The Best Way to Give and Receive Money as a Wedding Gift

It used to be tacky (or worse, taboo) to give money as a wedding gift. But now it's different. More couples and guests are deciding that cash is king. The question is, how should you give (and receive) money as a gift?

It's a question everyone is asking, from the lovebirds to the guests to people managing wedding registries. No matter where you fit into the big day, here's how to give and receive money without feeling rude or embarrassed.

Money is a popular wedding gift

It's simple — newlyweds want cash. According to The Knot's 2024 data, 62% of couples received cash or cash equivalents as their most common gift type, and 87% of couples now add at least one cash fund to their registry — with honeymoon funds remaining the top choice.

This trend reflects real financial pressure. With inflation pushing the average wedding cost to $36,000, 52% of couples are putting other life milestones on hold to afford their celebration. Many couples are also getting married after already living independently, making a long gift registry feel unnecessary. Asking for cash, however, makes a lot of sense.

4 tips to ask for money as a wedding gift

Does it look bad to ask for money instead of wedding gifts? Is it tacky to ask your guests to contribute toward specific gifts, experiences, or even your honeymoon?

It all depends on how you ask. Keep reading to see how couples navigate this and avoid cringe-worthy faux pas.

1. Use Pool or a cash registry website

Cash registries are gaining traction inside the 19-billion-dollar wedding industry. With a traditional registry, guests purchase one of the many gifts the couple has selected. With cash registries, guests contribute to the couple's big-ticket items or desired experiences.

There's a way to skip fees altogether though. Sign up at Poolmoney.com — Pool is 100% free for both the couple and their guests, making it an attractive option for wedding celebrations.

Pool is a modern money-pooling platform that allows people to seamlessly collect and spend group money together. Thanks to its multi-user design, it's incredibly easy to manage group money with others.

Savvy couples are creating free Pools for specific gifts or experiences, like a Smeg refrigerator, landscaping for their new home, or a couple's massage on the honeymoon. Then, guests pick their favorite Pool and make their contribution.

2. Don't ask for money in the wedding invitation

It's exciting to find a wedding invitation in the mailbox. But when couples use it to ask for money, it kills the mood — leaving the impression that you're inviting people for their money and not for their presence.

Nobody wants to feel that way. So, keep the feelings festive by mentioning your Pool on your wedding website in the invitation. On your website, guests can read about your gift preference and ask for an invitation to contribute to your Pool(s).

3. Tell guests how you plan to use cash gifts

Guests want to feel like they're contributing to your happily-ever-after. But cash can make them feel left out. Remedy this by sharing how their cash gift will make your dreams come to life.

Whether it's a tropical vacation, a home renovation project, or a cross-country move, share your plans. When guests know how their gift is going to enhance your life as newlyweds, they're more inclined to give. It feels more personal and less cold.

4. Set up a traditional gift registry

Even if you prefer to receive money as a wedding gift, it's still a good idea to offer guests a traditional registry. Some people feel more comfortable giving gifts, and creating a registry for every budget lets people give a gift they feel good about.

Big-ticket items can also bring people together — alongside expensive registry items, invite guests to use Pool to pool money and buy a group gift together. Offering a traditional gift registry along with money pooling options shows thoughtfulness and consideration for your guests.

The top 4 places for your wedding cash registry

1. Set up Pool for free

If you want to have your wedding cake and eat it, too, Pool is a fantastic option. Couples can create as many Pools as they'd like, and each Pool can be used to collect money for specific items or experiences — for example, "Joe and Cara's Honeymoon Fund," "Honeymoon Roundtrip Airfare," "Island Boat Tour," etc.

You can manage the Pools as a couple, or you can ask members of your wedding party to manage them with you. Pool is free to use and you get to keep all of the money you collect — contributions made with debit cards or via bank transfer are always free.

Another reason why Pool is a great choice is that you can spend money directly from the Pool without having to transfer it to a separate bank account. Not having to mix money with personal accounts keeps finances straightforward and organized — and in the days leading up to a wedding, couples need more ease, not more stress.

Finally, Pool shows you who has contributed, along with their gift amount. This makes it easier to thank them later.

2. The Knot

The Knot is a popular wedding site platform that gives you the option of creating a cash registry for your honeymoon, gifts, or special experiences. If you choose to set up your cash registry on The Knot, guests absorb a 2.5% transaction fee — understandable if you'd prefer to give them a free option like Pool.

3. Zola

Zola offers online cash registries with slightly lower transaction fees (2.4% compared to 2.5%), and the option to choose who absorbs fees: you or your guests. Couples may not want to absorb a 2.4% fee for every cash gift, but they may also feel awkward asking guests to spend any more money on their special day.

4. Honeyfund

Many couples choose Honeyfund to offset honeymoon expenses. It's a great place for guests to purchase gift cards or give money. But when transferring cash funds to a personal bank account, couples pay a 3.5% fee (or 2.59% when transferring to PayPal), plus a nominal authorization fee per transaction. With Honeyfund, guests never pay fees — but that means the couple does.

It's perfectly acceptable for couples to ask for money as a wedding gift. Platforms like Pool make it incredibly easy to do so — free for both you and your guests, with a seamless way to collect contributions toward your desired items, experiences, or plans.