keep your wording tactful, warm, and appreciative. Make it clear that a gift is not necessary or expected, but that options are there if guests need guidance.
• Include your registry link or ID to point guests in the right direction.

> We are lucky enough to already have nearly everything we need for this new chapter together! However, for friends and family who have expressed an interest, we have created a gift registry for your convenience here: (link)

> Celebrating with you on our special day is the only gift we require. However, for your convenience, we have registered at (store name) for the items we’d find the most useful as we prepare for married life! You can view our registry here: (link)

> Please know that your presence at our wedding is present enough! However, for friends and family who have been asking for gift ideas, we’ve created an online registry with (store name) here: (link)

> After spending nearly 10 years together, we are lucky enough to already have everything we need! However, for those who have expressed an interest in blessing us with a gift, a wishing well will be present at our reception.

> Your love and company on our wedding day is the only present we require! If you do wish to honour us with a gift, however, a contribution towards our wishing well would be much appreciated.

> Please know that your presence on our special day is the greatest present of all! However, if you do wish to celebrate with a gift, a contribution to our honeymoon fund would be warmly appreciated: (link)

If you are requesting no gifts, here is some example wording for your wedding website:

> We are so incredibly thankful for the effort you’ll be making to join us for our special day in (destination). Your presence is your present, so please, no gifts!

> We are lucky enough to have everything we need for this new chapter together, so please, no gifts required! Simply bring yourself and your dancing shoes – we can’t wait to party with you!

> We have been overwhelmed with generosity since our engagement party, so for this reason, we politely request no gifts. Sharing our special day with our favourite people in the world is the best gift we could ask for!

Wording for wedding invitations

It is considered bad etiquette to include registry details on your wedding invitations. Instead, you can include an informational insert in the envelope with a link to your wedding website, or spread the word through word of mouth.

"We're looking forward to celebrating with you on our big day. Having you at our wedding is the greatest gift of all. However, if you're looking for wedding gift ideas, we've registered here for things that we need to outfit our home: [insert details]."

"We're moving in together for the first time after the wedding, so we've put together a gift registry of things we need to complete our home and for our new life together. You can find our wish list at [insert details]."

"Your presence at our wedding is the greatest gift we could ask for! If you would like to honour us with a gift, we have registered a list with [insert details]. Gift cards to [insert details] are also appreciated, as we are moving into a new home after the wedding."

"We're thrilled that you're coming to celebrate with us—and that's the best gift of all! But, if you'd like to help us spruce up our place, you can find our registry at [insert details]."

If you are having a bridal shower, it is appropriate to include registry information on the invitations:

"The happy couple [or their names] have registered at [insert store details]. You can find their gift list online at [insert store URL] or in-store with the registry ID number: [insert registry number]."

If you are asking for cash gifts, be explicit about this. You could say:

"We are very grateful to have everything we need for our home together. So instead of traditional housewares, we hope you enjoy browsing our 'experience' registry!"

"We're thrilled to celebrate with you, and that's the best gift of all. But, if you'd like to contribute to our newlywed life, we've set up a cash gift registry."

"Your presence on our special day means the world to us. Instead of traditional gifts, we would be truly grateful for contributions towards our home down payment, where we can start our married life together."

If you are asking for no gifts, you could say:

"We are so incredibly thankful for the effort you'll be making to join us for our special day in [destination]. Your presence is your present, so please, no gifts!"

"We are lucky enough to have everything we need for this new chapter together, so please, no gifts required! Simply bring yourself and your dancing shoes – we can't wait to party with you!"

Wishing well wording

Be Honest and Polite

It's essential to be honest and polite when asking for gifts or contributions. Remember that your guests are already spending time and money to celebrate with you, so avoid any language that might come across as demanding or entitled.

Keep it Light and Relaxed

Don't guilt-trip your guests by mentioning wedding costs or your financial needs. Keep the tone light and friendly, and let them know that their presence is the most important gift of all.

Provide a Link or Direction

If you have a wedding website, be sure to include a link to your registry or wishing well. This is a subtle and effective way to guide your guests without explicitly asking for gifts.

• "Your presence at our wedding is the greatest gift of all. However, should you wish to honour us with a gift, a wishing well will be available at the reception for your contribution and best wishes."
• "The best gift we could ask for is your company at our wedding. However, should you wish to help us celebrate with a gift, we ask that you contribute to our wishing well."
• "We truly appreciate your presence at our wedding and do not expect gifts. However, those who wish to honour us with a gift can visit our registry website."
• "The most important gift to us is to have you share our special day. Should you wish to honour us with a gift, a contribution to our wishing well would be warmly received."
• "We know gifts create a fuss, so rest assured your presence is your present to us. But if you simply can't resist, our wishing well should assist. Into the well goes a little cash, which we will add to our honeymoon stash."
• "We've collected most things over the years, from household appliances to linen and holiday souvenirs. With most guests travelling from afar, it may be hard to fit a present in the car. Our wish is only to see you on the day, celebrating in your own special way. But if you still wish to give a gift, we'd love for you to give our honeymoon fund a little lift."
• "We ask that your presence is your present to us, as our home is already full. But if you'd like to bring a gift, a contribution to our wishing well will be much appreciated."
• "While wedding presents are so nice, your presence will certainly suffice. But if you wish to give as well, we would love it if you donated to our wishing well."

Wording for when no gifts are required

It is considered bad etiquette to include registry wording on your wedding invitation, as your guests' presence at your wedding is more important than any gifts they may bring. However, you can include an insert with your invitation suite that speaks to your decision not to accept gifts. Here are some examples of wording to politely inform your guests that no gifts are required:

• "We are so incredibly thankful for the effort you'll be making to join us for our special day in [destination]. Your presence is your present, so please, no gifts!"
• "We are lucky enough to have everything we need for this new chapter together, so please, no gifts required! Simply bring yourself and your dancing shoes – we can't wait to party with you!"
• "We have been overwhelmed with generosity since our engagement party, so for this reason, we politely request no gifts. Sharing our special day with our favourite people in the world is the best gift we could ask for!"
• "We're excited for your presence, not presents. Please, no gifts."
• "Your presence is truly enough, no gifts please."
• "We are lucky enough to already have nearly everything we need for this new chapter together! However, for friends and family who have expressed an interest, we have created a gift registry for your convenience here: [link]."
• "Celebrating with you on our special day is the only gift we require. However, for your convenience, we have registered at [store name] for the items we’d find the most useful as we prepare for married life. You can view our registry here: [link]."
• "Please know that your presence at our wedding is present enough! However, for friends and family who have been asking for gift ideas, we’ve created an online registry with [store name] here: [link]."

Wording for charity donations

It is considered bad etiquette to include registry wording on your wedding invitation. Instead, you can include an informational insert in the envelope with a link to your wedding website, which is the primary place for listing registry information. You can also rely on word of mouth, with close family members and friends spreading the word to whoever asks about it.

> We've recently been asked for gift suggestions by friends and family. Please know that your presence on our wedding day is present enough. But for those who have expressed an interest, we've listed the charities below that are closest to our hearts. A contribution would be most appreciated in lieu of a gift.

> We are blessed with absolutely everything we need for this exciting new chapter! However, for guests who have expressed an interest, we'd love for you to consider a charity donation in lieu of a gift. A wishing well will be set up on the day, with all contributions going to [chosen charity]

> Friends and family may know we are both incredibly passionate about [chosen cause]. For this reason, we've set up a fund with [chosen charity] in place of a wishing well, for those who have expressed an interest in giving us a gift. You can make a donation online here: [link]

> Thank you for being a big part of our special day. If you feel inclined to give us a wedding gift, it would mean the world to us if you made a donation to [charity name], a charity very dear to us.

> In loving memory of [name], we'd be deeply touched by a donation to [charity name] in lieu of a wedding gift.

> We are determined to make a difference by supporting the work of [charity name]. If you'd like to give us a wedding gift, the best gift of all would be a donation to this organisation.

Frequently asked questions