Many couples these days are choosing to build a cash registry or cash fund over a traditional wedding registry, and it’s easy to see why.
Want to learn how to do it? Here’s what you need to know about cash funds and how to create one for your wedding website.
What is a cash fund?
A cash fund is a type of online money pool in which wedding guests can contribute any amount of money that they’d like. It lives completely online, and it can be accessed at any point by either guests or you and your partner.
Hitchd users like to add cash funds to their wedding registries because they’re a great catchall. If other guests buy up all your other gifts, then the cash fund is always there for any stragglers at the end. This makes it easier for you because you don’t have to worry about adding more gifts to your registry as it gets closer to your big day. The cash fund will always be there for anyone still looking to give a gift.
Who can contribute to a cash fund?
The great thing about cash funds is that anyone - wedding guest or not - can contribute to a cash fund. Of course, many of your guests may want to contribute, especially those who are on a tight budget and cannot buy one of your more expensive gifts. A cash fund has no minimum, so guests can give whatever feels right for them and their budget.
Other well-wishers can also contribute. You might have coworkers who would like to chip in on a small gift or old family friends or neighbors who haven’t seen you in years but would like to show their happiness for you. Cash funds make it easy for them to give a gift without having to worry about choosing a physical item that you may or may not need.
Can I add a cash fund to my wedding registry?
Yes! Hitchd makes it easy to add a cash fund to your wedding registry. Check out the three easy steps t make it happen below.
Is a cash fund appropriate for a wedding registry?
As more wedding registries have moved exclusively into online spaces, there’s been more discussions happening about whether cash funds are fine or faux pas at weddings.
In general, cash funds are perfectly acceptable when added to online wedding registries as they can be helpful for guests and easily accessible for couples. That being said, there are some things you and your partner should understand before adding a cash fund to your wedding registry.
Wedding registry etiquette rules to follow
Most guests won’t think twice about seeing a cash fund on a wedding registry so long as other wedding etiquette criteria are observed.
For example, your cash fund shouldn’t be the only item on your honeymoon or online registry. We’ll dive deeper into this later, but having just one gift option doesn’t sit well with guests. Wedding gifts can be especially emotional to give, and many guests think long and hard about what they’d like to purchase for you.
You also need to make sure that the introduction to your online wedding registry has a nice thank-you message for all guests. They should feel welcomed and appreciated the minute they log onto your page, no matter what or how much they chose to give.
Tips for a successful cash fund
To give your cash fund the best chance for success, follow these simple tips:
- Take the time to write out a meaningful description.
- Add other gifts to your online wedding registry so it doesn’t seem like the only option you’re giving guests is cash.
- Launch the cash fund and online wedding registry at least six months in advance to give guests as much time as possible to contribute.
How do I build a cash fund for my wedding?
Now comes the fun part: creating a cash fund for your wedding registry. With Hitchd, this is a simple process that can be done in three steps. But don’t rush it. Do a good job, and your guests will feel good about giving to your cash fund.
Step 1: Choose cash fund from the gift type selection
Hitchd allows for three types of gifts on its platform: physical, experience or cash fund. Physical gifts are just that, items usually bought in a store. Experience-based gifts cover anything you and your partner might do, like go out to dinner or take a museum tour. These gifts usually apply to honeymoon registries.
The cash fund option will help you build one for your online wedding registry. Unless you have a really good reason, you should only need one cash fund, so don’t build separate cash funds for separate needs.
Step 2: Name your cash fund
While you can just call this “XXX and XXX’s cash fund,” it’s not as snappy or creative as it could be.
Before you choose a name, consider giving your cash fund a specific purpose. This will help readers better connect with your cash fund and what their money will likely be put towards after the wedding. They can see their contribution as part of a larger plan and not just some extra money to pay your electricity bill or other mundane purchases.
Some popular purposes on Hitchd include:
- Down payment on a house
- Fund for baby furniture and clothing
- Charity fund
So now your cash fund can be called “XXX and XXX’s charity fund to fight breast cancer” or “XXX and XXX’s home fund.” A name can go a long way towards helping guests see the bigger purpose of your cash fund.
Step 3: Write a description
Once you have a name, now it’s time to elaborate on it in your description. This is where you share your excitement and enthusiasm for your stated purpose and tell guests a little bit more about what you’re planning.
If you have a house fund, for example, then tell guests what kind of property you plan to buy and in what neighborhood or city. If you’ve already started looking, add a few links to homes that fit your criteria, even if you never plan to buy them. It will at least give guests a clearer picture of what you want.
Why should I include more than a cash fund on my wedding registry?
Some couples add just a cash registry to their honeymoon registry or online wedding registry and just expect guests to contribute. But it really takes more effort than that for guests to feel good about giving to a cash registry.
Through our data at Hitchd, we’ve determined that a honeymoon registry with at least six gifts on it is more likely to have a higher average contribution than those with less than six gifts. So if you think of your cash fund as just one gift, then you only need to add five more to meet that minimum.
Wedding guests love to have options when it comes to gifts because they all have different relationships with you and your partner. Those family members who watched you grow will probably want to give you something more meaningful, and if they know how excited you are about some of the gifts on your honeymoon registry, then they’ll feel good about treating you two to a romantic dinner or a sightseeing tour.
When all is said and done, having more gifts on your wedding registry than just a cash fund looks less greedy. It shows guests that you put thought and effort into creating your wedding registry and that you truly appreciate whatever your guests might give.
Cash gifts can be tricky to ask for as a wedding present, but if you and your partner are thoughtful about how you do it, then your guests won’t mind if you ask for money as a wedding present. They’ll be more than happy to contribute to your cash registry in the end.
Ready to get started with Hitchd? Get to work on your cash registry here.
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