Gifts in wedding invitations - is asking for money appropiate? wording?

Question

In the wedding invitation -we would like to ask the guests for $ instead of gifts. What would a polite way to say it (wording)? Thanks for your help

Answer 1

It is never appropriate to ask for money or gifts in a wedding invitation. Guests are invited to a wedding to share in the joy of your day. A reception follows so that you may show your appreciation for their attendance. While it is customary that guests do give gifts, this is completely optional, not mandatory.

Answer 2

You can't..can not, mention ANY sort of gift in a wedding invitation (even if it's to say no gifts!). An invitation is just that. An invitation to share your day, not a request for gifts. The only way to express your preference for cash is to do so through word of mouth, and not directly from you or your fiance either. Tell a close friend or bridesmaid that cash is what you need most. Then if any guests ask, they can pass it on. By the way, most guests give cash as a wedding gift anyway...don't make yourself look greedy or impolite by mentioning money in an invitation of all things!

Answer 3

True, you're not supposed to include any gift-type information in the invitation. HOWEVER, a good idea is to start a free wedding website (www.theknot.com) and on there you can put all sorts of details regarding your wedding...time, location, wedding party, how you two met....AND registry information!!!

So when you send out the invitation put a separate card that says something like "More details about Blah & Blah's wedding can be found at: www.insertyourweddingwebsitehere.com" In the registry area say something about you and your fiance already having many household items, or that you're saving up for your first downpayment on a home, or trip to the Caribbean or whatever.

If you've got a lot of people invited to the wedding it may be hard to spread info by word of mouth so the website may be a good solution.

Good luck!

Answer 4

You don't ask for ANYTHING in a wedding invite. And invite is simply that...an invite for someone to join you on your day. Info about where you are registered at, or even that you'd rather have cash, is info guest will ask your family & friends about. Maybe even you. But even then you don't say cash. Explain that you aren't registered anywhere. Usually, that's a sign for guest to give cash if they choose to. But guest are not suppose to be told what to get you, even if you ask for cash some may opt to give you a gift.

But the bottom line is you mention NOTHING about what you want or don't want in an invite. Let family & friends spread the word that you aren't registered, that you're going on a honeymoon, or saving for a downpayment for a house. Things like that give guest the option of adding to a fund that you need.

Answer 5

No it is totally inappropriate to ask for money on the wedding invitation. In the Northeast where I come from weddings are very elaborate and 99% of the time, the gift is money and lots of it as it is very expensive to get married in the Northeast. They run about $100 to 140 per person. But, as you go midwest, south or West, customs change and weddings are very different and in many cases somewhat casual, and people will bring wedding gifts other than money. There is no way you ask ever politely for a monetary gift.

Answer 6

Hi there~ I agree, there is no polite way to ask for money instead of gifts. If you don't include wedding registry information in your invites (which I think is tacky too), then most people will probably give you cash anyways. I think alot of people these days do that anyways. Also, the only other way is "by word of mouth" that the couple prefers cash. Best of luck to you.

Answer 7

The closest people to you will ask you what you'd like. I'm sure you can tell them money, and that if anyone asks them, they can tell them that as well. A lot of people give money anyway, if they're not sure of what you have, so why not try to accept a few gifts for fun? Some people feel uncomfortable if they can't spend a lot, but perhaps they can find a good sale on something nice. It's just my opinion, but if you ask for money, it makes people uncomfortable about how much they can afford to give.

I don't think there's any polite way to ask for cash, but if you feel you must - I guess you could say: In lieu of gifts, a donation toward our new home (or whatever the case may be) will be gratefully accepted.

Answer 8

One good (and less-offensive) way to let guests know the couples' gift preferences is for their close friends and family to be informed, so that *should guests ask*, these people know know the answers. If the couple is actively saving for some large expense (and in need of money), rather than "just doesn't want" gifts, many guests will likely be sympathetic to this preference.

Answer 9

Everyone is freaking out over this question. It's not the end of the world.

It is impolite to ask for money. However there are ways of getting money put towards the things you want.

You could set up a travel registry at Flight Centre. That way people can give money to go towards your honeymoon (something you would have had to pay for anyway, thus saving your own money). Flight Centre has lovely silver and white cards to put in all of your invites informing people of the registry. Not tacky at all.

Good Luck

Answer 10

ignore those people who said its tacky to ask for money for a honeymoon. we did asked for money as we have been living together long enough so we had everything. i know loads of people that ask for money we put a slip of paper in invite saying that we aren't expecting any gifts so haven't done a list but if people wish to give us a gift we just want money to go towards honeymoon. or something like that. we ended up with enough for two weeks away.