Money Tree

[brewsells]

I know it is "cliche" to have a money tree, but I have decided to have one. Adam and I have lived together for 3 years, so we don't need anything. How do you think would be appropriate to state that on the invitations?

[countrygirl]

I'm sorry to ask, but what is a money tree??

Josh and I live together as well, and have almost everything that we would need. I can't see getting the typical wedding gifts as we have most of them.

[brewsells]

It's a little tree with clips on it. You provide little envelopes and cards for people to write things on. And if they chose, they can insert money instead of giving gifts. I was thinking of writing "In lieu of gifts, a money tree will be provided"

[countrygirl]

I have never heard of that. I have heard of a honeymoon registry, where guest can donate to the honeymoon fund on a website, but they all charge a percentage of the money taken in.

[brewsells]

Yeah, they have money trees that you can buy. Pretty inexpensive or you can DIY. I just really don't want a bunch of appliances I don't need.

[Kacie_bride]

I would be careful with that because you might offend someone by saying a money tree will be provided. It seems to me along the same line as listing where you are registered on the invitation. It is considered poor etiquette to do that. Maybe have someone like your mother or the maid of honor spread the news when people ask. Surely they will ask what you want or where you are registered. Then they can just tell them you are having a money tree.

[countrygirl]

I would be careful with that because you might offend someone by saying a money tree will be provided. It seems to me along the same line as listing where you are registered on the invitation. It is considered poor etiquette to do that. Maybe have someone like your mother or the maid of honor spread the news when people ask. Surely they will ask what you want or where you are registered. Then they can just tell them you are having a money tree.

You know, I was wondering about the registering thing. I didn't like the idea of telling people to go buy this or that. I do however like the idea of having a gift card box. It is such a popular thing to do now, and I saw them at Michael's. You can dress them up, and it's a good way to keep them from getting lost. THen you can use the box as a keepsake box for the cards and such that you recieve.

[brewsells]

I think the giftcard box is essentially the same idea. I have heard of alot of people doing them. My girlfriend is doing a money dance at her reception.

[countrygirl]

We both are doing a money dance our reception. I think that is more of just a fun thing. Most of our friend like to country dance, and Josh loves to dance, so we have to find a few good songs for that.

[CindySue]

Im doing the card box thing and having "Advice" cards for people to fill out. 75% of the people invited are married and have been for MANY years. i think it will be neat to read what they say is the key to a happy marriage!

[countrygirl]

Im the card box thing and having "Advice" cards for people to fill out. 75% of the people invited are married and have been for MANY years. i think it will be neat to read what they say is the key to a happy marriage!

LOVE THAT IDEA!!! Thanks Cindy. That would be a good conversation piece!!

[CindySue]

LOVE THAT IDEA!!! Thanks Cindy. That would be a good conversation piece!!
Now if I could just find the place wear I saw them. I loved the design and saying that was on them. Cant remember if it was online or in a magazine!

[WhiskeyGirl]

I agree with what others said before me! It is Rude to ask for money in the wedding invitation!! Sorry to say it, but it is!! My cousin did this and they ended up getting a lot of disgruntled guests! It is not required when you are invited to a wedding that you MUST give a gift. My DH and I lived together for a year and a half before we were married but there were still things that we needed and you will ALWAYS get a lot of gifts you don't need or won't use. (it sucks but we have a few decorative dishes that I will NEVER use! And two fondue pots when one would have done just fine!! lol! Two cheese platters and a few others!) So in conclusion, I don't think there is any RIGHT way to state that you want money and not gifts! You could set up the money tree right as you go in the door and have a sign that says something like "For our future..." kind of thing!!

(I just reread what I've typed and I'm sorry I can't put any feeling into words that are on screen and I am so not trying to come acrossy bitchey!! lol Sorry if it seems that way!!)

[countrygirl]

[quote=Canadianbride

(I just reread what I've typed and I'm sorry I can't put any feeling into words that are on screen and I am so not trying to come acrossy bitchey!! lol Sorry if it seems that way!!)[/quote]

Gee wiz!!!!!!

Kidding. I agree w you.

[brewsells]

I didn't take it bitchy. No problem. I appreciate your input. I will have to think of some way I can do it without seeming greedy. ;)

[Kacie_bride]

We are going to do a money dance too. I've had a lot of fun with them at weddings I've been to. At a friends wedding that I didn't make it to, but Justin did, he told me the couple got $500 during the money dance!

I am graduating in December (the same month of my wedding) and I am sending out a few graduation invitations. I don't want any graduation gifts because I do not want to burden anyone because of the holidays and my wedding. I am just putting a note inside my graduation invitations saying no gifts please. Maybe something like that and then have the money tree set up. And like I said if anyone asks you can politely tell them you will be having a money tree, but they are not required to participate or someone can spread the word.

[brewsells]

That is a good idea. Maybe I will go with that.

[tha_mrs]

I'm sorry, could some one explain what a money dance is please? I ave never heard of this.

[countrygirl]

I'm sorry, could some one explain what a money dance is please? I ave never heard of this.

The money dance is usually where, for a few songs, men at the reception line up and take thier turns at dancing w the bride. They give the bride money for the dance, whatever amout the want.

We are doing it for both Josh and I. My fam wants to dance w him too.

[Kacie_bride]

Yes and it is so fun! Sometimes it's also called a dollar dance.

[rainbowtreat]

We call it a dollar dance. You are ment to give a dollar to eh best mand and the maid of honor who are the ones in charge of it all. Most people give more then just $1 as they know it is going to the bride and groom. I am having this at mine more for the fun part of it not so much for the money.

We did not register. I am 30 and have been married before. And with my family we dont do this we just let people get what ever it is they will get us. There are alot of things we need seeing I have moved so much in the lst 2 yrs and he was living at home before he came to live with me. So we could use alot but I still didnt feel the need to register.

[WebLady]

It's a little tree with clips on it. You provide little envelopes and cards for people to write things on. And if they chose, they can insert money instead of giving gifts. I was thinking of writing "In lieu of gifts, a money tree will be provided"

I agree that is can be rude to mention any sort of gift in the wedding invitation, it is an invitation not a request for gifts ;) You can put something like that in the shower invites. Aside from that, any sort of registry/gift info should be shared via word of mouth by family and friends and/or on a personal wedding website.

On the website and/or shower card you might could put something like this ..."The couple have a home together and have no need to traditional wedding gifts. In lieu of gifts, the couple is requesting monetary donations towards the wedding and honeymoon" - even if you just want the cash for other reasons ;)

Like someone else mentioned, the dollar dance is a fun and acceptable way to get some extra money too ;)

[tha_mrs]

okay, dollar dance.I like it. So, how do you work this into the reception, you know like do you announce it or what??

[WebLady]

okay, dollar dance. I like it. So, how do you work this into the reception, you know like do you announce it or what??

Yeah someone will need to make some sort of announcement about it .... at the last wedding I did we made a bow with pins in it and made the bride wear it. Then everyone would pin money on to dance with her ;) We also did the same with the groom (without the bow) then at the end of it all, the groom gave his money to the bride and danced with her ... it was cute. I think they got a couple hundred bucks ;)

I am sure most DJ's know about this so you could ask them for song suggestions and how to handle the announcement and get it going.

[tha_mrs]

okay thanks!

[WebLady]

okay thanks!

No problem, glad to help (I messed up on your rep comment :bbredface:)

[tha_mrs]

how do you do those any ways?

[WebLady]

how do you do those any ways?

You use the little scale icon just above the green bar in the post (in the dark blue part) click on that and it will give you an option to Agree or Disagree, then you type in a little message and boom, you have added to someones 'Reputation' You cannot add to the same person back to back, they make you spread it around ;)

[CarlosHoney]

I would love to leave the wedding with all kinds of money. I just would feel slimy asking for it. I would even feel slimy doing a money tree/dance. Not saying that they are bad, just not my style at all...

Same goes with the garter/bouquet stuff. I'm not going to wear a garter.. And I'm not going to give away my bouquet.

[Hayz]

We didn't really need anything either, but did get lots of nice things that will come in useful that we didn't already have. For those that didn't know what to get us we let people know to get us vouchers from a certain shop so we could put them towards a BBQ. So guess what - we know are the proud owners of a BBQ which we brought on Saturday. Other guests gave us cash which we used to pay off the remainder of the washing machine so that was good too.

[Kacie_bride]

I would love to leave the wedding with all kinds of money. I just would feel slimy asking for it. I would even feel slimy doing a money tree/dance. Not saying that they are bad, just not my style at all...

Same goes with the garter/bouquet stuff. I'm not going to wear a garter.. And I'm not going to give away my bouquet.

I'm not going to give away my bouquet or garter. In fact, I am going to have my bouquet preserved and framed. I saw that at a bridal fair and I love the idea! You can buy those cheap bouquets at Hobby Lobby or somewhere to throw. I am also going to get a cheap garter to have Justin throw.

Oh and I agree about feeling weird asking people for money too, but I am still going to do the dollar dance because it's so much fun!

[CarlosHoney]

Oh, YES! I'm going to get my bouquet perserved like that too! It's SO PRETTY!

I am not doing the garter. I prefer that no one sees Carlo and me in that way. I'm skipping all of it entirely. The dollar dance sounds fun, though. I might do a Charity Dance where the money we get will go to the Humane Society.

[Jenn060306]

I've never heard of preserving your boquet. Everyone i know just dries it. Thats a neat idea. I will have to look into it.
I haven't even thought about getting another boquet for tossing. I should check out what Micheals has and maybe make something with some gerberas. Hmmmm

[CindySue]

Im wearing a garter, but its part of a "wedding night surprise" for Brian and no one will be seeing it but him.
And since I ended up with 2 bouquets by accident and there really wont be any single women at my wedding, I had decided to "dedicate" the extra one. Its going to go to the longest married couple and thats going to be Brians grandparents. They are both in their late 90s and ours is probably the last wedding they will be attending, at least together, so I thought it might be nice to honor them in some way. Brian just says "Whatever you want to do Baby"

[ikkin510]

I am going to be making a bouquet out of silk flowers for tossing. I haven't decided if I'm going to preserve my real flowers yet. I've thought about it though.
As for the dollar dance, I found out last week that I'm in for a different surprise. Apparently anytime a firefighter in Steve's department gets married at the hall, they kid-nap the bride and take off with her. They take her all over town so she can't "escape" or be "rescued". Then the groom has to go from person to person begging for money to get his bride back. They won't return the bride until they feel he has raised enough money. I thought that was kinda cool. I would actually like to stick around just to see Steve having to beg all these people for money. He isn't the type of person to even ask to borrow money so it should be interesting. I need to make sure my brother tapes that!

[CindySue]

I am going to be making a bouquet out of silk flowers for tossing. I haven't decided if I'm going to preserve my real flowers yet. I've thought about it though.
As for the dollar dance, I found out last week that I'm in for a different surprise. Apparently anytime a firefighter in Steve's department gets married at the hall, they kid-nap the bride and take off with her. They take her all over town so she can't "escape" or be "rescued". Then the groom has to go from person to person begging for money to get his bride back. They won't return the bride until they feel he has raised enough money. I thought that was kinda cool. I would actually like to stick around just to see Steve having to beg all these people for money. He isn't the type of person to even ask to borrow money so it should be interesting. I need to make sure my brother tapes that!
My mom and her late husband did something similar to this on their 1st anniversary. He got a "ransom" note explaining mom had been "kidnapped" and to get her back he had to follow all of the instructions. He had to go to several different places getting certain items and at each destination was the next set of "instructions". When he got to the end, it was at a park where my mom had a secluded spot picked out and set up, and he had unknowingly "brought" all the fixings for a romantic picnic!
I wonder if Brian would go for something like this?

[rainbowtreat]

I have always heard of having an extra bouquet to toss. My flowers will all be fake so I wont have to worry about getting them perserved or dried. The dollar dance we will do mainly for the fun of it all. I wont have a money tree. I dont see the need. If some oen wants to give you money they will. I liked those ideas CIndy and Nikki mentioned those are neat.