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colorful graphic of a wrapped wedding gift

Wedding gift trend: Cash for a down payment

By Julie Tramonte

June 2025

Getting married? Congratulations!

(Not considering it? Keep reading, you may be a wedding guest in the future and this could impact your choice of wedding gift.)

Now comes all the fun, excitement, planning and … shelling out cash. How much cash? According to wedding planning website The Knot, the average couple spends $33,000 on their wedding. Yikes! Even if you scale that down to a lower amount that fits your budget, you’ll still be dropping a lot of money.  

The double whammy

And then there’s another big, expensive life event that often affects cash-challenged couples at the same time: house hunting! The Knot found that the average age of marriage is 32. Many folks in their 30s are beginning to think about buying a home or have started the process.

So, while planning their weddings, many couples are concurrently trying to save money for a down payment – not easy, considering Zillow recorded that the median sale price of a home is $357,600 (as of April 30, 2025).

It’s no wonder some betrothed couples are feeling the financial pinch from both these endeavors and are opting to register for contributions to their down payment fund rather than typical wedding gifts.

Many couples may also be laboring under the myth that they need a 20% down payment to purchase a home, contributing to savings anxiety. With a low-down-payment option like mortgage insurance, eligible homebuyers can put down as little as 3% – meaning that generous wedding donors can get them closer to their down payment than they may realize.  

A practical, emerging trend

This practice of creating a cash fund has become common, with Zola (another wedding planning site) reporting that 87% of couples now add at least one cash fund to their registry. Of those requesting cash, 41% specifically request funds to help them buy a home.

What’s the etiquette for requesting cash gifts?

It may feel awkward to ask for money directly on your invitations, but it can be done (delicately). Some couples include the request on their wedding website and hope attendees will get the message.  

You could also use a registry website as you would for physical gifts. Many of the registry platforms make it easy to remove any awkwardness by using cute graphics and giving the cash fund a specific name, like New House Fund or Kayak Fund. They also can feature a comment box for you to provide a personalized message, such as:

  • “We’re saving for our first home, and your gift will help us get the keys to our home sooner.” 
  • “Your presence is our gift but if you wish to honor us with a contribution toward our future home, it will mean the world to us.”
  • “The sooner we can buy our first home, the sooner we can have our families and friends over for a barbecue. Your contribution will be much appreciated.”

If you use a registry platform, be aware of possible fees. Credit card companies require a transactional fee that some registry websites pass on to the gift giver, not the bridal couple. (It’s usually a nominal charge, like 2.5%.)

And remember, a cash gift should receive the same prompt and gracious thank you note to the giver as other types of wedding gifts.  

A beautiful gift for the future

While it’s true a cash fund isn’t as traditional as something like crystal wine goblets, a down payment contribution can certainly have a romantic side to it: Guests can help the newlywed couple achieve their dream of buying a home to live out their happily ever after.

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Julie

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Julie Tramonte is a writer who joined MGIC in 2018. Prior to flying the coop, she wrote for a mattress company, a manufacturer and advertising agencies. She’s obsessed with reading, traveling, tennis and rearranging furniture. Mother of 2 beautiful, adult daughters. Empty nester who recently downsized. Her guilty pleasures are doughnuts and the Kardashians (don’t tell anyone).
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