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Wedding Gift Wording

It’s always humbling to have your friends and family shower you with gifts, and your wedding is one of those special occasions that people go all out for. There’s plenty of horror stories of tacky vases and multiple toasters circulating, so couples like to get ahead of any questions and suggest what sort of gifts they would like to receive.

Is it ok to include information on gift preferences on our wedding invitations?

Traditionally there should be no mention of gifts, wedding registries or wishing wells on your wedding invitations. Guests should be invited with no expectation of receiving gifts (or 'recouping costs' as I have heard some wistfully hope for... yikes). At the end of the day, guests are being invited because you want them to celebrate your wedding day, not because you’d like a new toaster.

However, unless you are absolutely horrible people*, family, friends and others will want to help you get set up for your lives together. Being good people, they will be wondering what could be helpful or wanted as a gift. They may feel uncomfortable asking you, or it might be inconvenient to have to track down the bridal party or parents to find out where you are registered. (This is what you are “supposed to do”, by the way - have a registry which your Maid of Honour shares with guests. Not particularly practical in modern times).

So yes, it is common for the couple to include a little note about a gift registry, so don’t feel anxious about it. Where budget allows, having the information on a separate card to your main invitation is preferable. This means it is kept completely apart from the wedding invitation. You can then skip including the 'gift card' in any judgy-fusspot relative's invitations). If you have a wedding website, you could include details or links to your gift preferences there.

If you decide to go old-school, and not include anything about gifts at all, that is absolutely fine - the worst that could happen is you may get some double ups of appliances! 

Communicating your request for a particular gift or cold hard cash can be a little tricky. A light heated poem or straightforward statement suits best. Don’t get longwinded, we don’t want to draw attention to it.

*I doubt you are a horrible person if you're taking the time to learn about etiquette behind wording wedding invitations so you're all good 🙂

Wedding Wishing Well Wording Examples

  • Our two families have come together as one. We really hope you can join in the fun. A wishing well we thought would be great, but only if you wish to participate. A gift of money is placed in the well, then make a special wish, but do not tell! Please do not be offended by our request, as our day is complete having you as a guest.
  • Because at first we lived in sin, we've got the sheets and a rubbish bin. A gift from you would be swell but we'd prefer a donation to our Wishing Well. A gift of money is placed in the well, then make a wish but do not tell, cause as the well's tradition goes, your wishes will come true you know!
  • More than just kisses so far we've shared, our home has been made with love and care. Most things we need we’ve already got, like a toaster and kettle, the pans and the pots. A wishing well we thought would be great, (but only if you wish to participate). A gift of money is placed in the well, then make a wish but do not tell. Once we’ve replaced the old with the new, we can look back and say it was thanks to you! And in return for your kindness, we’re sure that one day soon, you'll get what you wished for!
  • Whilst living in a foreign land, we’ve shared many adventures grand. None of which can ever compare, to the wonderful love we both share. Once we are married, we will travel once more. So we’ve considered the options of getting gifts to our door. As airline restrictions will also apply. When back to the UK we will fly. To save you looking, shopping or buying, here is an idea we hope you like trying. Come to our wedding and wish us both well. And make a donation to our wishing well.
  • To save you looking, shopping or buying, here is an idea, we hope you like trying. Come to our wedding, to wish us both well, and bring a small sack, to throw in our wishing well. Fill it with paper all colours will do, gold is our favourite but silver will do. Now that we have saved you, all of that fuss, we hope you will come, and celebrate with us.
  • Soon you will hear our wedding bells, as friends and family wish us well. Our household treasures are not brand new, we have twice the things we need for two. Since we have our share of dishes and bedding, we're having instead a wishing well wedding. But more important we ask of you, your prayers of love and blessings too!
  • If finding a gift is hard to do, perhaps our wishing well is for you. A gift of money is placed in the well. Then make a wish… but do not tell. If, however, a gift you’d prefer to find. Be assured we will not mind.
  • Our home is quite complete now, we've been together long. So please consider our request, and do not take us wrong. A delicate request it is, we hope you understand. Please play along, as it will give our married life a hand. The tradition of the wishing well, is one that's known by all. Go to the well, toss in a coin, and as the coin does fall, make a wish upon that coin, and careful as you do, cause as the well's tradition goes, your wishes could come true. So on this special day of ours, the day that we'll be wed, don't hunt for special gifts, But give a gift of money instead. So as you drop the envelope in, with money great or small, remember, to make your wish, as you watch your money fall.

Wedding Registry Wording Examples

  • Your presence at our Wedding is the greatest gift of all. However, if you wish to honour us with a gift, we have registered a list with (shop). You can view it online by entering (reference number), or at any store.
  • Please be aware that gifts are not necessary. Your presence is all that is required. However, for your convenience (bride) and (groom) have prepared a gift registry.
  • (Bride) and (Groom) are already blessed with much love, laughter and half a household of furniture! Accordingly they have assembled a registry for the items they'd find most useful.
  • If choosing a gift is not your cup of tea, you might like to try our gift registry. Please feel no obligation to use this list, as we do not mind if you give it a miss. You can view it online at (website) and enter our registry ID number.
  • The happy couple are registered at (place)
  • Your love, laughter and company on our wedding day is the greatest gift of all. However, should you wish to help us celebrate with a gift, a registry is held at (store)
  • Many friends and family have asked for gift suggestions. As we already have many items to start off our new lives together, we have created a registry with (store). The list can be viewed online with reference number (details).
  • Should you wish to honour us with a gift, we hope that our registry held at (store) will make it more convenient for you to select something that you know we will love. The list can be viewed online at (address) with details (details).
  • For guests wishing to contribute, a registry is set up at (store)
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Wedding Cash Gift Wording Examples

  • If you were thinking of giving a gift to help us on our way. A gift of cash towards our house, would really make our day. However, if you prefer a gift, feel free to surprise us in your own special way.
  • The most important thing is to have you with us on our special day. No gifts are needed or expected, however we have been asked what we need or would like and, if you do wish to give us something, a little cash to spend on our honeymoon would be very much appreciated.
  • We haven't got a gift list, for all of you to see, Because as you know, we never can agree! But if you'd like to help us, start our married life, Cash or vouchers, would save a lot of strife.
  • Many of our guests have enquired or a gift idea to be inspired. Like many young couples today, we have a lot of things anyway. If you would like to give, it is our request, for something for our treasure chest. A gift of money you can afford, is just what we need, you can be assured! Without the help of this little pun, our honeymoon might not be as much fun.
  • So what do you get for the Bride and Groom, whose house needs things in every room? When shopping for a gift, You needn’t be rash, as there’s always the option, to just give cash! We hope you don’t find our request to be funny. The decision is yours: To buy a present or give money. Now you have the choice, please do not fuss. The most important thing of all, is that you’re there to celebrate with us!

Honeymoon Gift Registry Wording Examples

  • A contribution towards our honeymoon fund instead of a gift is much appreciated.
  • For a truly memorable gift, (insert names) would love a contribution towards their honeymoon experiences, such as dinners, spa treatments, and excursions.
  • Now we are to be Mr & Mrs, we don't need a wedding list of dishes. A holiday is what we need, so your help with this would be a great gift indeed. So should you wish to honour us with a gift, we have registered a honeymoon registry at (travel agency) where you can make a contribution to help us make our honeymoon a memory that will last a lifetime.
  • Our wedding wouldn’t be the same without your presence. However, when it comes to presents, please be aware that we would appreciate a donation towards our honeymoon fund in place of wedding gifts.
  • The Nearlyweds are registered for their honeymoon and its related experiences at (registry company)

More wording & etiquette posts from the Wedding Invitation Wording Series

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