Asking for cash

There aren't too many fans of 'money poems' round these here parts and that one, um, is among the worst I've seen (so bad, I initially thought it a joke). Words like 'selfish', 'greed' and 'cheeky' give a really bad vibe.

My opinion is that if you want money, short, sweet and to the point is the best thing (although many of the girls here, myself included, received majority cash without any request in the invitation). If you have to ramble on or dress the request up, it demonstrates that you know exactly how cheeky the request is.

Sorry but that's just embarrassing!

How about 'No official gift list but we are hoping to go away next Christmas, so any small donation would be very gratefully received?'

We are sending out this invitation
in hope you’ll join our celebration
But if a gift is your intention
We’ll take this opportunity to mention

We have already got a kettle and toaster
crockery, dinner mats, and matching coasters

So rather than something we have already got
we would appreciate money towards our honeymoon pot

But most importantly we request
that you come & celebrate our wedding as our special guest! xxx

Very much dislike it. I do not think you should specifically request cash - if you do not have a gift list you will most likely get that anyway, but if you do want to request it, I really dislike money poems. If you feel the need to include a request I would do a one liner similar to what was mentioned above.

Don't. Use. A. Poem. And really don't use that poem.

If you would like contributions to your honeymoon, just say "We do not have a formal gift list, but contributions to our honeymoon would be much appreciated."

We're asking our guests to buy experiences on our honeymoon, so carriage rides round central park, tickets for empire state building etc. Have a look at www.buy-our-honeymoon.com

I don't think there's anything wrong with a money poem I'm sending one and I no my guests won't take affence to it. It's your choice and you no weather your guest would like it or not. I don't see it anymore rude then asking for gifts? X

In principle, it isn't. But then, I don't think people should be rude enough to put gift requests in invitations either...(that's tongue in cheek, I'm not starting a debate about the principle of the whole thing).

The 'money poem' has a special place in many hearts, for numerous reasons.

1. They are always twee and, to quote one great Hitcher, 'entirely devoid of artistic merit'. Nobody makes up riddles and rhymes in every day life, why now?

2. For my part, I see them as a very crude attempt to dress up what the bride and groom know in their hearts is a very cheeky request. Nobody asks for money when people come to their birthday parties, why now? Heck, the one in the OP even mentions the cheekiness of it all, and accompanying words like 'selfish' and 'greedy' simply serve to acknowledge what they know deep down. You know how annoying it is when someone starts a sentence with 'I'm not being racist but' when they have every intention of being racist and you wish they just didn't say the sentence in the first place. This is the same.

If you feel it OK to ask for monetary gifts from your guests, then be sincere and honest about it. 'For those who wish to give a gift, we would appreciate a donation to our honeymoon fund/new kitchen/whatever'.

I hate wedding poems with a passion! Can't explain why they just make me cringe, I'd much rather people be honest and straight to the point.

That website looks really good but £55 to use it?

This. With bells on.

If you don't put anything, a lot of guests will either give cash or well thought out personal gifts.

I personally hate money poems & equally hate gift lists where I have to buy an overpriced item from the store they have chosen (which I could get cheaper at many other shops or online).

We didnt have a twee poem nor a gift list & mentioned nothing about gifts in the invites.

If people asked I said we were saving for a house/honeymoon/boiler or whatever. Through family word of mouth & when people asked we ended up with:

2 people giving vouchers, 1 set of very plush towels & ALL the rest of the guests gave cash.

I don't like poems either. We are just putting 'all we want is your company at our wedding. however should you wish to buy us a gift then what we would suggest is a contribution towards making our honeymoon extra special' - details of Kuoni gift list.

What most of the others have said, I think it's a terrible idea!

we made no mention of a gift list / present requirement in our invites. We have recently set up a small John Lewis list and have told people this if they have asked. We have also stressed that a pressie is not an expectation but if there is anything that they would like to buys us, be it off on on the list, this would be a lovely gesture. If anything I'm looking forward to the 'off list' gifts that people may choose as a reflection of character etc.

Money poems are like hitched swearing.....