Asking guests to purchase gifts from a gift registry

There is sometimes the perception that asking your guests for a wedding present from a gift list is greedy, especially when they have already shelled out on travel and accommodation and a new outfit for your big day. This really isn’t the case. Most invitees will want to buy you a congratulatory gift but may well lack the knowledge of what you really need in your new life together. This is where gift lists come into their own.

Sometimes, there isn’t even a need to alert your family and friends to your gift list as some providers offer discreet cards to slip into wedding invitations, though this isn’t always ideal. If you are looking for tactful ways to ask your nearest and dearest to consider buying you a present from your list, you could include one of the following messages in your invitations.

• ‘All we really want on our wedding day is for you to be there to celebrate our marriage with us, but if you’d also like to give us a gift, we have a registry with (website address), and our list reference is 654321.’
• ‘Please don’t feel obliged to buy us a gift, we just want you to come and have a good time with us! However, if you would like to purchase a present, we have registered at (website address), list code 654321.’
• ‘Please don’t feel you need to buy us a wedding gift. All we really want is to have an enjoyable day which we can share with the people we love. However, if you would like to give a gift and are looking for ideas, we have set up a list at (website address), list reference 654321.’
• ‘Should you wish to buy a gift for Sally and Thomas, they have a gift registry at (store name), list number 654321. Their list is open for 10 weeks from 1st May. You can buy a gift online at (website address).’

• ‘The biggest gift to us is your support and your attendance on our wedding day. However, if you do wish to buy us a wedding present, we have registered at (website address), gift list number 654321.’

• ‘We have set up a gift registry at (website address), list number 654321, should you wish to buy us a wedding present. However, you should not feel obliged to get us a gift; all we really want on our wedding day is to have you there to celebrate the occasion with us.’
• ‘While it’s enough of a present that you’re going to be there on our wedding day, if you would like to give us an additional gift and are looking for inspiration we have registered at (website address), our gift list reference is 654321.’
• ‘Your presence, not presents, is all that we require as we celebrate our marriage, but if you would like to give us something to start our married life together, then our registry number is 654321 at (website address).’

You might feel embarrassed about asking for presents, but most  guests will be searching for your gift list details when they open your wedding invitation, and if you don’t tell them what you want they will have to make an educated guess or ask a family member.

Including a phrase such as the examples above shows that you don’t expect wedding presents, but gives the guests enough information to get you a gift you really want if they choose to do so.