Most Australian couples live together before they marry, which usually means the household is already sorted by the time the wedding rolls around. That is why so many couples now lean towards a wishing well rather than a traditional gift list, and why plenty run both. Here is how the two compare so you can choose what fits you.
What is a wishing well?
A wishing well can be a decorated box at the reception where guests drop an envelope of cash, a voucher or a small gift, or it can be an online cash fund that does the same thing digitally. The online version is the same idea, just paid electronically. For a fuller explainer, see our guide to what a wishing well is for a wedding.
An online wishing well tends to suit couples who expect to receive larger sums. It is safer than a box sitting out in the open all night, and there is no cash to bank the morning after the wedding.
Wishing well: the pros
A wishing well gives you a flexible nest egg to start married life. You can put it towards a memorable honeymoon, pool it for a big item you could not list on a registry, save it for a house deposit, cover some of the wedding costs, or spend it however suits you. If you are unsure how to gauge a fair contribution, our guide on determining the best amount for your wishing well helps you and your guests land on comfortable figures.
Online registry: the pros
An online registry like EasyRegistry lets you build a flexible list covering everything you actually want, from any store, whether that is a specific item you have fallen for or a few homewares you still need. You can also add a honeymoon experience, or fold your wishing well into the same list so guests see both options in one place.
Why not have both?
You do not have to pick a side. Running a wishing well alongside a registry gives guests a choice, which matters because some people find giving cash uncomfortable and would rather buy something tangible. Offering both means everyone can give in the way that feels right to them, and you avoid ending up with a pile of gifts you cannot use. If you want to dig into the money side, our guide to a wedding cash fund weighs how cash contributions work alongside a gift list.
If your guest list leans towards larger, shared gifts, our guide to a group gift shows how several people can contribute to one item together.
How to tell your guests
Keep gift requests off the invitation itself. Instead, include the details on a separate card with the invitation or on your wedding website. Word it respectfully and you will not offend anyone, most guests are grateful for the guidance. Our guide to wedding registry etiquette covers how to phrase it.
EasyRegistry gives you full control over how your registry looks and what you list, with the freedom to add items from any store rather than being limited to one retailer's catalogue. Start building yours today at EasyRegistry.