Asking for gifts when sending out your wedding invitation can be an awkward subject, and one that always gives good cause for a good discussion for those who experience one of our wedding stationery consultations.

The days of asking for gifts to help you set up home are gone, because life just isn’t like that any more.

People live together – usually for years – before taking the plunge and saying ‘I Do’, so the need to ask for a new toaster or kettle just isn’t there any more.

According to a 2014 survey of 2,500 brides conducted by Confetti.com, nearly four-fifths of people marrying that year asked for a financial contribution, and this figure has only risen in recent years.

Culture

As a culture, us Brits don’t like asking for help or monetary contributions in any way, and this is only enhanced when it comes to a wedding day.  Many will find it crass and rude to do so on a wedding invitation. However, the majority of guests coming to your wedding will welcome advice on what you would like to mark your occasion, so if it helps, think of it as doing them a favour!

Interestingly in many other cultures, including Greece, India and parts of the Middle East, it would be considered rude not to gift money at a wedding.

Consider this…

If you simply can’t bring yourself to ask your guests for a gift, then just leave any mention of it off your information card, or take a look at the poem at the bottom of the page about ‘no gifts required’.

However… if you leave off any mention of gifts on your invitation, be prepared for multiple questions from your guests about what you’d like as a gift! Imagine all those ‘awkward’ conversations… instead of just addressing it on your invite.

For those of you who are ready and willing to ask for cold hard cash or contributions towards something you’re saving for (like a honeymoon), then check out these suggestions 🙂

Honeymoon: Option 1

The date has been set and we’d love you to come,
To our wedding in (place name), a long way for some,
All you must do, is decide what to wear,
Then polish your jewellery and comb up your hair.

Don’t worry about gifts, don’t buy us a yacht,
The things that we need, we’ve already got.
Our home is quite compact, we may have to move
Then our storage and space will surely improve.

Don’t go out shopping or get yourself stressed,
Don’t alter your plans for a pre wedding rest.
If you want to be generous, despite what we’ve said,
Then save all the hassle and do this instead…..

Don’t know how to word this but will give it our best shot..
Contributions are most welcome, we’ll go somewhere hot!
A honeymoon would be marvelous, to start off our life,
In our long winding journey, as new husband and wife!

Honeymoon: Option 2

We haven’t got a wedding list,
The reason we’ll explain,
It’s to save you all the hassle,
As shopping is a pain.

We’ve lived together for quite a while,
And all our bills are paid,
We’ve got our plates, pots and pans,
Our plans have all been made.

We would love a little help though,
To send us on our way,
And allow us to have our honeymoon,
In a country far away.

So if you’d like to give a gift,
To help us celebrate,
Some money towards our honeymoon,
We’d really appreciate

Honeymoon: Option 3

Very soon we’ll be saying ‘I Do’,
And for a gift if you’ve not got a clue,
We’d really love to ask for some cash,
So that on our honeymoon we can splash,
Out on a romantic trip for two!

Honeymoon: Option 4

As we’ve lived together for a year or two,
We really don’t need anything new.
But if you were thinking of a small wedding gift,
Some money for our honeymoon would not go amiss.

Honeymoon: Option 5

The date has been set and we’d love you to come,
To our wedding in (place name), a long way for some,
All you must do, is decide what to wear,
Then polish your jewellery and comb up your hair.

Don’t worry about gifts, don’t buy us a yacht,
The things that we need, we’ve already got.
Our home is quite compact, we may have to move
Then our storage and space will surely improve.

Don’t go out shopping or get yourself stressed,
Don’t alter your plans for a pre wedding rest.
If you want to be generous, despite what we’ve said,
Then save all the hassle and do this instead…..

Don’t know how to word this but will give it our best shot..
Contributions are most welcome, we’ll go somewhere hot!
A honeymoon would be marvelous, to start off our life,
In our long winding journey, as new husband and wife!

Honeymoon: Option 6

We are sending out this invitation
In hope you’ll join our celebration
But if a gift is your intention
We’ll take this opportunity to mention

We have already got a kettle and toaster
Crockery, dinner mats, and matching coasters
So rather than something we have already got
We would appreciate money for our honeymoon pot

But most importantly we request
That you come to our wedding as our special guest

Honeymoon: Option 7

The occasion of our marriage
Is a precious time to share
With family friends and loved ones
So we hope that you’ll be there

We do not ask you bring a gift
But if you feel the need
A little bit of money
Would be very kind indeed

Please don’t feel obliged though
Please don’t feel you must
Just the pleasure of your company
Would mean the world to us

Leave it to your guests

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 to purchase a gift,
feel free to surprise us in your own way

Gift List

We really don’t desire a gift,
but if you do insist,
there are some things that we would like,
we’ve put them on a list.

CHOSEN STORE:
GIFT LIST NO:
WEBSITE ADDRESS:

No Gifts Required

We do not wish for presents,we hope you do not mind,
We haven’t got a gift list,there’s nothing we could find.
Your presence at our wedding,will give our day a lift,
Your company is priceless,we accept it as our gift.