Planning a wedding and thinking about a honeymoon wishing well? You're not alone. Thousands of Australian couples are skipping the traditional registry entirely and asking guests to contribute to their honeymoon fund instead. It's practical, personal, and increasingly the norm across Australia.
This guide covers everything — what a honeymoon wishing well is, how it differs from a regular wishing well, why couples choose it, how to set one up, wording examples, and how much guests typically give. If you're curious whether a honeymoon fund is right for your wedding, you're in the right place.
What Is a Honeymoon Wishing Well?
A honeymoon wishing well is a type of digital gift collection where wedding guests contribute money specifically toward the couple's honeymoon. Instead of buying physical gifts or contributing to a general fund, guests know exactly what their money supports — flights, accommodation, dinners, activities, or experiences on the trip.
Traditional wishing wells at Australian weddings involved a physical box or basket at the reception where guests left cash envelopes. Modern couples have moved to digital platforms, which allow guests to contribute from anywhere in Australia — or overseas — before, during, or after the wedding.
The "wishing well" name comes from the old tradition of making a wish and tossing a coin into a well. In weddings, it evolved to mean guests "wishing" the couple well with a monetary gift. A honeymoon wishing well gives that concept a specific purpose.
How a Honeymoon Wishing Well Differs from a Regular Wishing Well
A regular wishing well accepts contributions for any purpose — house deposit, renovation fund, general married life expenses. A honeymoon wishing well is dedicated to the trip itself.
This specificity is actually a big advantage. Guests love knowing their contribution funded something tangible. When you send your thank-you notes or share photos from Tuscany, you can say "your contribution helped fund this dinner overlooking the Colosseum." That connection makes guests feel genuinely part of your experience, not just anonymous contributors to a vague fund.
Some couples use both — a honeymoon fund for travel-specific contributions and a general wishing well for other goals. Most find one is enough.
Why Australian Couples Choose Honeymoon Wishing Wells
Most couples who've lived together for a few years already own the essentials. Another toaster, coffee machine, or set of towels isn't going to change their lives. A honeymoon to Japan, Portugal, or New Zealand absolutely will.
There are practical reasons too. Australian housing costs mean many couples are focused on saving for a deposit, not accumulating more stuff. Even if the honeymoon fund helps cover flights and a week of accommodation, that's real money freed up for other priorities.
Guests appreciate the clarity. Rather than spending hours browsing registries or worrying about duplicate gifts, they contribute an amount that suits their relationship and budget — done. For interstate guests who can't attend in person, a digital honeymoon wishing well makes participating feel as meaningful as being there.
How to Set Up a Honeymoon Wishing Well in Australia
Setting up a digital honeymoon wishing well takes about two minutes on PocketWell.
Step 1: Visit PocketWell's honeymoon fund page and click "Create Your Wishing Well."
Step 2: Add your details — your names, wedding date, destination (if you know it), and a personal message explaining what you're saving for.
Step 3: Connect your Australian bank account through Stripe. This is where your contributions land every Tuesday.
Step 4: Get your unique link and optional QR code. Share it on your wedding website, include it with invitations, or post it in your WhatsApp group.
Step 5: Guests click the link, choose an amount, leave a message, and pay via card, Apple Pay, or Google Pay. You get a notification. Easy.
PocketWell is free for couples. Guests pay a small 3.5% platform fee when they contribute, and you receive 100% of every gift amount. No setup fees, no subscriptions.
Wording for Your Honeymoon Wishing Well
Getting the wording right matters. Too formal sounds stiff. Too casual sounds flippant. The right tone is warm, direct, and grateful.
For invitations (short version): "Your presence at our wedding is the greatest gift. If you'd like to contribute to our honeymoon, we've set up a wishing well — link inside."
On your wedding website: "We're so lucky to have everything we need for our home together. If you'd like to celebrate with a gift, we'd love contributions to our honeymoon fund. We're planning [destination/adventure] and every contribution helps make that dream trip a reality. You can contribute at [link]."
Casual version: "We're skipping the gift registry — we've already got two toasters and nowhere to put them. If you want to help us celebrate, chuck something in our honeymoon fund and we'll send you a postcard from [destination]!"
Formal version: "In lieu of traditional wedding gifts, we have created a honeymoon wishing well. Contributions toward our honeymoon would be deeply appreciated as we begin our life together. Thank you for celebrating with us."
Generate a personalised version with our free wishing well wording generator.
How Much Do Guests Give to Honeymoon Wishing Wells?
Contribution amounts follow the same patterns as general wishing wells. Most Australian guests give based on their relationship to the couple and personal budget:
- Close family (parents, siblings): $150–$500
- Close friends: $100–$200
- Extended family and good friends: $75–$150
- Work colleagues and acquaintances: $50–$100
There's no "right" amount. Some guests prefer to contribute a specific experience — "a romantic dinner" or "one night's accommodation" — which digital platforms can facilitate by displaying contribution tiers. This makes giving feel more tangible and personal.
For a guest list of 100 with average contributions around $120, a couple could receive $12,000+ toward their honeymoon. Even at $80 average, that's $8,000 — enough for flights and a week in Bali or Fiji.
Etiquette for Honeymoon Wishing Wells
Don't print money requests on formal invitations. The etiquette rule across Australia is to include wishing well details on a separate insert card, your wedding website, or via word of mouth. Let close family spread the word to older relatives who might prefer to give cash on the day.
Give guests other options. Some guests — especially older relatives — feel uncomfortable with digital platforms or prefer giving something tangible. Let them know you're happy with any form of contribution, including cards with cash at the reception.
Be gracious about any gift. If someone buys a physical gift despite your wishing well, thank them warmly. Never mention the wishing well again.
Send personal thank-you notes. PocketWell records who contributed and lets you see their messages. Use that information to write heartfelt, specific thank-you notes within 3 months of the wedding.
Honeymoon Wishing Well vs Traditional Registry: Which Is Better?
For most Australian couples, the honeymoon fund wins — but context matters.
A traditional registry makes sense if you genuinely need household items, have guests who strongly prefer giving physical gifts, or have a cultural tradition that favours specific presents.
A honeymoon wishing well makes sense if you already live together and have the essentials, your guests are comfortable with digital payments, or you have a specific trip in mind that contributions will directly fund.
Many couples do a small registry (10–15 items for guests who prefer it) alongside a honeymoon wishing well. This respects everyone's preferences without awkwardness.
For more on comparing these options, see our wedding wishing well vs honeymoon fund guide.
Ready to set up your honeymoon fund? Create a free honeymoon wishing well in minutes — and start planning that dream trip.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it tacky to have a honeymoon wishing well? No. Over 75% of Australian couples now include some form of monetary gift request. A honeymoon wishing well is widely accepted and often preferred by guests, who find it easier than shopping for registry items.
Do you put honeymoon wishing well details in invitations? Not on the main invitation — that's the etiquette rule. Include it on a separate card, your wedding website, or via family word of mouth. It's fine on the RSVP card or a "details" insert.
What if guests can't contribute digitally? Have a backup plan — a physical wishing well box at the reception, or a family member collecting cash. PocketWell handles digital; you handle the day-of cash option if needed.
How long should you leave the wishing well open? Most couples leave it open from the time invitations go out until 2–4 weeks after the wedding. This gives interstate guests and late responders time to contribute without rushing.
What happens to contributions if the honeymoon gets cancelled? The money is yours — there's no refund mechanism built in. If you need to cancel or postpone, you can simply use the funds for a future trip or other purpose.