The Modern Wishing Well for Weddings: How to Elegantly Collect Cash Gifts
The idea of a traditional wedding registry for many is outdated – couples are already cohabiting nowadays before the big day and don’t need essentials to build a home together. A modern and elegant way of wedding gifting now is a Wishing Well. A wedding Wishing Well is an easy way to collect money rather than physical gifts, if that’s what you’d prefer to do. Setting up a GoFundMe is an easy way to set up a wedding Wishing Well too.
The Evolution of the Wishing Well
What is a Wishing Well for Weddings?
A Wishing Well for weddings is a way to indicate you might want cash gifts over physical in a tasteful way. These cash gifts could go towards a multitude of things; you could be asking for donations for a charity close to your heart or contributions to your honeymoon fund, for example. You aren’t putting pressure on guests or asking for a specific amount – there is no obligation to contribute if they can’t. Your guests can also donate anonymously on GoFundMe.
From Physical to Digital: The Modern Cash Registry
A Wishing Well more traditionally might have been a space at the wedding reception where guests could place cards containing their chosen cash sum throughout the night. However with the rise of crowdfunding and collection platforms, this has been made easier and more secure. You can set up the page prior to the wedding and let people know of your intentions before circulating the link either prior to the big day or on the day itself.
Planning Your Wedding Wishing Well
Choosing the Right Cash Registry Platform
So, you and your spouse-to-be have decided that the Wishing Well structure would work best at your wedding. There are a variety of specialist platforms you can choose from that cater specifically to this need. For example, you can start a crowdfunder on GoFundMe for your wedding Wishing Well with ease.
Incorporating ‘Wishing Well for Wedding’ into Your Theme
Once you’ve decided on which platform to use and started your Wishing Well, it’s important to let people know that you’ve got one and how they can donate to it. Consider circulating an email just before the wedding letting your guests know that this is what you’re doing. It might also be an idea to put QR codes or the link to your Wishing Well on the tables at your wedding or even at the bar for reception guests. You can easily create QR codes on GoFundMe for guests to scan and donate easily.
How to Set Up Your Wishing Well (Cash Registry)
Step-by-Step Guide to Setting Up
The next step in setting up your wedding cash registry is just that – setting it up! It’s important when starting your Wishing Well to think of a realistic goal. This can be upped at a later date if you do meet it, too. Think of a title for your crowdfunding page which reflects what you’re doing – something short and snappy explaining that this is your wedding registry is good. Think about fundraising story too – we can go into more detail on this in the next section.
Personalising Your Wishing Well
Now for the important part – personalising your Wishing Well. This is where you really get to tell your story and let people know what you’re going to do with their contributions. You should consider:
- Telling people what you are going to do with their donations
- If it’s for something personal like a honeymoon, put in as much detail as you can about why you want to go there and what you’re going to do
- You could even mention what level of donation will provide what – for example, when you hit £50 you’ll be able to go for your first meal as a married couple
- If you’re raising money through your wedding for a charity or a good cause tell people this and let them know why.
Wishing Well Etiquette and Tips
Wording Your Wishing Well Invitation
When it comes to wording your Wishing Well invitation, be considerate of the fact that no one is under obligation to donate and anything contributed will be very much appreciated. Try and reflect this in your wording and also you could notify people that their donation can also appear anonymously on the page if they wished, too. You can have a look at our guide on how to word emails here if you need some inspiration on this, too.
Managing Contributions
An important part of any crowdfunding experience is to thank your donors – and this is especially pertinent if you’re fundraising for a personal cause, like a Wishing Well, because you can let them know exactly where their contribution is going! You can thank your donors on GoFundMe through the website after they’ve made a donation, but also consider sending personalised texts or emails to say thanks. After the wedding it might also be nice to send physical cards and updates on how you’ve used their cash contributions.
Making the Most of Your Wedding Wishing Well
Creative Ideas for Your Cash Gifts
There are a number of creative ways you could make best use of your Wedding Wishing Well once the big day is over. You don’t even need a specific goal when you start the registry, just make that clear when you’re writing your story. You could:
- Use it to go on a honeymoon or a trip of a lifetime
- Use it towards a deposit to a new home
- Home improvements or decorating
- An experience you can share together like a meal out or even something a bit more adventurous – hot air balloon ride anyone?
- Starting a joint savings account
Start your Wedding Wishing Well today
A Wedding Wishing Well is a timeless take on a long standing tradition and something that has been modernised to meet the needs of couples today. It can help to ease pressure on guests not knowing what you have or what to buy you, or feeling like they have to spend a set amount to make your big day special. Start a GoFundMe Wedding Wishing Well today to forge your own wedding traditions.