Wedding Honeymoon Fund: How to Set One Up in 2025

A honeymoon fund lets wedding guests contribute money toward your trip instead of buying traditional gifts. In 2024, 23% of couples who created wedding registries set up honeymoon funds, and over 60% of couples say shared travel experiences matter more than physical presents¹. Setting up a fund takes 30 minutes, and guests contribute an average of $75-100 per person².

The process is straightforward. You choose a platform, create experiences or a general fund, share the link through your wedding website, and receive contributions directly to your bank account within 2-10 business days. The key is selecting the right platform for your needs and wording your request tactfully so guests feel excited to contribute rather than obligated.

How Honeymoon Funds Work

Honeymoon fund platforms collect cash gifts online and transfer them to your bank account. Guests visit your fund page, choose an amount or experience to sponsor, enter payment details, and submit their contribution³. You receive the money minus any processing fees, typically within one week.

Most platforms offer two fund types. Experience-based funds let guests "purchase" specific items like a romantic dinner ($150), snorkeling excursion ($200), or spa treatment ($175). General funds simply collect contributions toward your overall trip without designated experiences. Couples using experience-based funds see 38.5% higher average contributions because guests enjoy choosing tangible experiences².

Payment flows through the platform's payment processor. When a guest contributes $100, the processor charges a 2.5-3% fee ($2.50-3.00), and you receive $97-97.50. Most platforms let you choose who pays this fee: the couple absorbs it, the guest covers it, or you split it 50/50. In 2024, most couples configure their funds so guests pay the small processing fee, as research shows guests don't mind covering it when couples keep 100% of the gift amount⁴.

After contributions accumulate, you transfer funds to your bank account through the platform dashboard. First transfers take 7-10 business days due to fraud protection measures. Subsequent transfers arrive in 2-4 business days. You can typically transfer funds anytime, though some couples wait until after the wedding to consolidate all gifts.

Best Honeymoon Fund Platforms in 2025

Joy, Zola, and Honeyfund lead the market with different fee structures and features. Comparing processing fees, transfer times, and regional availability helps you choose the best platform for your wedding.

Joy offers the most competitive pricing with zero fees when guests use peer-to-peer payment apps like Venmo, PayPal, or CashApp⁵. When guests prefer credit cards, Joy charges 2.5-2.9%. The platform also provides free wedding websites and planning tools, making it attractive for couples who want everything in one place.

Zola similarly offers a zero-fee Venmo option alongside a 2.5% credit card fee⁶. You choose whether to absorb the fee or pass it to guests. Zola emphasizes that they make no profit on cash funds; the 2.5% simply covers credit card company fees for secure online transactions. Couples can also add traditional registry items alongside their honeymoon fund.

Honeyfund charges no platform fees but applies standard PayPal processing fees of 2.59% plus $0.49 per transaction⁷. Guests typically cover these fees. Honeyfund excels at experience-based registries, letting you create detailed honeymoon "wishlists" where guests sponsor specific dinners, activities, or travel upgrades. You can redeem contributions through prepaid Mastercards or 300+ gift card brands to keep 100% of contributions without deductions.

The Knot integrates honeymoon funds with their broader wedding planning ecosystem⁴. The 2.5% guest-paid fee remains competitive, though initial transfers take three weeks compared to 2-4 business days on other platforms. If you're already using The Knot for your wedding website, adding a honeymoon fund requires minimal additional setup.

Traveler's Joy takes a different approach by splitting fees between couples and guests in its default configuration: guests pay 2.95% + $0.99 at checkout, while 2.95% comes from the gift amount⁸. You can adjust this split to be more favorable to either party. The platform focuses specifically on travel registries with built-in honeymoon planning tools.

Hitchd serves UK couples with flexible fee structures⁹. The 4.98% card processing fee can be absorbed entirely by the couple (0% to guests), entirely by guests (0% to couple), or split equally (2.49% each). Hitchd also charges a one-time setup fee of $119-199 based on wedding size, but offers a free trial before committing.

Setting Up Your Honeymoon Fund: Step-by-Step

Creating a honeymoon fund takes 30-45 minutes from platform selection to sharing with guests. Following a structured process ensures your fund is ready when you send invitations.

1. Choose Your Platform

Select a platform based on your priorities. If minimizing fees matters most, choose Joy or Zola with their Venmo zero-fee options. If you want experience-based gifting with detailed honeymoon wishlists, choose Honeyfund or Traveler's Joy. If you're already using a wedding website on The Knot or Zola, add the honeymoon fund there for convenience.

Create your account using your email address and basic wedding details (names, wedding date, location). Most platforms offer free accounts; only Hitchd charges an upfront setup fee.

2. Write Fund Descriptions

Craft a warm, specific description explaining why you chose a honeymoon fund. Avoid generic text. Instead of "We'd love help with our honeymoon," write "We're planning two weeks exploring Japan's temples, gardens, and food culture. Your contributions will help us experience this once-in-a-lifetime adventure together."

For experience-based funds, create 6-12 specific experiences with realistic prices. Research actual costs in your destination. A romantic dinner in Paris costs $120-180, a gondola ride in Venice costs $100-150, and a helicopter tour in New Zealand costs $250-400. Use real prices so guests understand exactly what their contribution funds.

Include photos of your destination or activities to make the fund visually appealing. Platforms with photo support see higher engagement because guests can visualize the experiences they're helping create.

3. Set Suggested Contribution Amounts

Offer 3-4 preset amounts alongside a custom option. Base these on typical guest giving patterns: $50, $75, $100, $150, and "other amount." Research shows guests appreciate guidance on appropriate amounts, and preset options increase average contributions by 15-20% compared to open-ended requests¹⁰.

For experience-based funds, price items across a range. Include smaller items ($50-75 for breakfast or museum tickets), mid-range items ($100-175 for dinners or activities), and larger items ($200-400 for excursions or flight upgrades). This ensures all guests can find something matching their budget.

4. Configure Payment Settings

Decide who pays processing fees. If you want to receive every dollar guests intend to give, have guests cover the 2.5-3% fee. If you want to make giving as easy as possible, absorb the fee yourself. Many couples split the difference, absorbing fees on smaller gifts ($50 or less) and having guests cover fees on larger contributions.

Link your bank account for transfers. You'll need your bank's routing number and account number. Most platforms verify your account with two small test deposits (under $1) that you confirm within 2-3 days.

Enable or disable guest comments. Some platforms let guests leave messages with contributions. These create a nice keepsake but may feel too public for some guests, so consider your audience.

5. Add to Your Wedding Website

Create a dedicated registry page on your wedding website. Include a brief paragraph explaining that you've set up both a traditional registry and honeymoon fund, and guests should choose what feels right to them. Never make guests feel obligated to give money.

Link to your honeymoon fund with descriptive text: "View our honeymoon fund" or "Contribute to our Japan adventure." Avoid clinical language like "cash registry" or "monetary gifts," which feel transactional.

If using a platform that provides its own wedding website (Joy, Zola, The Knot), you can skip creating a separate site and use the platform's built-in wedding pages.

Honeymoon Fund Etiquette: What's Acceptable

Share your honeymoon fund exclusively through your wedding website, never on invitations or save-the-dates. Wedding etiquette experts agree that including any registry information on invitations implies gifts are expected or required¹.

When guests ask what you'd like, it's appropriate to say "We've set up a small registry and honeymoon fund on our wedding website if you'd like to take a look." This gives guests permission to view your fund without making them feel pressured.

On your wedding website, word your fund description to emphasize choice. Write "For those who have asked, we've set up a honeymoon fund" rather than "Please contribute to our honeymoon fund." The former acknowledges guest agency; the latter creates obligation.

If hosting a bridal shower or engagement party, the host (not the couple) may share registry information when guests inquire. Never volunteer this information first. Wait for guests to ask about gift preferences.

After the wedding, thank every contributor personally within three months. Mention the specific experience their gift funded when possible: "Thank you for contributing to our honeymoon fund. Your generous gift helped us enjoy an incredible sushi-making class in Kyoto." Specific thanks feel more genuine than generic "thank you for your contribution" messages.

For older relatives uncomfortable with online giving, offer an offline option. Include your address on your wedding website with text like "If you prefer to give a card in person, we'll have a box at the reception." This accommodates guests who find digital platforms confusing or impersonal. In 2024, 15-20% of wedding guests still prefer giving physical cards with cash or checks².

When couples have both a traditional registry and honeymoon fund, avoid indicating preference for one over the other. List them equally on your website. Some guests enjoy shopping for physical gifts, and pressuring them toward cash can feel uncomfortable.

For destination weddings, honeymoon funds are especially appropriate because guests already spent significantly on travel and accommodations. In this case, you might write "Your presence at our destination wedding means everything. For those who have asked, we've also set up a small honeymoon fund." This acknowledges their existing financial commitment.

Honeymoon Fund Wording Examples

Effective wording emphasizes gratitude, explains your plans, and avoids demanding language. Regional differences exist in how couples phrase requests for cash gifts.

US Style: Direct but Gracious

We're lucky to have a home filled with everything we need. What we truly want is the adventure of a lifetime exploring New Zealand together. If you'd like to celebrate with us, contributions to our honeymoon fund would help us create memories we'll treasure forever. Your presence at our wedding is the greatest gift.

We've been dreaming of two weeks in Italy, wandering through vineyards, exploring ancient ruins, and eating our way through Rome. For those who have asked, we've set up a honeymoon fund to help make this dream a reality. Thank you for being part of our celebration.

UK Style: Modest and Understated

We're incredibly fortunate to already have a home together. Rather than gifts, we'd be grateful for contributions toward our honeymoon in Scotland. We're planning to explore the Highlands, visit distilleries, and spend time in Edinburgh. If you'd like to help us create these memories, we've set up a fund through our wedding website.

Your presence at our wedding is the only gift we need. For those kind enough to ask, we've created a small honeymoon fund for our trip to Greece. Any contribution, large or small, would be greatly appreciated.

Australian Wishing Well Style

We've lived together for five years and don't need traditional gifts. Instead, we've set up a wishing well for our honeymoon in Bali. If you'd like to contribute, we'll have a wishing well at the reception, or you can give through our wedding website. Your presence is what matters most to us.

We're planning an adventure to Japan for our honeymoon. Rather than gifts, we'd appreciate contributions to our wishing well to help us experience temples, gardens, and Japanese culture together. Details are on our website.

Destination Wedding Style

We're so grateful you're traveling to Mexico to celebrate with us. Your presence is the greatest gift, and we don't expect anything more. For those who have asked, we've set up a small honeymoon fund to extend our stay and explore the Riviera Maya. Details are on our website if you'd like to take a look.

Regional Differences in Honeymoon Fund Culture

Cash gift acceptance varies significantly between the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia. Understanding regional norms helps you word requests appropriately.

United States: Cash Fund Acceptance Growing

In the US, cash wedding gifts carry less stigma than they did 10-15 years ago. A 2024 survey found that 78% of couples felt comfortable asking for cash instead of traditional gifts, and 60% of couples believe travel experiences matter more than physical presents¹. The average US wedding guest spent $150 on gifts in 2024, with cash gifts averaging $168¹¹.

Honeymoon funds gained mainstream acceptance around 2015-2018 as couples began marrying later in life (average age 30 for men, 28 for women) after already living together. These couples owned basic household items and valued experiences over物品. The rise of platforms like Honeyfund and Zola's cash fund options normalized asking for money through proper channels.

Regional differences exist within the US. Northeast and West Coast couples encounter more acceptance of cash gifts, while Southern and Midwestern couples sometimes face resistance from older relatives who view cash requests as presumptuous. In these regions, couples often create both traditional registries and honeymoon funds to give conservative relatives a physical gift option.

United Kingdom: Gift List Tradition Evolving

UK wedding culture traditionally centered on department store gift lists (John Lewis, Debenhams) with physical gifts. Asking directly for money was considered gauche until the mid-2010s. However, 2020-2024 saw rapid change as couples married older (average age 33 for men, 31 for women) and already owned homes.

British couples now often create honeymoon funds but word them more modestly than American couples. Where a US couple might write "Help us explore Italy," a UK couple writes "If you're kind enough to ask, we'd be grateful for contributions toward our Italian honeymoon." The British preference for understatement and self-deprecation extends to gift requests.

Hitchd's emergence as a UK-focused honeymoon fund platform reflects growing acceptance. However, many UK couples still maintain a small John Lewis or similar gift list alongside their honeymoon fund to satisfy older relatives who strongly prefer giving physical gifts.

Cash gifts at UK weddings typically arrive in cards placed in a decorative box at the reception. Physical cash and checks remain more common than in the US, where digital payments dominate. UK couples should ensure their honeymoon fund platform accommodates both online and offline gifts.

Australia: Wishing Well Dominance

Australian wedding culture embraced cash gifts earlier and more thoroughly than the US or UK. "Wishing wells"—decorative boxes for cash and check gifts—became standard at Australian receptions by the 1990s. The term "wishing well" sounds less transactional than "cash fund," which may explain easier cultural acceptance.

By 2024, nearly 85% of Australian couples used wishing wells (physical or digital), and 89% of couples requested cash gifts instead of physical presents¹². Australians marry at similar ages to UK couples (average 32 for men, 30 for women) and typically cohabitate before marriage, reducing need for household items.

Australian guests expect wishing wells and typically give $100-150 per couple according to 2024 surveys¹². Close friends and family give $150-200, while colleagues and distant relatives give $50-100. These amounts slightly exceed US averages, possibly because Australian weddings cost more (average $36,000 AUD in 2024 versus $33,000 USD in the US).

Modern Australian couples use digital wishing well platforms like Pocketwell, My Wishing Well, or international platforms like Honeyfund that serve Australia. However, many couples maintain physical wishing wells at receptions to accommodate older guests who prefer giving envelopes with cash or checks.

The key Australian difference is terminology. What Americans call "honeymoon funds" and British couples call "honeymoon collections," Australians call "wishing wells," whether the money funds a honeymoon, house deposit, or other goal. Using "wishing well" in your wording signals cultural awareness when addressing Australian guests.

Honeymoon Fund Fees and Costs: Detailed Comparison

Processing fees range from 0% to 5.9% depending on platform and payment method. Understanding who pays fees and how to minimize them maximizes the money you receive.

Zero-fee options exist on Joy and Zola when guests use Venmo, PayPal, or CashApp instead of credit cards. These peer-to-peer payment platforms charge no fees for sending money between users⁵⁶. To maximize zero-fee contributions, mention on your fund page: "For zero-fee giving, use Venmo or PayPal" with your handle or payment link.

Most platforms defaulting to guest-paid fees add the fee on top of the gift amount. When a guest wants to give $100, they pay $102.50-102.59 total, and you receive $100. This approach ensures you get the full intended gift amount. Research by The Knot found guests don't mind paying small processing fees when they understand couples receive 100% of the gift⁴.

Traveler's Joy uses a unique split structure where both couple and guest pay fees. On a $100 gift, the guest pays $103.94 at checkout (2.95% + $0.99), and you receive $94.05 after 2.95% comes from the gift amount⁸. You can change this configuration to have guests pay all fees (you receive $100, guest pays $106.89) or you absorb all fees (you receive $89.06, guest pays $100).

Hitchd's 4.98% fee represents a blended international card processing rate⁹. Unlike other platforms using third-party processors (Stripe, PayPal), Hitchd built its own payment system to eliminate currency conversion fees for international guests. This benefits couples with guests in multiple countries, as everyone pays the same 4.98% rather than variable rates based on location. The $119-199 one-time setup fee offsets Hitchd's lack of per-transaction profit.

To minimize fees overall, encourage Venmo/PayPal contributions on Joy or Zola, which eliminates fees entirely. If using Honeyfund or The Knot, accept that guests will pay 2.5-2.59% fees, which is industry standard. Avoid platforms charging fees to both parties unless their other features justify the cost.

For couples who find fees objectionable, consider absorbing them as a goodwill gesture. A 2.5% fee on $5,000 in gifts costs $125, which many couples consider worthwhile to make giving easy for guests. Frame this as you would the cost of thank-you cards or favors: a necessary expense of graciously receiving gifts.

Common Honeymoon Fund Concerns Answered

The main concern couples face is whether asking for money appears greedy or tacky. Etiquette has evolved significantly, and data shows most guests prefer contributing to experiences.

Is it tacky to ask for honeymoon fund contributions?

No, when requested through appropriate channels. In 2024, 23% of couples created honeymoon funds, and 78% felt comfortable asking for cash instead of gifts¹. The key is method: sharing through your wedding website is acceptable; printing fund information on invitations is not.

Tackiness comes from demanding tone, not the request itself. Writing "We require contributions of at least $100" is tacky. Writing "For those who have asked, we've set up a honeymoon fund to help us explore Italy" is gracious. Focus on gratitude and choice rather than expectation and obligation.

Older relatives sometimes view cash requests as presumptuous, especially if they come from traditional backgrounds where asking for money was taboo. In these cases, maintain a small traditional registry alongside your honeymoon fund so conservative relatives have a physical gift option. Never pressure them toward cash.

How much should we set as our goal amount?

Avoid displaying total goal amounts prominently. Goals of $8,000 or $10,000 can overwhelm guests or make you appear entitled. Instead, create an experience-based fund where guests see individual items ($150 dinner, $200 excursion) rather than a massive total.

If your platform requires a goal, set it at the lower end of your actual honeymoon cost. If your trip costs $7,000, set your goal at $3,000-4,000. This makes the goal feel achievable and prevents the awkwardness of publicly falling far short.

Remember that honeymoon funds typically supplement your trip budget rather than funding it entirely. In 2024, over 50% of couples funded their honeymoons primarily on their own, with gifts providing helpful contributions rather than complete coverage¹.

What if we receive more than we need?

Create a flexible fund description that allows for this possibility. Write "Contributions will help us extend our trip, upgrade experiences, or save toward future adventures together" rather than "We need exactly $5,000 for our honeymoon." This prevents awkwardness if you receive more than your trip costs.

Most couples who exceed their honeymoon budget use extra funds for trip extensions, room or flight upgrades, or savings toward anniversary trips. Some put excess toward home down payments or other financial goals, though if you do this, update your fund description to mention "honeymoon and our future together" so guests know contributions may fund broader goals.

Should we send photos after the honeymoon?

Yes. Creating a photo album or slideshow showing the experiences guests funded strengthens the emotional connection to their gifts. Many couples send update emails or create shared albums with captions like "Your generous contributions let us take this incredible cooking class in Tuscany."

This "closes the loop" on the gifting experience and makes guests feel good about choosing your honeymoon fund over physical gifts. It's the experience-gift equivalent of posting a photo of yourself using the kitchen mixer someone bought you.

What about guests without internet access?

Provide an offline option for older guests or those uncomfortable with digital platforms. On your wedding website, include text like "If you prefer to give a card in person, we'll have a box at the reception." Place a decorative box (similar to Australian wishing wells) at your gift table for envelopes.

After the wedding, deposit checks and cash normally, then add the amount to your honeymoon fund total manually. This accommodates all guests regardless of digital comfort level.

Sources and References