Bride Blog: In Defense of Cash
It’s really hard to come out and say “please give me money”. All of my instincts tell me this is just plain wrong, but when you’re in a situation like mine (ie: moving in with someone who already has a house full of stuff), the last thing you want to do is create a gift registry and collect more objects. I, for one, do not need another toaster.
I asked Slice.ca’s resident wedding expert, Angelique Sobschak if there was a polite way to add a request for cash in lieu of gifts to an invitation and her response was that it’s still a no-no, but I really think that it’s time to take a good, hard look at the tradition of giving tangible gifts, especially to people who already have everything they need. She did have some smart advice: if you don’t specify where you’re registered, guests tend to ask your maid of honour or your parents, at which point, they can artfully drop the request for cash. Clever!
Cash. It’s a beautiful thing. It can be used in whatever way the couple sees fit, whether it’s for something fun like a new set of gourmet cookware, or something practical like a furnace. The beauty of giving the gift of money is that it opens up every possibility and can be used for something the couple really needs… and with most couples joining forces with two households’ worth of belongings, and (typically) moving into a small space, it’s quite often the thing they need most.
I’m challenging everyone who thinks the gift of money is tacky to rethink that assumption and for brides-to-be to buck tradition and ask for cash instead of gifts. The more it happens, the more “traditional”/normal it will get.
Another idea for those who aren’t quite brave enough to come right out and say “we don’t need any more stuff!” is to create a honeymoon registry. Several sites, like Honeyfund.com, TheBigDay.com, and ehoneymoonregistry.com allow couples to create an online gift registry, where guests can purchase items like hotel stays, airfare, show tickets, meals, and activities. Or, create your own gift registry and ask for gift cards from department stores, travel providers (Air Miles, travel agencies, airlines), restaurants, spas, or grocery stores. Since gift cards don’t expire, you’ll be able to use them whenever you want on whatever you’ll need in the future.
What do you think? Is it still a faux pas to ask for cash as a wedding gift?
Written by: Erin Jackson