Getting married? Already have all the pots and pans? Here's how to ask for what you'd really like...

Hip Hip Hooray Stationery & The Little Wedding Helper for Love M
(Image by Nikki Kirk Photography, Styled by The Little Wedding Helper, Stationery by Hip Hip Hooray)

Traditionally wedding gifts were given to the bride and groom by their guests to help them to leave their parents homes and set up their new life together. Gifts such as kitchenware, bedding and ornaments were welcomed - However, times have changed.

So what do you ask for instead of gifts?

If you want to ask your guests for cash or vouchers, use our 5 easy guidelines and combine them with our handy gift poem cards:

1.   Tell your guests how special they are to you and that your main priority is that they attend your special day

2.   Let your guests know what you would like as a gift. Your friends and family would rather give something that you want of need as a gift rather than another set of pans that you really don’t need! You can send our gift wish poem cards along with your Invitations to let them know.

Approx 50% of guests will spend £50 - £100 on their wedding gift to the couple...

3.   Let your guests know what you plan to spend the cash/vouchers on - whether it’s the honeymoon of your dreams or home improvements, they’ll love to know how their gifts will be used.

4.   Provide a well-placed and labelled box at the reception that will safely collect all of your cards/gifts.

5.   Say Thank you – send your guests a note of appreciation for their attendance and gifts, this will also serve as a lovely reminder of your big day.

Vintage style chalkboard floral flowers red pink roses rustic wedding invitations and stationery seating plan cards printable and printed by hip hip hooray3

Wedding poems to request the gift of cash:

We’ve been together for a few years now

We have pots and pans and linen and towels

We have glasses and toasters, really quite a few

So instead of more gifts, we suggest this to you

If it doesn’t offend and it won’t send you running

What we would really appreciate is quite simply money

We know choosing gifts can be such a pain

And this way there is no chance of bringing the same!

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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 start our married life

cash or high street vouchers, would save a lot of strife!

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We are sending out this invitation

And hope you will join our celebration.

If to send a gift is your intention

In modesty we would like to mention.

We have already got a kettle and a toaster

Crockery, dinner mats and coasters.

So rather than something we have already got

Please give us money for our savings pot.

But, most importantly, we request

That you turn up as our wedding guest.

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So what do you get

For the bride and groom

Whose house needs things

In every room?

When shopping for a present

Please don’t be rash

As there is always the option

To just give cash!

We hope you don’t find

Our request to be funny

But we really would appreciate

A gift of money

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If your thoughts were on a gift, 

Your presence will suffice.

But if you really feel the need,

Then the gift of Sterling would be nice. 

The choice is really up to you

And we would like to say 

We hope you come, enjoy yourselves 

And have a lovely day.

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We’ve lived together for quite a while,

With all our pots and pans,

And as we don’t need homely gifts,

We have another plan!

We know it’s not traditional,

But it’s easier that’s for sure,

To have no wedding list at all,

Your attendance means much more!

For those of you who do insist,

We have a savings pot,

A small gift to add to this,

Would really mean a lot!

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Our life together has already begun

And we almost have everything under the sun

So we both thought we would make a suggestion

To save you from all the searching and guessing

Instead of spending lots and lots

Just put some money with your card

And place it into our Moneybox

Large amounts are not anticipated

Any amount would be appreciated

Now that we have saved you all the fuss

We can’t wait for you to celebrate with us!

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We made a commitment, some time ago,

Together through life, we were destined to go.

To save you looking, shopping and buying,

Here is an idea, we hope you’ll like trying!

Come to our wedding, to wish us both well,

And please make a donation to our wishing well.

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Now we are to be Mr & Mrs

We don’t need a wedding list of dishes

We have a kettle, toasters, and microwave

And we have dreams for which we have to save.

If you would like to give us a gift

A cheque or vouchers would give us a lift

We like to think of it as our ‘Wishing Well’

Which will be filled with your love, we can tell!

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More than just kisses so far we’ve shared,

Our home has been made with love and care,

Most things we need we’ve already got,

And in our home we can’t fit a lot!

A wishing well we thought would be great,

(But only if you wish to participate),

A gift of money is placed in the well,

Then make a wish …. but shhh don’t tell!

Once we’ve replaced the old with the new,

We can look back and say it was thanks to you!

And in return for your kindness, we’re sure,

That one day soon you will get what you wished for.

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We don’t want to offend but we have it all,

All household goods and so much more.

To save you shopping, sit back and rest,

A gift of currency is our request.

Don’t go overboard or rob any banks,

Any little thing will make us smile with thanks.

We supply the wishing well,

No wrapping, an envelope who can tell.

Now that we have saved you all the fuss,

We’d love it if you would come and celebrate with us!

Don't fancy a poem? Here are some helpful paragraphs to inspire you:

Your presence at our wedding is gift enough, but if you do wish to make a gesture, a contribution towards our dream home would be much appreciated

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We would prefer your presence not your presents, but if you would like to give us a gift, then money towards our dream honeymoon would be welcomed

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We have evertything we need after living together for a year, and only ask that you share our special day. However, if you wanted to make a monetary contribution, we would be most grateful, but please do not feel obliged to do so

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The most important thing for us is your presence during the day to celebrate our marriage and gifts are by no means expected. If however, you do feel you would like to give something, then some spending money to enjoy whilst on our dream honeymoon would be very much appreciated.

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As we have every thing we need in our home we would be grateful of money, if you wish, as we are looking at having a family holiday with our children.

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We respectfully ask that no gifts are brought, if you wish to make a cash gift with which we would like to purchase some larger items for our home, there will be a box at the reception.

www.ginnymarsh.co.uk

Before you go, don't forget to check out our gorgeous selection of printable and printed wedding invitations. Please let us know if we can assist you with anything...