Couples who have already built a life together may prefer to ask for money instead of wedding gifts, directing their guests’ generosity towards a honeymoon, a property purchase or future plans. At Wedded Wonderland, we plan celebrations from proposals to weddings, where personal priorities shape every detail, including how couples invite guests to give.
It is not rude to ask for money instead of wedding gifts, as long as the request is gentle, purposeful and kept off the formal invitation. Most guests appreciate knowing exactly what the couple would value. The grace lies in giving the request a purpose and leaving the amount entirely to each guest.
Guests wondering what to give can turn to our guide on how much to give for a wedding gift.
Couples who ask for money instead of wedding gifts usually choose a wishing well, a honeymoon fund, a cash registry, a fund for a shared goal or a charitable donation. Each suits a different kind of couple and guest list. The right choice depends on where your guests live and how they prefer to give.
A wishing well is a decorative box at the reception where guests leave cards with cash. It is a familiar tradition at Australian weddings and suits guests of every generation, especially older relatives who prefer to give in person.
A honeymoon fund lets guests contribute to specific experiences, such as a sunset sail in Santorini or a private dinner on the beach in Bali. Guests enjoy knowing exactly what their gift makes possible.
A cash registry collects contributions online, often with the option to leave a message. Guests overseas find it especially convenient, since they can give from anywhere before the wedding.
Some couples ask for contributions towards a first home, a renovation or a piece of art for their living room. Naming the goal makes the request feel personal.
Couples who have everything they need sometimes ask guests to donate to a charity close to their hearts. Share one or two organisations and a link on your website.
Share the request on your wedding website or on a separate insert card, never on the invitation itself. The invitation asks for your guests' company, so gifts belong elsewhere.
In Australia, a small wishing well card tucked in with the invitation is the accepted way to mention cash gifts. Family and the wedding party can also share the details when guests ask. You can build a wedding website with all of this in Wonderland Studio.
To ask for money instead of gifts, thank guests for their presence first, name what the money is for and keep the line short. These examples can be adapted for your insert card or website.
"Your presence is the greatest gift of all. Should you wish to give something more, a wishing well will be waiting at our reception."
"We already have a home filled with love. If you would like to give a gift, a contribution to our wishing well would be warmly appreciated."
"We are dreaming of a honeymoon on the Amalfi Coast. If you would like to give a gift, a contribution to our honeymoon fund would help us create memories we will treasure. Details are on our website."
"Having you with us is all we wish for. For those who would like to give, our honeymoon fund is on our website."
"We are saving for our first home together. If you would like to give a gift, a contribution towards our home fund would mean so much to us."
"You are travelling so far to celebrate with us, and your presence is our present. Please, no gifts."
"Joining us in Lake Como is the most generous gift we could ask for. If you would still like to give, our honeymoon fund is on our website."
Thank each guest by naming what the money helped you enjoy, without mentioning the amount. "Thank you for your generous gift, which treated us to a dinner overlooking the Positano coastline" is warmer than a general thank-you.
Send each card within three months of the wedding. A handwritten line about a specific moment from the day makes each card feel personal.
When you ask for money instead of wedding gifts, a honeymoon fund turns your guests' generosity into experiences you will talk about for years, from a private boat day to a dinner under the stars. Guests love hearing where their gift took you.
At Wedded Wonderland, we help couples plan honeymoons that are worth contributing to, and we help make the trip happen. Explore our destination honeymoon packages, read our guide to the ideal honeymoon length, destination by destination, or browse our travel offerings for ideas to share with your guests.
Cash registry: An online registry that collects money gifts, often towards a stated goal.
Honeymoon fund: A registry where guests contribute to experiences on the couple's honeymoon.
Wishing well: A decorative box at the reception where guests leave cards and cash gifts.
Written by
Editor & Content Writer
Jillian Arambulo is the Editorial and Content Writer at Wedded Wonderland, specialising in branded content strategy. Her writing spans luxury lifestyle, travel, culture, beauty and emerging trends, bringing together comprehensive guides and features that connect readers with the places, ideas and experiences worth discovering.
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