Years ago newlyweds needed wedding gifts to help fill their new home. Whereas, nowadays this isn’t always the case.
It’s not uncommon for couples to have already flown the nest before tieing the knot. This usually means they’ve got all the generic wedding presents, toasters and the like.
So, unsurprisingly, more and more couples are asking for money instead of gifts from their wedding guests.
Most couples fund their weddings themselves, so naturally, things get a little tighter than usual, the thought of recouping some of the wedding expense is often appealing. This is because, it can help them to cover the cost of loft conversion in London or any other renovations they decide to undertake for their new house.
In any case, although most young couples have enough homeware they may be after something else. For example, a down payment on a new house or money towards their honeymoon. The last thing any bride needs is another kettle!
So, with all that in mind, how do you politely ask for money instead of gifts? Brides-to-be can sometimes feel a tad awkward approaching this issue, but don’t worry we’ve got you covered. To develop the skill of eloquence you could also use tok essay writing service.
Without further ado, let’s dive on in.
Should We Still Register?
Unfortunately, you’ll always have a few sticks in the mud who think asking for cash is tacky (frankly, that’s their problem).
In anticipation of this, you might want to consider putting together a modest registry for these guests.
How Do I Let Guests Know?
Traditionally, guests reach out to members of the wedding party and close family members for registry information.
Tell Your Wedding Guests Where Their Monies Going
If you’re asking guests for money, they’ll probably want to know what you’re putting it towards. Not because their nosey (although undoubtedly some of them will be), but because people love knowing how they’re contributing to your new life together.
Here are a few ideas for where this money could go;
- The honeymoon
- A deposit for a house
- Preparations for a baby
- A car
- Travelling
- A charity that means a lot to you and your partner.
If those ideas struck a chord with you, you might want to use one of the following wedding gift companies;
- Buy Our Honeymoon- this is where guests can but specific parts of your honeymoon. For example, a dinner out or an excursion, etc.
- Patchwork- this allows friends and family to contribute cash towards virtually anything you and your partner want. Similarly, to ‘Buy Our Honeymoon’ your guests can purchase what you need bit by bit. Plus, Patchwork uses beautiful visuals to show buyers each gift (this is ideal because your wedding guests will love feeling involved).
- Hatch My House- This allows you to ‘register’ for a deposit on a house or for a home renovation project.
These wedding gift companies provide an easy way of storing your money while communicating to guests how their generosity will be spent – whats not to love!
Honesty is Sometimes the Best Policy
Writing a simple request for cash at the bottom of your invites is a straightforward way to ask for money instead of gifts.
This should be handled both delicately and politely. Luckily for you, we have a couple of templates to help you with this;
‘Having you at our special day is all we could hope for. However, if you’re thinking of buying us a gift, we would be grateful for a small cash donation towards our [insert what you’re spending the money on]’
‘While your attendance at our wedding is all we request, if you want to buy us a gift we’ve registered a small list at [instert who you’ve registered with]. However, any monetary contributions towards our future plans would be greatly appreciated’.
Get Poetic
One of the classiest ways to request cash instead of a gift is to utilize the medium of poetry.
By this we mean, insert a poem inside your wedding invitations. If you’re the creative type, you could put pen to paper and craft your own Alternatively, please feel free to use one of the below;
‘If you’re considering giving a gift to help us on our way,
The contribution of cash would really make our day!’
OR,
‘We’re getting married, and we just can’t wait,
We had an inkling this would happen on our very first date.
Our home is already jam-packed full of accessories,
So we didn’t think a wedding gift list would be necessary.
Yet, if you wanted to give something to help us on our way,
A bit of money in a card would really make our day!’
OR,
‘Our home is bursting with stuff,
From toasters to kettles, we’ve definitely got enough!
Instead of more plates, we’d appreciate some cash,
To help us book our honeymoon so we can go in a dash.
A fun-filled city break would do just the trick,
The moment we can afford it, we’ll get on that plane quick!’
A Couple of Practicalities to Consider
If you decide to ask your guests for cash instead of presents, we recommend providing a well-labeled box in a visible location. This provides the perfect place for guests to safely put their gifts.
Needless to say, you should send thank you cards when you return home from your honeymoon. This goes a long way and is a lovely reminder of your special day.
We hope this has helped give you a few ideas on how to handle this situation. You’ll be surprised at how many of your guests comment on what a fabulous idea this is. We hope this blog post has settled your mind at ease- there really is no reason to feel weird about asking for cash instead of wedding gifts.
Happy planning!
Rosie Greaves – Freelance writer, and wedding and relationships expert.
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