You've decided on a wishing well — now comes the part most couples get stuck on: how do you actually tell people? Ask too directly and it feels like a demand. Be too vague and half your guests turn up with a toaster anyway.
The good news is there's a simple formula that works: thank guests for coming first, mention the wishing well second, and keep it short. Below are 40 wording examples you can copy or adapt — including short one-liners, honeymoon wishing well wording and rhyming quotes — grouped by style, so you can match the tone of your day.
New to the idea? Start with our complete guide to wedding wishing wells — what they are, why Australian couples use them, and how to choose one.
Want your wording on the well itself? Browse our personalised wishing wells — engraved or printed with your names, date and chosen wording in our Melbourne studio.
Classic & traditional wording
Timeless, gracious and suits a formal invitation suite.
- "Your presence at our wedding is the greatest gift of all. However, should you wish to honour us with a gift, a contribution to our wishing well would be warmly appreciated."
- "Having already shared a home together, we have all we need. If you would like to give a gift, our wishing well will be available on the day."
- "We are truly grateful to have you celebrate with us. For those who wish to give, a small contribution to our wishing well would mean a great deal."
- "Your love and presence are all we ask for. Should you wish to give, our wishing well will be at the reception."
- "We feel blessed to have you share our day. If you would like to honour us with a gift, a wishing well contribution would be gratefully received."
Warm & casual wording
Relaxed and personal — perfect for a garden, backyard or informal celebration.
- "All we really want is you there celebrating with us. But if you'd like to give something, we'll have a wishing well on the night."
- "We've been living together for a while now, so we're pretty well sorted for toasters! A wishing well will be at the reception if you'd like to contribute."
- "Honestly, just having you there is more than enough. If you'd like to give a gift, our wishing well would be lovely."
- "No gifts needed — just bring yourselves. For anyone who insists, there'll be a wishing well by the door."
- "We can't wait to celebrate with you. If you'd like to give something, a wishing well card is more than enough."
Short wishing well wording (one-liners)
When you only have a line or two on an invitation insert or a small sign.
- "Your presence is our present. A wishing well will be available on the day."
- "Gifts are never expected, but a wishing well will be at the reception."
- "Just you — that's the gift. Wishing well available if you'd like."
- "A wishing well will be available for those who wish to give."
- "Your company is the only gift we need. Wishing well on the night."
- "Your love is plenty. A wishing well will be there if you'd like."
- "No gifts necessary — wishing well on the day for those who'd like to give."
Honeymoon wishing well wording
Naming what the money is for makes guests feel connected to their gift — and takes the awkwardness out of it. These work for a honeymoon fund on the invitation, the wedding website or the sign beside the well.
- "We're saving for our honeymoon adventure. If you'd like to help send us on our way, our wishing well will be at the reception."
- "Instead of gifts, we're dreaming of a honeymoon. A contribution to our wishing well would help make it happen."
- "We've got the home sorted — now we're saving for the trip of a lifetime. Wishing well contributions warmly welcomed."
- "Your presence is the gift. But if you'd like to add to our honeymoon fund, there'll be a wishing well on the night."
- "We're off on our honeymoon soon after the wedding. Any contribution to our wishing well will go straight towards the adventure."
- "Bags packed, passports ready — a contribution to our honeymoon wishing well would make the trip unforgettable."
- "Help us toast our first trip as newlyweds. Our honeymoon wishing well will be at the reception."
- "Our honeymoon is the only thing on our wish list. If you'd like to contribute, look for the wishing well on the night."
Saving for a home wording
Practical, and Australian guests understand it immediately.
- "We're currently saving for our first home together. A contribution to our wishing well would help us get there sooner."
- "Rather than gifts, we're putting everything towards a place of our own. A wishing well will be available on the day."
- "We're building our future (and our deposit!). If you'd like to give, our wishing well would be gratefully appreciated."
- "Your presence means everything. For those who'd like to give, we're saving towards our first home."
- "We have all we need for now — we're saving for what comes next. A wishing well will be at the reception."
Light-hearted & playful wording
Use these if your invitation already has a bit of personality.
- "We've got two of everything already — including opinions. A wishing well will be at the reception if you'd like to contribute."
- "Our house is full, but our travel fund isn't! Wishing well available on the night."
- "Please don't buy us a toaster. We have three. Wishing well by the door."
- "Your presence, a few dance moves and maybe a card — that's all we're after."
- "We promise not to check who gave what. But there'll be a wishing well, just in case."
Wishing well quotes & short poems
A little rhyme softens the ask and reads beautifully on a sign or invitation insert. All of these are our own — copy them freely.
- "We're starting out on something new, and all we want is time with you. But if you'd like to make a wish, our wishing well is there for this."
- "No wrapping paper, bows or strings — we've gathered most of life's small things. A wish, a card, a little cheer: our wishing well will wait right here."
- "Two hearts, one home, a brand-new start — we're glad you're here to play your part. And should you wish to give, it's true, a wishing well is waiting too."
- "We've packed our hopes, we've planned the trip, we're dreaming of the sun and ship. If you'd like to send us on our way, our wishing well is here today."
- "Your presence is the gift we treasure most of all — but should you wish to give, our wishing well stands tall."
What to avoid
A few things that make guests uncomfortable, no matter how you phrase them:
- Naming an amount. Never suggest a figure — let guests give what they're comfortable with.
- Leading with the gift. Always thank guests for coming first; the wishing well is a footnote, not a headline.
- "No boxed gifts." It's common, but it reads as a rule rather than an invitation. A warmer line does the same job.
- Over-explaining. Three sentences of justification sounds defensive. One or two warm lines is plenty.
- Putting it on the main invitation. Keep it on a separate insert or your wedding website so the invitation itself stays about the day.
Where to put your wording
You've got three natural spots, and most couples use two of them:
- An invitation insert. A small separate card tucked in with the invitation — the most traditional and the least intrusive.
- Your wedding website. Perfect for a slightly longer note, and easy to update.
- A sign beside the wishing well. On the day itself, a small personalised sign removes any confusion. Something as simple as "Cards & wishes welcome" does the job — our personalised wedding signs can be matched to your styling.
A tip worth knowing: tell your bridal party and close family in advance. If an older relative or an overseas guest isn't familiar with wishing wells, they'll have someone to quietly ask.
Wishing well etiquette for guests
Do you put your name on a wishing well gift?
Yes — always. Put your cash or cheque inside a card and write your name (or names) clearly on both the card and the envelope. After the wedding the couple opens dozens of near-identical envelopes, and without a name they have no way of knowing who to thank. A short handwritten message makes it feel like a gift rather than a transaction.
How much should you put in a wishing well?
There's no set amount, and couples never expect a particular figure. Most guests give roughly what they would have spent on a boxed gift, adjusted for how close they are to the couple. Whatever you give, a warm message in the card matters just as much.
Is it okay to bring a physical gift instead?
Of course. A wishing well is an option, not a rule — a thoughtful gift or simply a heartfelt card is always welcome.
Style the moment, not just the wording
The wording gets guests there — the setup is what they'll remember (and photograph). Most couples place the wishing well near the entrance or beside the guest book, styled with a few stems and a small sign. When the well, the book and the signage share the same fonts and finish, it looks considered rather than assembled.
Found the wording you love? We can engrave or print it on your wishing well. Every one of our personalised wishing wells is made and personalised in our Melbourne studio, engraved or printed with your names, wedding date and your chosen wording. Local couples are welcome to visit our Caulfield showroom to see the finishes in person, and can choose local pickup so there's no delivery wait before the day.
Pick the wording that sounds like you, keep it short, and lead with gratitude — the rest takes care of itself.
