Requesting Gift Card Wedding Gifts

by MJ
(east coast)

My fiancé and I just moved across the country a couple months ago. Our wedding is this June and to limit travel for the guests, we will be traveling back for a week to get married where we previously lived.

My concern is that we won't be able to bring back many (if any) gifts in our luggage, because I will already have plenty to cram in there! Like my dress :)
Is there a way to politely remind people of this in the invitation, and politely request that only gift cards or cash be brought to the wedding and reception?

Should I register anyway? And if so, is there a way to request gifts from the registry to be sent to our home (if they don't want to bring cash or gift card)?

I was hoping that people can look at the registry to get an idea for what we need and then get a gift card for us to buy the items ourselves. Also, my fiancé and I have been living together for quite some time, so we don't really need a ton of stuff to register for.

Thanks for any help and advice that anyone can give me!! I have no idea what to put in the invites!!

Our Thoughts

This is a very common situation that many couples face, and there are a few ways to approach it. First, do not put anything about your gift preferences in your wedding invitations as this goes against wedding etiquette.

Your bridal party, friends and family are great resources that can spread the word for you to your wedding guests. Have them get on the phone and start to spread the word for you about your preference for gift card wedding gifts.

Next, use your wedding website as a tool to communicate your situation with your guests. If you don’t already have a wedding website, we encourage you to start one as soon as possible as they are a great way for your guests to learn about all of the details of your wedding.

Be honest and post on your website that you would prefer to receive gift cards from your favorite store and give the reasons why. They are legitimate reasons, so your guests should fully understand.

Registering is not a bad idea as guests typically like to see what their gift cards are going towards. You can also mention on your website that gifts from the registry are appreciated, but you would prefer that they ship them directly to your home address for the reasons already stated.

To Your Wedding!
Danielle & Stephen