$ instead of registry/gifts

Don't register and your guests will take the hint to gift money

People know cash is a good gift without being told. Skip the registry and guests will default to cash or check gifts.

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Thanks! That make so much more sense when someone else says it exactly what I have done in the past as a wedding guest.

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Exactly what I have done in the past as a wedding guest...

Some people only add gift cards to their registry

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Never would have thought of that, thanks!

Exactly as PP's said...we didn't register and we already live together...no need for gifts. Most guests give cash as gifts.

So, its typically frowned upon to "ask" for money, and we were in a similar situation such as yourself.

I searched different registries and found Zola and loved it! My husband said no one would buy anything, but it was totally worth it.

I was able to personalize it to items for our home that we wouldn't normally splurge on ourselves. I also added "upgrades" and excursions for our honeymoon (which the majority of our friends loved). This gave people the option to give us something to do or a physical item.

I also think this made people much more apt to give. For instance, the couple who bought the "Catamaran Snorkel and Beach Break" probably would not have put that amount of money into a card. I think they liked the idea of knowing exactly what they were "buying" for us with their money.

My husband and I were both surprised at all the things that were purchased off the registry and there were very few items not bought.
I posted a few screen shots of our registry for an example.

Also, my MIL bought a "Honeymoon Fund" box and placed it on the table beside the card box.

Don't register at all (so obviously skip a bridal or couples shower) and people will get the hint. If people ask where you are registered, just say "we don't have a registry".

There's no good way to ask for money. Just do a bare minimum registry and people will come to the wedding with cash/checks.

I've known couples who asked for money specifically and their guests bought them a bunch of junk because of the request for cash. Was it petty? Sure was. But it happens.

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That is an awesome idea! thanks!

Just don’t register and people will give money or gift cards.

We are in the same boat. We recently went to a wedding where they had a cute insert with a little saying and I thought that was a good idea. I’ve also had many people tell me recently that it is perfectly acceptable to ask for money now days.

Honestly? This is a HUGE know your guests/audience issue! You should consider that at least some of your guests will NOT think it's a good idea to "ask for money." Who is mostly likely to think it's rude? Odds are, probably older, more traditional guests. At daughter's wedding, those were EXACTLY the guests who gave large amounts of cash/checks (say $200-1000 range?) without ANY DIRECTION regarding preferences. For your own benefit, you may not want to risk offending them! Daughter and SIL's younger guests? Their gifts were more likely to be spatulas, napkin rings, or nothing (actual gifts at a January 2019 wedding from 20 somethings...).

PS -- older guests are not likely to find "cute inserts" and poems about giving cash a good idea. Just leave them alone to do the same thing they've been doing for decades.... Write you a check!

I'm doing this...

https://www.honeyfund.com/

we both love to travel and we don't need "house stuff" so this works for us

I was told you have to register for gifts because of some people. We registered on ZOLA to do the cash fund option also.

I did a honeymoon fund

I asked a similar topic because my FH and I are in the exact same boat. You might find the comments here helpful as well: https://www.weddingwire.com/wedding-forums/is-it-okay-to-ditch-the-registry/cb6a976ce2dfaed1.html

We decided not to do a registry. So it’s cash and gifts cards I think ppl get the idea

We're doing a honeymoon fund, from Zola I think. But we've also registered from other places