Skip to main content
ARE YOU A VENDOR?
Rayne
Just Said Yes October 2022

Is it bad to ask for cash gift?

Rayne, on April 6, 2021 at 4:50 PM Posted in Etiquette and Advice 0 18
Saved
Reply
My situation may be a little unique. My husband is American, I'm not. We live in a Middle Eastern country and are planning to fly out to my husband's hometown to host a reception (depending on the how the virus situation is). I wouldn't consider it a destination wedding since his all of family and friends and some of mine already live on that hemisphere of the world. The only ones doing any traveling will be us. But of course, that's just my opinion.
My knowledge of American weddings comes from movies (which we all know is very unrealistic) and my husband isn't the greatest at the topic either.
After doing some extensive Googling, I've learned that it's considered rude to ask for money as a gift. In my culture, it's a social norm to give money (whether you're a guest or family member) but also very acceptable to put in a note at the very bottom of invitation something along the lines of "accepting envelopes only" or "no boxed gifts".We don't have a registry because we already have everything needed to build our lives together and the idea of flying back with multiple bags of expensive presents doesn't seem to be the most convenient. This is why I ask if it would be rude to ask for cash.

18 Comments

Latest activity by G + C, on April 12, 2021 at 11:33 AM
  • Michelle
    Rockstar December 2022
    Michelle ·
    • Flag

    Asking for cash and any variation is always rude. Some people will give cash on their own. Others will not because it not what they are used to (registries are more common for them) so will give a physical gift you might not want.

    • Reply
  • V
    Champion July 2019
    Veronica ·
    • Flag

    You just wouldn't say anything as it is rude to ask for cash. If you don't have a registry, they will likely just give you cash/a check. However, some people may still buy you some random item.

    • Reply
  • A
    Expert September 2020
    Amanda ·
    • Flag
    The cultural norm is typically to not include any registry information and it is implied that you would prefer a cash gift. Us Americans aren’t great at being direct in what we want lol while it’s socially expected to most (even though people say it’s not) to get gifts, it’s considered rude to bring them up. If anything I would expect his parents to get questions about a registry and they can let people know from there that you don’t have one Smiley smile
    • Reply
  • Elizabeth
    Super June 2021
    Elizabeth ·
    • Flag
    I totally get where you're coming from. That said, I think its probably best to follow US etiquette because that's where the wedding will be hosted. I hope your guests are savvy enough to realize that you cant load a crock pot and 8 sets of plates into the overhead compartment on your flight home
    • Reply
  • mrswinteriscoming
    Rockstar December 2021
    mrswinteriscoming ·
    • Flag

    I too come from a culture (Australian-Russian living in Australia) in which (a) coming without a gift is rude and (b) monetary gifts are totally acceptable as is specifying that this is the preferred gift.

    In saying this, all the Americans on Wedding Wire insist that monetary gifts of any kind are ‘tacky’ and some tend to take great offense to this.

    If many of your family and guests in America come from a similar background to you, I don’t think it will be an issue asking for monetary gifts, however, if they are not from that background, you may offend some of your guests by doing this.

    • Reply
  • Natalie
    Super November 2020
    Natalie ·
    • Flag
    I wouldn’t directly put this on the invitations but would try to have your FH family spread this via word of mouth. If guests ask them about a registry, they can simply remind them that all physical gifts would need to be transported back to where the two of you live.
    • Reply
  • Hannah
    Master July 2019
    Hannah ·
    • Flag
    Monetary gifts themselves are not tacky in the US. It's the act of specifically asking for monetary gifts that is uncouth. Asking for gifts in general, monetary or physical, is seen as unsightly. That's why registry information is not supposed to go in the invitation suite entirely. In the old days, registry info was spread by word of mouth. Nowadays, people put it on their wedding websites. It is separate from the invitation, so it's seen as acceptable.


    People know that money is a good gift, so you would be fine just not registering for anything and people will get the hint. There may be the random few who want to give a physical gift, but there's always that 1 person who buys something not on the registry, even if there is one. Your fiance's parents can also spread the word that you prefer cash gifts and are not registered if/when people ask.
    • Reply
  • L
    Dedicated August 2021
    Lw ·
    • Flag
    I personally don’t think cash is tacky. It’s an old thing that needs to go away. I’ve never understood the difference of please buy me this gift where I’ve picked out the size and color compared to please give me cash. I would set up a honeymoon fund or on the registry section of the website explain you can’t travel with gifts.
    • Reply
  • Victoria
    Devoted June 2020
    Victoria ·
    • Flag
    View Quoted Comment
    100% agree - just be honest about the travel. We did a small registry but also told people that we would be very happy with gift cards to Lowe’s/Home Depot because we want to -paint the house -do landscaping -get new ceiling fans. This way they knew they were gifting us a ‘fan’ instead of a cutlery set. We even shared that money to Chewy would be used to spoil the dogs. Some people really loved that- and we got a gift card and a small dog toy.
    Know your crowd and just approach it gracefully. They should understand.
    • Reply
  • Rayne
    Just Said Yes October 2022
    Rayne ·
    • Flag
    View Quoted Comment
    Thank you for responding! Half of the attendees wouldn't find it offensive, whereas the other half may. I might just start a registry just in case.
    • Reply
  • Rayne
    Just Said Yes October 2022
    Rayne ·
    • Flag
    View Quoted Comment
    Thank you for responding! This seems to be the best approach.
    • Reply
  • Hanna
    VIP June 2019
    Hanna ·
    • Flag

    Given that you live on the other side of the world and wouldn't be able to transport a bunch of physical gifts easily even if you wanted to, I think I'd have your family spread via word of mouth that you'd prefer cash gifts given your situation. I don't think this would be offensive at all

    • Reply
  • Kk
    Devoted October 2021
    Kk ·
    • Flag
    View Quoted Comment
    That's not true. Cash gifts aren't tacky and are actually expected for the wedding itself in a lot of the country. ASKING for cash is tacky.
    • Reply
  • mrswinteriscoming
    Rockstar December 2021
    mrswinteriscoming ·
    • Flag
    View Quoted Comment

    I meant both but I guess I didn't word it the best way!

    • Reply
  • Holly
    Savvy April 2022
    Holly ·
    • Flag
    I honestly don’t think there’s anything wrong in asking for money. Just don’t pressure people and be honest about what it’s going towards. You can make a honey fund or something like that.


    I’m English, but I live in America, but I think Americans are a little too uptight about money. (Can’t ask them how much they make, how much somthing costs, can’t give money etc.) it won’t do them any harm to treat it like a normal gift!
    Saying that...not everyone agrees with me, as evidenced from this post. You might minorlu offend people, or have people purse their lips at you! If that doesn’t offend you, go for it!
    • Reply
  • Estrella
    Dedicated October 2021
    Estrella ·
    • Flag
    View Quoted Comment
    100% agree!
    • Reply
  • Amanda
    Savvy July 2021
    Amanda ·
    • Flag
    Are you going to have a wedding website? What you could do is make a Honeyfund and have a link to it on your wedding website. Just don’t explicitly write about the fund on your invitations - let your guests find it themselves on the website.
    • Reply
  • G + C
    Dedicated July 2021
    G + C ·
    • Flag

    https://printsonalities.com/resources/wedding-invitation-wordings/in-lieu-of-gifts/

    The link above has some wording to include in your invitation to your liking or best according to your need abiding wedding etiquette invitation guidelines.

    • Reply

You voted for . Add a comment 👇

×
ReCaptcha Verification failed. Please try again.

Related articles

36 Small Valentine's Day Gifts That'll Make a Big Impression
Married Life 36 Small Valentine's Day Gifts That'll Make a Big Impression... Bigger doesn't always mean better. Show your S.O. just how much you love them...
37 Unique "Will You Be My Bridesmaid?" Proposal Gift Ideas
Wedding Party 37 Unique "Will You Be My Bridesmaid?" Proposal Gift Ideas Bridesmaid proposal gifts are a fun way to recruit your crew, and we're sharing...
24 Maid of Honor Gifts That Really Show Your Appreciation
Wedding Party 24 Maid of Honor Gifts That Really Show Your Appreciation Show your MOH how much they mean to you with one of these thoughtful gifts.
See more articles
WeddingWire celebrates love ...and so does everyone on our site! Learn more

Groups

Show more

WeddingWire article topics