Many couples live together before marriage and already have their homes set up. They may not want or need the traditional wedding gifts like sheets, towels, toasters and dinner sets. It is becoming more popular to have a wishing well at wedding receptions. A wishing well allows guests to give a monetary gift. 

Asking for a money gift instead of the traditional gifts can be challenging. Some more traditional guests may find being asked for money rude. Wishing Wells often allow a more comfortable way of asking for money.  

When sending out wedding invitations, the addition of a wishing well card or note is often enclosed. A tasteful way of including this is with the many wishing well poems or phrases.  This is similar to the cards that have often been enclosed giving information about the wedding gift registry, with details of where the gift registry was held. Many guests are now familiar with the use of wishing wells, but there may be some guests who need the concept explained to them, as they may not be familiar with wishing wells. You may also like to note what you are planning on using the money for, e.g. a house deposit or a bedroom suite. 

If you feel uncomfortable enclosing a wishing well card, you can get the word out about your wishing well via the mother of the bride and bridesmaids. Often when guests are calling to RSVP, they may ask the family and bridal party about suitable gifts for the couple. The wishing well option can be mentioned then. 

There are other benefits to having a wishing well at your wedding reception. Having a lockable wishing well at your reception, allows the money to be kept safe. Your wishing well can also be part of your overall reception decoration and theme. You may like to use this space for a note about what you are using the money for. Also, having some blank cards and notes with your wishing well allows guests to write messages and thoughts, not just using the wishing well for monetary gifts, but for well wishes also. 

Guests are often happy to place money in the wishing well. It saves them having to find a gift for a couple that may be difficult to buy for, or who they do not know so well. It is important to keep the request polite and tasteful, still giving the guest the option as to whether they would like to give a gift or money, some even choosing to do both.