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Wedding invitation asking for cash gifts in advance

330 replies

FishPhoods · 26/06/2024 17:49

We are invited to a good friends wedding next summer. The invitation has arrived today, the wedding is going to be at a country house quite a fancy one, and there's a card for a gift list.

I usually do give cash these days so not sure if IABU to find this offensive:

"To our lovely guests. We really hope you can join us on our special day. We ask that you don't bring any gifts on the day, but would prefer for those of you that choose to give a gift, that you make a cash donation ahead of September 1st 2024 which will help to contribute towards the celebration. All our love"

I think it's the fact they're having what seems to be an expensive wedding and asking the guests to pay towards it - is this the done thing these days??

OP posts:
Rebusmyfire · 26/06/2024 20:05

Rather risky if depending on this money to pay suppliers.
What if the majority of guests do an eye roll and buy them a toaster - how do they pay for the wedding then?
They must have an amount in mind to break even or make a profit

LadyFeatheringt0n · 26/06/2024 20:02

Horrendous

Don't host a wedding you aren't willing to pay for.

fluffiphlox · 26/06/2024 20:01

How vulgar.

shellyleppard · 26/06/2024 20:01

That's really cheeky in my opinion

Cornflakelover · 26/06/2024 20:00

But what happens if the wedding doesn’t go ahead

i bet you won’t get a refund

Youcantellalotofthingsabouttheflowers · 26/06/2024 19:59

I honestly don’t know anyone who doesn’t give a cash gift for a wedding, mortified for anyone who rocks up with a beautifully wrapped photo frame 😂 but asking before the event is massively rude.

NewName24 · 26/06/2024 19:57

YANBU.
It is crass beyond belief.
Not 'hoping people will give cash, rather than physical gift' - that makes sense for people who already have their own home - but asking people to give money 10 months or so in advance Shock
As someone has said, they might as well sell tickets.

waterpaint · 26/06/2024 19:51

It is a bit cringe but beyond pulling an awkward face to myself I wouldn't give this too much thought. I would be giving them money anyways, so what difference does it really make if I do it beforehand? No skin off my nose really...And weddings are bloody expensive. Most couples can use the money for their honeymoon but these poor buggers need it to pay for the actual wedding. Help them out 🤷🏻‍♀️

Runsyd · 26/06/2024 19:50

Boxina · 26/06/2024 19:38

We want to have a wedding day
That is big and insta-worthy
But we haven't got the budget
And face a ceremony quite dirgy

So to save the day and fulfil our dreams
Of something bright and brash
We demand of you to dig down deep
And give us all your cash!

Love it!

TidyDancer · 26/06/2024 19:49

Oh dear, they've really embarrassed themselves with this. These are the things people remember from weddings years later. It's such a shame no one stepped in and told them how rude and cringey this was before the invitations went out. I think I would politely decline and stay away from the whole tacky debacle!

Runsyd · 26/06/2024 19:49

People are absolutely brazen now. Asking people to give money as a gift when you get married is awful; asking for it in advance is next level appalling. The only people legitimately allowed to ask for your cash, in my opinions, are beggars, children under sixteen and charities. Not wedding piss-takers.

allthemiddlechildrenoftheworld · 26/06/2024 19:44

@FishPhoods I once received a lovely poem. the couple had lived together for a few years and had everything. the gift was going towards their honeymoon which was fine.

We know its not tradition
its not the way its done
but instead of a wedding list
we'd like a bit of sun
we've lived together quite a while
and all the bills are paid
we've got our plates, our pots and pans
our plans have all be made.

we would appreciate your help though
to send us on our way
a contribution to our honeymoon
in a land quite far away

but most importantly we request
you come to our wedding as our guest
to share with us our special day
and have some fun along the way.

JurassicClark · 26/06/2024 19:41

I don't actually think asking for cash if you choose to give anything is really any different to having a gift list.

Asking for cash is one thing. Asking for cash 9 months before the wedding like pre selling tickets is a bit bloody cheeky.

Boxina · 26/06/2024 19:38

username47985 · 26/06/2024 19:34

Eugh that's awful. At least there wasn't a ridiculous poem about it !

We want to have a wedding day
That is big and insta-worthy
But we haven't got the budget
And face a ceremony quite dirgy

So to save the day and fulfil our dreams
Of something bright and brash
We demand of you to dig down deep
And give us all your cash!

Blouson · 26/06/2024 19:38

username47985 · 26/06/2024 19:34

Eugh that's awful. At least there wasn't a ridiculous poem about it !

We haven’t got a gift list, for all of you to see,
Because as you all know we never can agree!
But if you’d like to help us, continue our romance
Then please call it £100, bank payment in advance

TiddlyCove · 26/06/2024 19:37

but would prefer for those of you that choose to give a gift

Fine with this approach, their request is worded respectfully, it's not couched as a horrible, twee poem.

TinyYellow · 26/06/2024 19:36

Fivepiece · 26/06/2024 19:10

"Decent people" 😂😂

In many cultures recieving cash gifts at weddings is entirely normal. Though perhaps you're the kind of decent person who thinks all cultures outside your own are very tacky.

Yes, receiving cash gifts at a wedding is totally normal, but that’s not what we’re talking about. We’re talking about someone asking for cash to be deposited nearly a year before the event, which is not at all normal.

StormingNorman · 26/06/2024 19:34

Pretty grim to ask your guests to pay for your wedding. I’d accept and not cough up just to be awkward 😂

fetchacloth · 26/06/2024 19:34

A very tacky request that I would politely decline.

username47985 · 26/06/2024 19:34

Eugh that's awful. At least there wasn't a ridiculous poem about it !

Blouson · 26/06/2024 19:33

Icanttakethisanymore · 26/06/2024 19:28

I’ve never been to a wedding that’s asked for cash almost a year before the wedding… have you? If they need to crowd fund their wedding then perhaps they should choose something cheaper?

Not in advance but plenty on the day. As i said, its just an extension of that. Cash is cash. The only worry is it falls through and you lose your money!

Puzzledandpissedoff · 26/06/2024 19:32

Beautifulbythebay · 26/06/2024 19:25

Sorry we won't be able to make it. I have bills to pay in September..

For pity's sake don't do that ... they'll probably offer an instalment plan!! Grin

3peassuit · 26/06/2024 19:31

These days when everyone lives together and has a home full of stuff, it makes sense to ask for cash rather than a physical present. Asking for it to be sent before the wedding is a bit off.

Icanttakethisanymore · 26/06/2024 19:28

Blouson · 26/06/2024 18:05

Have all the haters never been to a wedding before? There used to be wedding lists back in the day and links to Amazon to buy stuff. But as most couples already live together then most dont need house stuff so switched to asking for cash, but always saying only if you want to. This is just an extension of that.

I’ve never been to a wedding that’s asked for cash almost a year before the wedding… have you? If they need to crowd fund their wedding then perhaps they should choose something cheaper?

Tilly22222 · 26/06/2024 19:28

Going against the grain here but these people are your good friends. I suspect they saw it completely differently- that they didn’t care about gifts but wanted to have a good knees with their friends and thought this was a way to do it. It obviously hasn’t come across as they planned but why not cut them some slack and assume it’s just not being aware that people might take this amiss, rather than greed?

I’d give them what they have asked for and think no more about it. I certainly wouldn’t deliberately try to embarrass them, wtf.

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