Wedding Wishes For Well-Wishing Wealth

There are many ways to ask for money as a wedding gift, but being specific about how you plan to use the cash can make it more personal and make your guests feel more comfortable. You could say: Your presence at our wedding is enough of a gift, but should you wish to buy us something, we’d greatly appreciate a contribution towards our dream honeymoon/house deposit/renovation.

It's also a good idea to include a small section on your wedding details cards or wedding website about your preferences for gifts, for example: We’d be over the moon if you’d consider giving money instead of gifts, followed by what you’re hoping to spend the money on.

Wishing Well

A "wishing well" is a great way to allow your guests to bring a gift with them on your big day. It is a table where guests can place envelopes with cash wedding gifts. You can have someone monitor the stand or ask guests to drop their envelopes into a "wishing well" or box for you to open and enjoy later.

• "Your presence at our wedding is enough of a gift, but should you wish to buy us something, we’d greatly appreciate a contribution towards our dream honeymoon/house deposit/renovation."
• "Please do not feel obliged to buy us a gift, all that we are expecting is you. If you would like to give something, a contribution towards our honeymoon would be greatly appreciated."
• "If you were thinking of giving a gift to help us on our way, a gift of cash towards our honeymoon would really make our day, however, if you would prefer a gift, please feel free to surprise us in your own special way."
• "The best gift is having you share in our special day. Should you wish to contribute in some other way, we would love a few pennies to put in our pot for our honeymoon trip after tying the knot."
• "The most important thing to us is that you are able to celebrate with us on our wedding day. However, if you wish to give a gift, we will gratefully accept a small contribution towards our honeymoon."

Honeymoon Fund

Asking for money as a wedding gift can be a tricky task, but it is becoming more and more common. Here are some ways to ask for contributions to your honeymoon fund in a respectful, thoughtful, and cute way:

Register for a Honeymoon Fund

One of the easiest ways to indicate your preference for monetary gifts is to register with a honeymoon fund or cash registry website. This is a clear signal to your guests that you would prefer cash gifts. Most wedding guests are used to seeing a gift registry, so this will help them feel familiar with the process. It also eliminates some of the awkwardness of asking how you would like to receive the money, as they can simply give it directly through the platform. Websites such as Honeyfund allow guests to give specific experiences, like skydiving or a sunset sail, that are part of the couple's destination.

Provide a Link to Your Wedding Website

If someone is looking for your gift registry, the first place they will look is your wedding website. Be sure to create a wedding website and link to it from your wedding invitations. Add a section to your website that talks about your preferences for gifts, and mention that you would prefer cash donations or honeymoon contributions. You can include a simple message like "We'd be over the moon if you'd consider giving money instead of gifts", followed by what you're hoping to spend the money on.

Mention Your Wishes to Close Friends and Family Members

Another way to get your message across is to simply tell the people closest to you and let word-of-mouth take its course. Sharing your preferences with your inner circle means they can let the rest of your friends and wedding guests know, so you can focus on other aspects of your wedding planning.

Talk About How You Plan to Use the Money

If you feel awkward about asking for wedding money, try weaving in some of your personal story. For example, you could say something like: "We're excited to be traveling to [location] for our honeymoon. If you'd like to help make the experience even more amazing, we've set up a honeymoon fund at [link]." This helps your guests picture exactly what they are contributing towards and adds a personal touch to your request.

Offer Other Alternatives

Even if you would prefer cash gifts, some of your guests might prefer to offer a physical gift. For many people, choosing a wedding present is one of their favorite ways to be part of your special day. Make a smaller, more tailored gift registry with only a handful of physical items, and feature gift cards or vouchers for experiences or products that you like for the rest. For example, if you're saving for a honeymoon, you could list gift cards for travel agencies or experiences at your destination.

Have a Card Wishing Well at Your Reception

Sometimes your guests will want to bring a gift with them on your big day. They can still do this with cash gifts—just make sure there's somewhere safe and secure for them to leave their envelopes. Set up a table where you can receive wedding cards and envelopes, or ask guests to drop their envelopes into a "wishing well" or box for you to open and enjoy later.

Charity Donation

A wedding is a special day for everyone involved, and it can also be a special day for a charity of your choice. If you are passionate about a particular cause, you can ask your guests to donate to a charity instead of giving gifts. This way, you can use your wedding as an opportunity to give back to your community and support a cause close to your heart.

• Use a platform: There are platforms like The Knot that allow you to create a charity wedding registry. You can choose a certified charity and customise your fundraiser with a title, description, image, and how you want to manage your page.
• Create a custom fund: You can add a custom cash fund to your registry, allowing you to personalise the title, description, image, and amount. The donations will go to your bank account, and you can then donate the money to your chosen charity.
• Go virtual: Consider sending and receiving donations virtually through digital payment methods like Zelle, Venmo, or PayPal.
• Charity wedding registry: This is a type of registry where you ask your guests to donate to a specific organisation instead of giving physical gifts. You can include this request on your wedding website or in your program.
• Donate in lieu of wedding favours: Instead of giving out traditional wedding favours, you can donate that money to a charity. You can include a small treat with a ribbon and a card indicating the name of the charity.
• Charity suggestions: If the couple is passionate about animals, consider donating to the ASPCA or a local shelter. For world hunger, donate to World Central Kitchen or No Kid Hungry. For arts and culture, you can donate to a museum, ballet company, or philharmonic orchestra.

Remember to choose a charity that is meaningful to you and your partner. By donating to a charity on your wedding day, you are not only supporting a worthy cause but also spreading awareness about it among your guests.

Cheque

Writing a cheque as a wedding gift is a thoughtful and practical way to celebrate the happy couple. Here are some tips to ensure your gift is well-received and useful to the newlyweds:

Use "or" instead of "and"

Using the word "or" instead of "and" between the couple's names will ensure that either person can deposit the cheque into their individual accounts. For example, write "Kim Jones or Jackie Garcia" instead of "Kim Jones and Jackie Garcia". This avoids potential issues with their bank requiring both individuals to be present or needing a joint account.

Address the cheque to one person

To avoid any complications with names, you can simply address the cheque to one member of the couple. This is especially helpful if one person is changing their last name, as they may not have updated their legal documents or bank accounts yet. By addressing the cheque to their pre-wedding name, they can easily deposit the gift.

Include a memo

If you choose to address the cheque to only one person, use the memo line to indicate that it is a wedding gift for the couple. This adds a thoughtful touch and clarifies the purpose of the cheque.

Mail the cheque

Mailing the cheque is a safer option than giving it at the wedding, as it could easily be misplaced during the celebration. It is appropriate to mail the cheque before or shortly after the wedding, ideally within three months. Sending it directly to their permanent address ensures it reaches the couple.

Include a greeting card

Placing the cheque in a greeting card adds a personal touch. Address the card to both the bride and groom, expressing your congratulations and well wishes. Include a memorable or funny anecdote to make it even more special. This shows that you care about the couple and makes your gift stand out.

Gift Cards

A gift card is an excellent option for a wedding gift as it offers the newlyweds the freedom to choose what suits their tastes and needs. Planning a wedding comes with many expenses, so a gift card can give their wallets a break and eliminate any guesswork. Here are some ideas for what to write when giving a gift card as a wedding gift:

"As you start this wonderful journey together, here's a little something to help you along the way. Congratulations on your special day!"

"Your love is a shining example of what a true partnership should be. Hope this gift card can help kick off some great new adventures."

"Use this dinner delivery gift card in good health and in bad. Indulge yourselves, you deserve it. Happy wedding day!"

"Cheers to the newlyweds! Let this gift card be your golden ticket to a life of fun together."

"Take this Amazon gift card and do with it what you may. Can't wait to see all those boxes show up on your new doorstep."

"That Visa card just hits different when you're buying something post-wedding. Enjoy it!"

Frequently asked questions