Bride's Venmo handle on wedding reception and shower invite

Yes, it is the new normal. I can attest that since starting to plan my dd's wedding for next year, I would rather have people give money through Venmo than bring a card with cash. There have been so many stories of someone walking off with the box of cards (doesn't matter if the box has a lock or how big the box is, they disappear). I would rather know that the money for the couple will end up in their hands and not someone working the event.

OK, you've changed my mind. My initial thought was how tacky. But, I do love the ease of Venmo, so I'll get over it.

I can 'almost understand it..... We have family out of town, I really didnt want to send a check to one that was graduating this year, but I didnt think of any other choice. I really kind of wish there was a venmo/zelle on the graduation announcement, so I could have done that. But if it was something I was attending, I would have absolutely given a card with cash.

You can still send a card with your message and well wishes written in it, no?

After my normal good wishes in a card, I would add something like "I've added a little something to your Venmo account, I hope you will find it useful and buy something that brings you joy."  

I would still bring a card and write something personal to the couple.  

Definitely the new normal (although not actually printed on the invitation in my experience). Two weddings in the next month. Shower included information to gift for the honeymoon experiences. I'll be honest this actually annoyed me as I know they're just getting cash so think it's silly to pretend you're actually buying them a dinner at Parrot Cay or whatever. I know it's done to satisfy those who want to gift something tangible, but whatever - I contributed toward airfare and called it good. Both wedding websites where you were directed to RSVP included links to gift money. This did not annoy me one iota as I always give a check and am also one who's running out of checks as I hardly ever use them. Whether it's zelle, venmo or third party site that lets them consolidate money - no issue here. Both included option to include a note to the couple. I think cards are a waste of money and paper, so electronic is all good for me.

I will also add, I actually think this generation is LESS materialistic. They do not want dishes and china and glassware and crystal etc etc etc. And yes they absolutely are more likely to have the issue of combining two separate full households than setting up one from scratch. Experiences, trips, saving for a house - that is way more of interest to my kids than stuff to host a fancy dinner party.

And finally - this generation just does not use cash the same - my kids are known to hand me birthday cash sent from relatives and ask me if I would venmo or zelle them as they'll never use the physical cash. They just do not use paper currency and I don't know ANYONE under the age of 30 with paper checks.

ETA and while I haven't gone to the weddings yet - I received a proper, gracious thank you for the money I contributed to the honeymoon in a timely manner.  I seriously doubt they need a card to remember to send a thank you - they get an email and that's more likely to nag them sitting in their inbox!

Well Boomer if you are really worried about exceeding the $300 person to person limit per week, you can verify your account and it's like $7,000 per week. Merchants don't go against those limits. 

 The person I'm fighting on this is DH. 

He hated that the registry for a friend's DD's wedding was so light and everything left when I looked at it was honeymoon related. As Darcy Collins mentioned above, the "brunch for two", "couples massage" or "romantic sunset sail" were itemized to appease guests like DH wanting something semi-tangible over just donating to the general fund. In the end, you are contributing to the general fund.

The above couple are early 30s young professionals who own their own house so don't need/want more material things. The other weddings for us were another slightly younger new home owning professionals and a couple who are moving several states away for grad school and will only take what they can fit in the car. None are materialistic. No one I know is picking china, silverware and crystal or home decor to collect these days.

Also I agree that this generation just does not use cash. Again, my DH struggles massively with this and likes to physically give our kids cash. DD especially rolls her eyes and lets him know how annoying it is to go to the bank. 

We have two weddings already on the calendar for next year and again both are new home owning couples. I'm curious to see what their registry look like and expect one may be asking for contributions to a kitchen reno.

Me too!  In fact just recently, I found the little plastic container of my wedding cards, along with a notebook where I had jotted down the timeline for the weekend, and who did what, and first of all, oh my gosh, I had forgotten so many things about that weekend until I reread them.  I kept sending messages to people telling them the things I was remembering and we had so many laughs about it all.  And I had some teary moments, too.

There were so many sweet notes in those cards.  I read them when we opened them on our wedding night, but at that point, I so tired, plus I was concentrating on marking names on a thank you card list and so this time I just got to read them, and it was really lovely.  

This is true, but what I meant by being materialistic, which I think many Americans are, is that even if you wanted to buy a gift for an already established couple, you would be hard pressed trying to figure out what to buy because the couple has the necessities plus more.

My daughter did something similar last summer. The venue they really wanted to get married at was very expensive, but they loved the outdoor wedding area. They had a very small wedding on a weekday evening, immediate family (parents, siblings and grandparents only). It also included a small cake, some appetizers and drinks. A few days later on Saturday, they had their reception/celebration at a different venue and invited everyone. At first I thought it was strange, but it all turned out lovely. And no one seemed to mind. 

Banking has changed too. I hardly ever go to the bank for anything. Some people only use online banks and don't have a branch to go to. While having some cash stashed at home is good, I know for me it is easier to access if it goes straight to the account.

I'm ok with the ease in sending the couple a gift that way.

To be honest, I don't even know what Venmo is. We don't have it in Australia. Most of the time we would just do an EFT transaction to the other person's bank account, no app required. If I'm sending money to my son or other young people, I use PayID to pay it to their phone number (which is basically just another EFT transaction. I actually prefer PayID, but most people my generation don't have it yet. 

And checks / cheques are not a thing here. But let's not get into that discussion again!