Asking for “Cash Only” Wedding Gifts

Feel awkward asking for only money? Here’s how to tell your wedding guests you don’t want any material gifts

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“When my husband and I got married we were 40-years-old. We didn’t need another Instapot or set of bath towels. But we did need money to help with our honeymoon and plans for remodeling our home.”

We’ve all heard the saying “cash is king,” and for some couples — it’s their wedding gift motto.

More couples are opting for monetary gifts rather than registering at their favorite department stores. One reason for the shift: these days people are getting married later in life, and because they’re most likely already financially established — they’ve got that toaster oven or set of wine glasses mainly younger couples look forward to receiving when they get married.

Couples are also traveling more these days, and planning to buy a home — which is pricier than ever before. They’d rather receive a gift to help set them up for the future or make their honeymoon dreams come true.

But asking for money rather than a material gift can be uncomfortable for some.

Here are some ways you can let your wedding guests know you don’t have a wedding registry, and politely ask for cash instead.

For your future home.

Tell your guests you and your future spouse are planning to buy a home, and their monetary gift will help you reach that milestone. Many couples print a message on their wedding invitations or wedding website. For example, you can say: Your love and presence are the most important gifts to us on our wedding day, but if you still don’t want to arrive empty-handed — we would be honored with a cash gift to help us save for a future home. If you’re renovating your home, use the same wording but tell your guests it’s for improvements to your abode.

“Many couples ask for cash gifts to spend on the honeymoon they could otherwise never afford. The most popular way to get this message across to your guests is to set up a honeymoon fund.”

For your move.

It may not incur as many costs as buying a new home, but moving somewhere new or into your significant other’s townhouse can add up financially too. Asking for cash gifts is a great way to help offset those moving costs. Just like mentioned above, tell your guests what the monetary fund would go toward. You can also explain that you’re merging homes and plan to purge the extra set of pots and pans you’ll be adopting — so there’s no need for a new set.

For your honeymoon.

Many couples ask for cash gifts to spend on the honeymoon they could otherwise never afford. The most popular way to get this message across to your guests is to set up a honeymoon fund. Guess what? There’s actually a site with the domain www.honeymoonfund.com, and it’s certainly not the only option out there to create an online cash registry. You can use this site when also asking for cash gifts for your new home or renovation. Some couples opt to put down their Venmo or Zelle accounts on their save-the-dates and wedding websites. If you’d like to explain to your guests why you’d rather not receive a physical gift, you can include a message like this on your wedding site: We are so excited to celebrate with you on our wedding day. Because we are combining households, we have more than enough belongings, which is why we’ve decided on a honeymoon fund instead of a traditional wedding registry. Your presence on our wedding day is all that we need, but should you choose to give us a cash gift — it will go toward the honeymoon of our dreams!

Spread the word.

Your guests will talk. So why not get help from your parents or wedding party to spread the message that you’re not in need of material gifts. It’ll ensure that everyone is on the same page, and you’re not stumbling over your words if you’re uncomfortable telling people you’d rather get money.

Be honest.

Honesty is key. Don’t be concerned you’ll come across as greedy, because you’re not. You’re putting the cash toward your future with your spouse. Otherwise, those unwanted wedding gifts could end up collecting dust or worse, being thrown in the trash. There are polite and honest ways to ask for monetary funds that will leave your guests happy to help you and your future spouse start your new life together.

When my husband and I got married we were 40-years-old. We didn’t need another Instapot or set of bath towels. But we did need money to help with our honeymoon and plans for remodeling our home. Our guests were more than supportive to help carry us into our future together. Good luck!

Written By Vows & Forever Founder and Veteran Journalist Maria Cid. V&F is a wedding vows & speech writing service that also specializes in speech coaching and wedding timeline coordination.

The Vows & Forever Blog may contain affiliate links, which allows us to earn commission if you make a purchase.