Everything You Need to Know About Starting a Honeymoon Fund

Putting together your wedding registry can be one of the more exciting parts of the planning process. That luxurious set of bathroom towels that you’ve been eyeing for years? Added. That set of mixing bowls that would make baking a little bit easier? Done. The alarm clock that will suddenly transform you into a morning person? Put it on the list. However, if you’ve lived with your partner for a while—or already have most of the items that you would find on a typical registry—you may not see the need for such a wishlist. Research published by the National Center for Family & Marriage Research at Bowling Green State University found that 76 percent of couples surveyed between 2015 and 2019 lived together before saying “I do.” If you find yourself identifying with that 76 percent, you may gravitate toward a honeymoon fund—and away from a traditional registry. 

“Many couples already live together and already have everything they need for their home,” says Sara Margulis, CEO and co-founder of Honeyfund. “When guests are able to contribute to a travel experience like the couple's dream honeymoon, they feel connected in a way you can't replicate by giving a toaster.” Alexa Blanco, the founder and lead planner of Alexa Blanco Weddings, a full-service destination-wedding planning firm, agrees. “Today's couples are more interested in cultivating memorable experiences that will help them strengthen their bond as they embark on this new season of their lives,” she says.

But what is the most appropriate way to ask your wedding guests to contribute money to your honeymoon trip? And which online registries should you consider using? Here, with the help of the experts, we break down everything you need to know about honeymoon funds. 

What Is a Honeymoon Fund?

Honeymoon funds allow guests to monetarily contribute to the cost of your post-wedding trip. “One of the great things about a honeymoon fund is that it is not like receiving a simple cash gift, which lacks a bit of emotional value,” Blanco says. “Your guests can actually choose specific experiences to give you, such as spa treatments, a romantic dinner, a unique excursion and many other experiences of significant value that will make the honeymoon special.” 

Is It Acceptable to Have a Honeymoon Fund? 

Yes. “They are very in line with our modern society,” Blanco says. While asking for a monetary gift a decade ago may have been seen as a faux pas, nowadays, it’s increasingly more common.

How to Word Your Honeymoon Fund

Instead of noting your honeymoon fund on your invitation, include details about it on your wedding website. As part of your invitation suite, consider including a separate insert card with your wedding website and wording specific to your registry wishes. Ultimately, treat your honeymoon fund request just like any wedding registry, Margulis says. “Standard etiquette says to direct your friends and family to your wedding website to learn more about the event and gift options,” she says.

On your website, try to include specific details about your honeymoon so that guests understand what they’re contributing to. “A common mistake most couples make is to not include enough details of their honeymoon plans,” Blanco says. “In order to get everybody excited to contribute I would highly recommend being as detailed as possible; destination, interests, how many days, etc.”

Below, we offer some examples of how to mention your honeymoon fund on your website. 

Honeymoon-Fund Wording Suggestions for Wedding Websites

• In lieu of gifts, please consider making a contribution to our honeymoon fund. We can’t wait to celebrate with you. 
• Instead of gifts, we would appreciate a contribution to our honeymoon fund.
• We would love to create lifelong memories, instead of receiving physical gifts. Please consider making a contribution to our honeymoon fund. 
• We can’t wait to begin our married life together and celebrate our bond on our honeymoon. In lieu of gifts, we would appreciate contributions toward our honeymoon fund. 
• We are fortunate enough to already have all the physical items we need for our home. Instead, please contribute to our honeymoon fund to help us experience the trip of a lifetime. 
• We’re planning an exciting adventure! Instead of physical gifts, please consider contributing to our honeymoon fund.

5 Honeymoon Fund Registries to Consider 

Looking for the best site for your honeymoon fund? Here, we break down a few different options to consider. 

Honeyfund 

Honeyfund allows you to save for any type of cash gift, whether it’s a honeymoon, a charity donation, or even a down payment on a home. Setting up an account is free. You can opt to have a single “donation box” for guests to contribute to or a list of activities or excursions that they can cover the costs of. In addition to having no transaction fees, Honeymoon automatically deposits the money in your bank account.

Traveler’s Joy

Signing up for an account on Traveler’s Joy is free and easy. While you won’t have to pay to obtain your funds, gifts purchased on a credit card carry a service fee of 2.95 percent. However, gifts purchased by cash or check have no transaction fees.

Joy 

Joy’s honeymoon registry connects to your PayPal, Venmo, or Cash App, giving you 100 percent of the cash gifts you receive. However, guests will need to have one of these accounts to avoid paying a processing fee. On the site, you can also manage your guest list, RSVPs, invitations, and even set up hotel room blocks. 

Blueprint

Setting up an account on Blueprint’s website is completely free. In addition to asking for contributions to your honeymoon fund, you can also import existing registries from your favorite retailers. However, your guests will need to cover a 2.5-percent processing fee. 

Honeymoon Wishes

If you’re looking for inspiration for your honeymoon in addition to a fund, consider Honeymoon Wishes. With exclusive registry partnerships with over 50,000 travel agents, resorts, and cruise lines, this site offers a premium experience. It also gives you the option of sending money directly to your bank account or vacation property. However, you will be charged a service fee.