Wedding Money Boxes: Yes or No?

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Many of my Paris-based wedding clients are Franco-American couples, and in planning their multi-cultural weddings, one sort of tricky topic that invariably comes up is the issue of the money box.  In the U.S., while money boxes (or card boxes, as they are now more delicately called) can still be found at lots of weddings, there are still many couples who don’t feel comfortable “asking their guests for cash.” In France, on the other hand, it’s expected to have a tirelire de mariage set up for guests to deposit les enveloppes during the cocktail hour or reception.  To keep the peace, I usually suggest that they set one up in an out-of-the way spot, and direct French guests to it when they ask. If you’ve decided to have a tirelire de mariage at your French- or Paris-themed wedding, here are some great  ideas from Fanny at Mains et Merveille.

One Response to “Wedding Money Boxes: Yes or No?” »»

  1. Comment by Émilia | 06/18/10 at 10:12 am

    It is true that the guests to a french wedding are expected to contribute in some way. Usually, there is a “liste de mariage” : list of various items selected in a department store (plates, forks, electric blender…). The guests go to the store (or to its website) and select the items they want to offer (and pay for them). Its very popular, but not so useful now: usually the couple already has the items it needs for the house. In that case they often pick up a nice trip and the guests deposit money on a special account. It also happens that the couple sells back the items/the trip to the store/the travel agency to get the cash…

    I have seen “envelopes boxes” on weddings, but always for charity funds (Croix-Rouge, Médecins sans frontières, etc.), not for themselves. If the guests intend to give cash (no-”liste de mariage” case), they usually turn to the best man.

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