Ladies, Do you know what a wishing well is?

Question

I have noticed on here that a wishing well at a baby or bridal shower means different things in different regions. Can you please tell me what it means to you and where you are from?

I'm from NJ and if a shower invitation says "wishing well", it means the guests (in addition to their larger gift) bring smaller, everyday items to put in the "well". At a bridal shower you may bring a package of sponges, some dish soap, a candle, etc. and at a baby shower you might bring a package of diapers, wipes, a rattle, etc.)

Answer 1

I had one wishing well at my wedding but it was only to hold the greeting cards and/or gift certificates. Nothing else. I haven't heard of your tradition but it does sound like fun!

Answer 2

I'm from NY (LI) and that is what we do here too. You put in the small inexpensive things that they may still need - a spatula, grocery list pad, magnets, chip clips, etc. I did notice it was a regional thing though.(maybe limited to NY/NJ/LI metro area) I threw a shower for a friend whose family is from Massachusetts and they never heard of it. They thought I was asking for money. I never heard of that, or having one at a wedding. I thought it was a common thing because you can rent the wishing wells at local party stores, I guess not.

Oh and one more thing, the gifts are usually anonymous, and unwrapped. The bride opens them after the party is over.

I agree with kate, giggles & bella. I like our tradition too!! I wonder if it started as an Italian/Brooklyn thing?

Now I am curious as to where this started and I can't find anything. If anyone knows please post. (the tradition that the asker is talking about of course)

Answer 3

I have seen wishing wells at a wedding or two and I thought they were to collect any moneytary gifts that guests may bring. If you got the couple money instead of a gift, you throw it into the wishing well and they can use the money to buy something they "wish" for. Some people throw a few bucks into it as well as giving a gift. It is kind of like a money tree. I was in a wedding shop recently and they actually had little timber wishing wells....cute.
I'm from Australia....that was my understanding on a wishing well.

Answer 4

I wish my husband would alternate a little bit. He's very predictable in what he wants and the order he wants it in. Some alteration would be nice. Sometimes I wish he would be much more passionate but most of the time I wish he would be more romantic. I with he would touch me more, kiss me more, maybe even warm me up by leaving me a sexy note in the morning or arrange for a babysitter or come rub my shoulders in the tub or something. We use toys and stuff and that's fun and I'm not sure if I speak for every woman or not when I say that I just want to feel wanted and desired. That is sexy to me.

Answer 5

A wishing well to me (I live in Ca) is where your guest write down there best wishes and place them in the box. You read them later after the wedding! You can place them in a book, or photo album and when ever you need some thing to lift you up when things get hard you read all the best wishes and remember your special day and why you married the love of your life!

That is just my take on it though! I have seen them used as a place to put your cards (say you give a gift card or cash) You would place your card in the wishing well. I have also seen it as where people ask you to place money inside it for the bride and groom honeymoon.

I think it means diff rent things to different people!It really depends on what you want it to mean!

Answer 6

I live just outside New Orleans, down here a wishing well is a box, mailbox, carboard well or container of some sort made to hold $$, giftcards, Congratulations cards etc... Sometimes brides also leave blank papers and pens so others can write out good luck wishes. Usually it's just a way to get money without worrying about it being laid out on a table where people might get tempted to take it tough....

Answer 7

I've never seen or heard of what you've described. I'm from Maine and usually there's the gifts and then a special box for cards.

Tthe well would seem like a big hassle to me. Worry about the MoH bringing all those little items to the house with out them getting lost. The gifts seem like enough to me!

Answer 8

Hi. I'm from Michigan. The only place I have seen a wishing well was at a wedding....not for money...or "extras"...but the brides here use them as their "card box"....people drop their cards in it. It is set out on the gift table. So if you bring a gift, you put your gift on the table....if you bring a card with money/check...you put it in the wishing well.

I do like your tradition, though....and think it's really nice.

Answer 9

I am from nj and it is a place for small silly items that they would not have registered for.. a pack of paper plates, some cheap kitchen towels or wooden spoons, ice trays, etc... but my friends also like to put anonymous dirty gifts in there (dirty meaning sex toys and lube and stuff like that).. obviously that would be bridal not baby...

Answer 10

in australia a wishing well is a place to drop of monetary gifts.
so if you go to a wedding that has a wishing well, you can drop in $50 instead of buying a $50 gift if you want to.
wishing wells are always an option here, you can either give a gift, of drop in some money. totoally up to the guests :)

Answer 11

I'm from Saskatchewan Canada. I've never heard of a wishing well being put on an invitation. To me a wishing well is a "box" your guests put their cards (usually containing money) in - instead of actually buying you a gift.