Advice

How to Ask for Cash For Your Wedding

Would you prefer cash as a wedding gift over a set of matching towels or crystal wine glasses?
Evstry
8 minutes
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It's not easy to ask people for money. It's even harder when it comes to your wedding.

We get it. You're in love, and you want to celebrate without breaking the bank. This is where a cash registry can come in handy - and why many couples are choosing them over traditional registries.

If you're just getting started with wedding planning, you might be wondering how a cash registry works and how to ask for cash for your wedding. Don't worry, we'll fill you in on all the details below.

Most couples have a wedding registry filled with gift items they would love to receive for their upcoming nuptials.

Asking for cash is the perfect alternative for those who don't want to bring more stuff into their homes or even those who are just tired of weddings and weddings gifts after attending too many 🥱.

But did you know that it's also a great idea for frugal couples that are looking for ways to save money? Weddings are very expensive. And cashboxes at weddings can go missing or be stolen, causing extra unnecessary stress that can be reduced with a cash registry (check out our list of 8 wedding tips to help you save money here). Many people also prefer to give cash, and there’s no doubt it’s much easier for the bride and groom after the event to do what they want with it (rather than spending a long time deliberating what to buy that distant couple who gave them a toaster). 

I created this post because I wanted to let people know how much things cost and that some couples, like my sister and her fiancé, are planning to pay their bills with money provided by others who support them. They don't plan on buying material possessions. They just don't want to owe anything, so it would be smart to accept contributions in cash.

Plus, seriously, who’s got the time for all that banking nonsense?

By registering for cash gifts, you can reduce the number of trips to the bank and eliminate the worry of your cash gifts going missing. And they won’t — I promise.

Cash is king đź’¸.

‍Let’s face it, cash even sounds better and more appealing than gifts. You just can’t beat the luxury of not having to physically haul around a large object that likely you don’t need. Asking for cash as a wedding gift might seem weird, but it's becoming more and more common. Couples are also asking for cash because they already own everything they need and don't want to clutter up their home with stuff they don't need. Plus, most older couples already have a home full of dishes, towels, and other household items.

Many couples take on debt to pay for their big day, and often end up regretting it; a cash gift could help you avoid the same fateđź‘Ź. But asking for it might be a bit uncomfortable.

Of course, unless you're marrying into money, it's not likely that your friends and family are going to be able to fork over thousands of dollars to help pay for your big day. Still, there are steps you can take to make sure the cash you get gets put toward different costs while making your guests feel valued.

Cash gifts can be used to contribute to a honeymoon fund, payback wedding expenses, or go towards a couple's down payment on their first house — those are all perfectly fine reasons to ask for cash instead of gifts. Take a look at our blog post about the why's of gifting cash here.

Elizabeth Dunn, an associate professor at the University of British Columbia and co-author of Happy Money: The Science of Smarter Spending shared what she thought about this topic.
"Weddings are super expensive. Given how many people have student debt, I don't think there's anything wrong with asking for money as a wedding gift."

Traditionally, brides and grooms registered for gifts that would help them set up their first home together. But as more couples live together before marriage (and already have the household goods they need), wedding registries today reflect travel and experiences more than kitchenware 🍽️.

The average couple today spends USD $28,000 (CAD $36,000) on their wedding, according to the Knot.

And between the flowers, food and photography, (check out our genius wedding hacks for planning here) you may feel like you're spending it all on things that will leave no lasting impact — except maybe, a few beautiful pictures and some party favours your guests will promptly forget. But if you'd rather put your money toward something more important (like paying off student loans or saving for a house), asking for cash instead of gifts may feel like an easier solution.

But how should couples ask? Gift-givers might feel awkward if they suspect that their gift isn't going toward a blender or a new set of towels. And some modern brides and grooms might feel uncomfortable about asking for money at all, especially if they're used to paying for things themselves.

Don't beat around the bush: If you'd prefer cash to gifts, let your guests know.

People will understand why you're asking for money instead of gifts. But it doesn't hurt to give them some context in your request.

One of the most common pieces of advice on this topic is to tailor your wedding so that they imply a cash gift is expected. The problem with this approach is that many people just don't get it. If your guests are from a culture where weddings are typically paid for by the couple's parents, they may not even realize that you'd want cash as a gift; they may just assume that your parents have taken care of everything and think nothing of bringing an expensive bottle of wine along with them. And if your guests do get it, there's still the risk that they'll interpret the invitation as a demand for cash and become resentful.

Include a statement about what you really want as a gift with an explanation, so guests know why you're asking for money over traditional presents. For example, you could say something like:

"We are so excited to celebrate our marriage with all of our friends and family. We will be moving into our first home together after the honeymoon and while we're grateful that you thought of us when choosing a gift, we would prefer cash towards our new home."
‍

If you're not sure how to ask your guests for money instead of gifts, there are plenty of ways you can word your registry cards or even your invitation. Here are some examples:

→ "We've been living together for a while now, so we've got all the plates and gadgets we need! We'd love for you to contribute to our honeymoon fund."
‍
→ "Your presence at our wedding is the only present we need! However, if you wish to give us something special, donating toward our honeymoon would be the perfect gift."
‍
→ "Although your presence at the wedding is enough of a gift, if you still wish to give something special, we would be grateful if you would consider contributing to our student debt repayment fund."

The logistics of getting cash in the mail or via gift cards can be tricky, but with a cash registry, all your gifts are in one place.

A cash registry like Evstry will help you keep track of who has given you money and how much they've contributed. It's also the perfect option if you're not sure what you'd like as a present but know that having some financial support would be really helpful.

Secure payments are powered by Stripe (one of the most reliable payment infrastructure systems in the world) to limit any worry and there are no hidden fees đźš«. Evstry offers a simple way to create cash registries, manage RSVPs and track gifts and send thank you notes using a personalized dashboard.

Regardless of how you approach it, remember that asking for cash isn't about greed — it's about getting what you need to start your life together. It's easier on your guests and less time-consuming for you.

Visit www.evstry.com and follow us on Instagram and don’t forget to use Evstry for your special event planning needs!

Love, 
Evstry Blogs đź’Ť
Photo by Photos by Lanty on Unsplash

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