How to politely ask for monetary gifts?

You can put “monetary gifts appreciated by couple “ on the RSVP card (or wedding invitation) . that’s the most polite way I could think of .

Unfortunately there is no real polite way to go about asking for a monetary gift. If you come from a culture where monetary gifts are tradition for weddings, then you are lucky my friend. However, if you come from a culture where traditionally physical gifts are presented, then you may have your work cut out for you. I'd create a tab on your wedding website listed as "gifts/registry" and leave a poem or note to guests. That or you can enlist your wedding party to spread the word via word of mouth that you and the groom already have everything for the home and if guests would love to give a gift, a monetary gift would be much appreciated to start your new life together.

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If you feel comfortable putting a poem up, go for it! I'm sure your guests will prefer to gift you money anyway (because who likes lugging around a cumbersome gift?)

View quoted message I think most guests will know to give a monetary gift since were not adding a wedding registry. I like the idea of a poem on the wedding website as well!

I really don't think there's a polite way to ask for monetary gifts. We're not having a wedding registry, so our guests will know that we want monetary gifts instead. Do you think your guests will know to do that if you don't mention a registry or anything about preferring monetary gifts?

Every Indian invitation always says NO BOXED GIFTS. This indicates that money is given politely.

As per paying head, it depends on the culture, Egyptians have a custom that the plate is paid for by the guest to the hall. The couple doesn't pay for them.

Other customs may depend how its done and what's involved.

We are trying to spread it by word of mouth. On our wedding website, when you go to the registry page at the top there is a cute little poem that says

"When have our towels and dishes for two,

We have pans, bowls, and oven mitts too,

So what do you get for bride and a groom,

That has enough in every room?"

and below it we just have that our next step is going to be purchasing a house so we would really appreciate monetary gifts that we can put towards that and then it has our registry link

I agree that there is no polite way to say you would prefer a monetary gift. As a guest i have always given a gift off the registry for the shower but gave cash for the wedding. I think there is no way around it and at the end of the day you are getting married to start your forever with the person you love, not to get gifts.

I don’t think there’s a “polite” way to ask for any gift to be honest! But more and more people are giving cash these days! We had a registry and still half our guests gave cash.
My friend put “no boxed gifts” on her invitations.

Our “per head” cost was $40 and everyone gave us more than that in gifts. I find the minimum people give now is $50 and most people are giving at least $100

I've been to weddings where they flat-out say on the invitation "no gifts please," but I think the most polite way is to simply not list a registry, and hope your guests are smart enough to figure it out on their own.

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I agree. I didn't want to flat out ask people for money. So we left it off any invitations and are just telling our parents and family when they ask that we would prefer money so we can put it towards what we need. I have had some family members ask how much it is per plate (I am super open with my family, so is FH) so we let them know its about $100, most people will give that much plus a little more depending on their personal financial status.

FH sister's wedding, 7 people gave a $50 gift card. So it just depends on what people can afford. But like Gina said, don't bank on a specific amount.

We've nixed the registry since we've been living together for so long. Instead, we've told our parents about preferring monetary gifts to put towards a down payment on a house.

In case family and friends don't ask my parents or us directly, we've also put this little blurb on our wedding website :

The most important thing is to have you with us on our special day.

No gifts are needed or expected, however we have been asked what we need or would like and, if you do wish to give us something, a little cash towards our first house would be very much appreciated.

As for the amount per gift, that's up to your guests. I agree with Gina here, that it's up to what they can afford and what they believe is the "right" way to determine the proper amount to give. Some will give you nothing and others will spoil you.

I personally would just not have a registry for the wedding. Then some people might get you a gift, but a lot of people know that means cash is preferred. Or just let your parents know that you prefer monetary gifts, so if someone asks them, they can let them know. I don’t think it’s ever polite to ask for cash direct though (just my opinion) as for price per head, No one knows how much the dinner costs. People will give what they can afford, some people will give an excess and some people will give nothing. Don’t bank on any amount, and remember, it’s better to expect the worst and hope for the best. My girlfriends wedding worked out to less then $40 per person, and they paid $100 per person for dinner alone

I find that the best way to mention it is by a) not having a registry up by the time of the wedding and b) use a poem or something that isn't to abrupt as stating you want money such as: