Having a registry for your wedding can be complicated, and you might end up with a bunch of stuff you don’t actually need. Asking for cash instead of gifts is becoming more and more acceptable, but there’s a right way to go about it.
Photo by *Nom & Malc.
With a gift registry you’ll probably end up with things you rarely use in the future, like a fondue set, fancy plates, or crystal candlesticks. Instead, you can ask for cash as your wedding gift and put it toward your honeymoon, home, or what have you. If you want to ask for money, Taryn Williford at Apartment Therapy provides an example what you should say:
We’re so lucky to be able to spend our wedding day with all of our friends and family; your presence is truly all the present we need. Because we [have all the basic household supplies covered/have a ridiculously tiny apartment] if you’d like to get us a gift to celebrate, we’ve created a registry fund that we’ll use to [enjoy our honeymoon/save for a down payment/furnish our home together].”
Your “cash registry” information should follow the same rules as a normal registry and only be in shower invites or on your wedding web site, not in your wedding invitations. The key is to let people know what you’re going to use the money for, and always remember to thank them.
Non-Traditional Registry Etiquette (Or How to Ask for Cash, Politely) [Apartment Therapy]
Comments
6 responses to “The Best Way To Ask For Cash Instead Of Gifts For Your Wedding”
I think in most Asian cultures money-giving is pretty common. IDK why we Anglo Westerns have such a big problem with it. We even invented effing giftcards.
“Here, take something you can only use in certain places, which expires in 12 months.”
Same in most European cultures as well – I married a guy with a Macedonian background, and that side of the wedding ALL give money – they thought it was weird for me to have a gift registry (which I had for most of my parents’ friends who don’t really do cash).
Some people hate them
https://thegiftcollective.com/10-reasons-why-you-shouldnt-get-a-wedding-wishing-well/
I did a wishing well, with a verse something like this on the invite (but something about contributing to the honey moon)
If you were thinking of giving a gift
to help us on our way,
a gift of cash towards our house,
would really make our day.
However, if you prefer to purchase a gift,
feel free to surprise us in your own way.
(that and others at http://www.dreamdayinvitations.com.au/wording-and-verse-examples/wishing-well-verse )
Or if your going on a honeymoon and need to pay it off still, a registry at travel agent.
Traditional receptions can cost around $100 per person so i think its fine to basically get the cash to help offset the cost of that.
And despite the wishing well request, some gave cash, some gave presents and some gave both, some friends had a good joke with us and colluded to get us 6 kmart brand toasters)
Some reception places also have a very nice wishing well you can use for the envelopes (cards with cash in them), which is included in the price of the reception, or you can buy good ones or even a cheap cardboard one if you like.
Honestly, those stupid little rhymes about wishing wells and whatnot are just embarrassing. If you’re having a wishing well, just say that.
That’s your opinion, and your welcome to it. Some are tacky but some are quite nice and go well on wedding invites.
Indian/Pakistani wedding invitations these days just say “No boxed gifts” down the bottom. I think that’s a simple way of doing it.