It’s no secret that weddings are expensive. According to Business Insider, the average cost of a wedding is $28,000. Keep in mind that’s just the average, though, and this figure can fluctuate significantly based on several circumstances such as location, season, size, etc.
Not to mention, most couples like to jumpstart their nuptials by going on a honeymoon shortly after their happy day. Sadly, your dream honeymoon and your budget post-wedding aren’t always going to line up. In fact, many couples are significantly lacking the cash funds to fulfill all of their honeymoon wishes.
The question is, why pay for it if you don’t have to? Sure, you could put it on a credit card and pay for it later, but that still means you’ll have to pay for it eventually. Instead, it’s time to consider honeymoon crowdfunding.
What Is Honeymoon Crowdfunding?
We’re all familiar with those crowdfunding sites like Kickstarter, IndieGogo, and GoFundMe. You can set up a crowdfunding campaign for just about anything these days. Some couples are even using these ideas to fund their big day. So, why not put something similar together for a honeymoon – blast your family and friends and have them all pay for it?! That’s right, crowdfund your honeymoon!
If you get lucky, you will be able to land your dream honeymoon after all. Even better, you might even be able to upgrade from t-bone steaks to filet mignon and go on that perfectly Instagramable sunset cruise of a lifetime.
Flying economy to Italy? Why not fly business instead? The idea behind your honeymoon is that it’s a once-in-a-lifetime event. You shouldn’t have to worry about emptying your bank account at every turn. Instead, sit back, relax, and soak up all the traveler’s joy your heart can take.
Is It Tacky?
Some couples may wonder if it’s tacky to ask for money instead of gifts for a wedding. After all, unlike traditional crowdfunding campaigns, you won’t be receiving cash funds from strangers. Instead, you’ll be relying solely on the graciousness of your family and friends.
The good news is that the modern cash fund set up for honeymoon registries is quickly becoming the norm. As couples go through the wedding planning process, they quickly realize that gifts won’t compare to the memories and joy they can create through experiences.
So, if you’re worried about sounding tacky, consider some etiquette when it comes to asking for money. And, of course, make sure you choose a platform you can trust, like Hitchd.
How to Explain Your Honeymoon Fund to Your Friends and Family
If you’re feeling a bit apprehensive about asking for money towards a honeymoon fund from your wedding guests, let us help. Here’s a great way to explain your honeymoon registry on your wedding website to help you start raising money in no time.
"Dearest Friends and Family,
Thank you for joining us in this exciting time in our life! We are truly blessed to have so many close to us join us in getting married. While gifts are entirely optional, we would like to provide you with an alternative option. We are thankful enough to have everything we need in our house, which is why we have opted out of a traditional registry. Instead, we have set up a honeymoon registry, giving you the opportunity to help us make the trip of a lifetime.
Any contribution of honeymoon funds is greatly appreciated and will go towards creating unforgettable memories as newlyweds. For those interested, you can check back here after the honeymoon for pics of how we use the money to create top honeymoon experiences.
Keep in mind that the site we have chosen for our honeymoon fund accepts all major credit card companies, is free for you, and will never charge any service or credit card prWe’veing fee. We’ve provided a link below for your easy reference.
W"th love,
Us”
How to Properly Explain Your Honeymoon Wishes
The costs of a wedding can quickly spiral out of control, especially if you and your significant other are going to be paying for your wedding alone. Sadly, many couples are then left with a choice: “Do we postpone or cancel our honeymoon?” The other option is asking your guests for money to help fund your honeymoon wishes, rather than having them give you gifts.
So, if you decide that the best option for you is to stop crowdfunding, here are a few tips to help you through the process.
Personalization is Key
If you decide that crowdfunding is a good option for you, make your website and campaign as personal as possible. The basics for your website should include a good love story paired with an adorable photo of the couple to really encourage people to donate.
Get Specific About Contributions
Rather than setting up one generic honeymoon fund you can use specific registry sites, like Hitchd, to give gift givers different areas to donate.
For example, add a cute picture to allows guests to contribute towards flights from JFK to London. Or, a picture of the hotel you’re planning to stay at. The more specific you are with your cash registry the more you will begin to create a story for your guests who will be eager to add to the joy.
Be Thankful for All Contributions
Being very thankful to all of your contributors is another way to make the process go smoothly. Remember that guests aren’t required to contribute to your big day, even with traditional gifts. Any amount they decide to give to your honeyfund is a gift that should be treasured.
Provide Updates
To be extra interactive with your guests, you can continue posting updates on your planning and progress. For online wedding registries, you can update with pictures during the planning and after to show people what you are using the money on. Post pictures of skydiving adventures, spa retreats, or whatever it is giving you the traveler’s joy all honeymooners deserve.
Keep It Simple
If you’re worried about your honeymoon registry coming off too pushy, try not to plan a dream honeymoon that’s too over the top. You don’t want your guests to feel obligated to give cash funds towards something they aren’t entirely comfortable with. Make your online wedding registry something that they can relate to or get excited about.
Do’s and Don’ts of a Honeymoon Registry
Now that you’ve got a better idea of how to get started, let’s go through a quick list of do’s and don’ts for honeymoon registries to have you well on your way to building your cash fund ASAP.
Simple Do’s
For starters, here some simple do’s to keep in mind with your wedding registry:
- Evoke emotion and traveler’s joy by being as descriptive as possible
- Tell the love story of the bride and groom
- Utilize rich media to portray your honeymoon wishes
- Always remember to thank anyone who contributes (any amount) towards your cash fund
- Let guests know you’re more than happy to answer any of their questions
Simple Don’ts
And, of course, a few of the taboos you want to avoid as much as possible:
- Don’t set unrealistic goals while wedding planning your cash fund
- Don’t beg gift givers to give you money if they aren’t comfortable with it
- Don’t overwhelm your guests with your cash fund
- Don’t forget to explain the purpose of honeymoon funds and how yours applies specifically to your wedding
- Don’t have minimal text, spelling errors, or bad photos
How to Choose a Platform
The good news is that you do have a lot of options to choose from in terms of crowdfunding platforms for the top honeymoon of your dreams. Know that there are some sites that deal specifically with weddings and honeymoons, like Hitchd, even though you technically could go with just about any personal crowdfunding website.
Ultimately, the website you choose for your wedding should depend on a few different factors, including:
- Reputation
- Customer service
- Ease of use
- Overall cost
Consider Hitchd for Your Wedding Website
Helping couples fund their honeymoon of a lifetime is Hitchd, a new type of honeymoon registry. It’s focus on providing the easiest, most personal, and beautiful experience to both couples and their guests immediately sets it apart from traditional honeymoon registries.
Simply charging the bride and groom a one time fee, Hitchd breaks the traditional wedding registry mold of upselling couples and guests with third-party (usually unwanted) offerings. Best of all, Hitchd makes it easy for couples to add their registry directly to wedding websites.
For gift givers, Hitchd is completely free and makes contributing honeymoon funds a breeze. Guests can avoid credit card processing fees, having to register, and make donations via all major services, including:
- Credit card
- PayPal
- Venmo
- Cash App
- Direct deposit from bank account
Looking for the #1 Honeymoon Registry Site?
Hitchd is a new type of online honeymoon registry that helps fund your adventure of a lifetime. Think of us as your very own honeymoon crowdfund, wishing well, Kickstarter, and travel planner, all rolled into one beautiful experience.
Fund memories, not things.
The modern registry where guests fund your dream honeymoon. It's simple and beautiful. Start your registry