January 14, 2024 • 31 mins
We often find ourselves stumped on what to gift a happy couple for their wedding? We worry if giving cash is acceptable. We chat with Lara and Lena as we explore their innovative Wishing Well App. This episode peels back the layers on how this digital platform is revolutionising the way we think about wedding gifts, offering a seamless experience for guests to send not just money, but heartfelt video messages and e-cards, all while doubling as an event website.
Weddings aren't just a time for celebration; they're a moment to contribute to the couple's future in a meaningful way. We'll chat about the delicate dance of wedding gift etiquette, the shift towards monetary gifts, and how to communicate your preference without stepping on toes.
Discover how easy it is to integrate The Wishing Well App into your wedding plans. The app's presence on both major mobile platforms makes it an accessible and cost-effective for any modern couple.
Visit our website for full shownotes HERE!
Ready to plan your dream wedding without the stress? Our free masterclass reveals how to avoid hidden costs, save 50+ hours of planning, create a seamless day-of schedule, and handle family opinions like a pro. Start now at https://www.managemyweddingacademy.com/weddingmasterclass and turn your wedding vision into a reality!
🤍
WEDDING MUST-HAVES:
- Download the Free Manage My Wedding App : Stay organised
- Secrets To Planning The Best Wedding Ever: Free masterclass without forgetting a single detail, staying calm through-out, and sticking to your budget.
- Stress-Free Countdown: Your Final 90-Day Wedding Guide: Don't overlook anything in your final weeks
- Additional Tools: For easy smooth planning
🤍
CONNECT WITH US:
- Win Wedding Prizes: Leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and enter our monthly competitions.
- Follow Us on Social Media: For valuable wedding advice on Instagram and Facebook.
- Join Our Private Community: Connect with other couples in our private community for support and and plan your dre...
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Yvette Sitters (00:00):
Welcome to the Manage my Wedding podcast, where
we believe your wedding is themost important time in your life
and you deserve to feelsupported and organised when
planning the wedding of yourdreams.
I'm your host, yvette Sidders.
Today, we are going to betalking about how to receive
money as a gift from yourwedding guests, and I know, for
(00:22):
many of you listening, you feelstrange about asking for money
for gifts, so we are going tomake this easy for you.
Today, I'm very happy to betalking about this with the
lovely ladies Lara and Lena fromthe Wishingwell app, which is
your ultimate digital giftingplatform.
So welcome to the Manage myWedding podcast, ladies.
Lara (00:42):
Hi, yvette, thanks for having us.
Yvette Sitters (00:45):
Oh, I'm thrilled to talk to you, ladies.
I've been watching you for awhile and I absolutely love your
app and the whole concept of itand what you're doing.
So I'm going to be talkingabout how to make things easier
for wedding couples, becausethat's what we all want to do,
right.
Lara (00:58):
Yep, that's the goal.
Yvette Sitters (01:01):
Exactly so.
Tell us all about theWishingwell app, so everyone
knows what it does, and tell usall about it.
Lara (01:08):
So basically, it is a gifting platform, an electronic
gifting platform.
A host will create an event onthe app which essentially, is
creating their digital wishing.
Well, it's completely free forhosts to do that.
So, to create your event toreceive gifts, it's all.
It's at no cost, because wedon't believe that you should
(01:29):
have to pay to receive yourgifts.
We think that you're paying foreverything else.
So let's give you somethinghere you can have for free.
So, basically, once theWishingwell is created, then you
share a QR code, a web link ora web link with your guests,
usually through your eventinvitation.
They just have to scan that orclick on the web link and then
(01:50):
they can easily send you amonetary gift.
They can send video messages,e-cards, and then, on the other
end, you're receiving a giftsummary which you can search
guest names.
It's really easy to follow.
You'll see all the gifts sent,you'll see their videos, their
cards and everything is allthere for you.
So it's so easy to track whenyou're doing your thank you.
And then for the guest, I mean,people are sometimes like, oh,
(02:13):
do we have to download an app?
But the thing is, because it'son an app, it's so accessible
and it's giving you directionsto the event.
It's giving you an interactivemap to the venue.
All of the details are thereand then you can basically send
the gift whenever you like.
You can send video messageswhenever you like.
It's more convenient and justaccessible and easy.
I love that.
Yvette Sitters (02:34):
So basically, as well as being able to gift
their money, it's like a kind ofa like a little mini website, I
suppose, with all theinformation, yeah.
Lara (02:43):
Yeah, so it's gosh.
I love that what the eventwebsite does and it's all on
your phone or on your device.
Yvette Sitters (02:50):
Yeah, that's amazing.
I love that concept.
I mean I worked in venues forso many years and I know, as a
wedding coordinator at the venue, how stressful it is worrying
about the traditional rememberthe traditional wishing well,
where everyone put the wishingwell like on the card table.
Yeah, it was stressful becauseyou're like you don't want to be
(03:10):
, as the venue, accused orblamed of anything or anything
to go missing or it's a bitrisky and I remember there was
always like a bit of pressurearound who takes that at the end
of the night.
Sometimes no one would take itand then we'd end up having to
put it in the safe overnight andwe hated doing that because
then it's kind of on ourshoulders.
You know everything would gomissing.
(03:31):
So you guys are kind of likeeliminating all of that.
Lena (03:35):
Yeah, yeah, and then I guess, as like Brian and Groom,
you don't have to worry aboutgoing to the bank and trying to
get that money all into youraccount after.
It's just like one lessheadache.
It's just all there for you inyour account.
Yvette Sitters (03:48):
Oh yes, I didn't even think of that because I
remember the day after mywedding we didn't even have time
to go through the cards becausewe had so many people around us
.
And then the next day we werelike quickly opening them and
frantically like reading themnot really nicely and we did
later, when we came back fromthe honeymoon.
But we wanted to take moneywith us on the honeymoon and I
(04:09):
remember we were just like we'rein, it was so hurried and it
wasn't really as pleasant as itcould have been, can read your
messages on your honeymoon.
Yes, I love that.
How did you guys come up withthis concept?
It's the funniest story.
Yeah, I love that you're bothlaughing here together.
Lara (04:30):
It's just us, in a nutshell, and I pretty much.
We've done this with ourhusbands.
Lena (04:34):
So we're sister-in-law and we're married to two brothers
and it's just from us beingunorganized Pretty much we were
on our way to a christening andas we're leaving the house will
just, yeah, we'll just grab acard and some cash on on the way
there in between church and thereception.
And we're on the way to thereception and pull into a servo
(04:56):
and there's no christening cards.
Oh, we'll just go to the nextone.
Five servers later, nochristening cards.
We actually had to detour andgo into a shopping center, get
out and get the card and then solike we were like buying for
each other as well, so it waslike two cards and like eight PM
fees.
Later we had spent like thirtydollars, if not more, on just
(05:18):
trying to cash out and we're atthe venue like where are you
guys?
Lara (05:21):
Hurry up.
Yeah, okay, what do you?
Lena (05:23):
couldn't.
We got in the car.
My husband was like, how isthere like not an app for this?
There has to be an easier wayto do this.
This is just ridiculous.
So then it just kind of stemmedfrom there and yeah, next few
years was just trying to get itall developed and get it out
there.
So yeah, just came frompersonal experience.
Lara (05:43):
Yeah, 2000 years a while ago.
Yvette Sitters (05:47):
Oh my gosh, I love this and I'm thinking 2018.
It felt like we all had moretime.
I'm thinking we're in 2023.
Now.
Lara (05:55):
No one's got time to go find a card or do all of those
things, and then it was likepre-covid and everything, so QR
codes weren't really a thingback then, so and then that
everyone got really used tothose yeah sorry yeah.
Yvette Sitters (06:09):
I love that.
That's a really cool concept.
I love how things happen, likewhen some, when you have that
moment and you're like, oh,what's missing in our life right
now?
We need that we need that.
Lara (06:20):
Yeah, I am.
Yvette Sitters (06:22):
I've done the card dash many a times.
I have to.
We've all been yeah.
And then you end up giving themthis card that you're like that
.
I would never pick a card thatlooks like that.
That is something.
Lena (06:35):
I know, because you don't really have many options as well
, especially like at a servo.
They're like kind of yeah, soyou just grab one and it's.
Yvette Sitters (06:43):
Yeah, yeah, I think it's one of those when you
know you're gonna gift money,you just leave it to the last
minute, you know, yeah so, onthat topic, because you're like,
you know you're gonna givemoney, because it seems to be
like the way the world has gone,how do you think guests feel
these days about gifting money?
Lara (07:05):
So personally, I think it's.
I think they deep down preferit because they don't have to go
out shopping Finding a perfectgift and then worrying about, oh
, do they already have this oris it gonna match what they have
in their home, or anything likethat.
I think, deep down, a guestwould be thankful if they're
requested to give money.
I think that kind of whole.
(07:25):
Oh, it's rude to ask for money.
Lena (07:28):
Yeah, I think I'm kind of moving like past that slowly I
found over the years.
I don't know if that people area lot more comfortable.
Yeah, asking for it.
Yeah, I said I think there arepeople guests themselves are
more relieved to kind of see it.
Lara (07:42):
Yeah, and I think if you go out at the right way as the
event host, if you're not nottoo direct about it, kind of
make it a bit more subtle, likeif you were to give a gift we
would really appreciate amonetary gift and if you kind of
explain what it's going towards, if you're going to put it
towards your Honey yeahfurnishing your home.
I think that makes it a littlebit more personal.
So we've included like an eventdescription section where you
(08:05):
can kind of say where your giftsare going, and I think that
helps because then your guestsknows what you're going to be
spending the money on andthey're putting it towards
something.
Yvette Sitters (08:17):
Yeah, I love that you can actually tell them
what it's for.
That is so good.
I know, when I go somewhere now, I'd I don't want to really
think about what to buy themlike.
I actually don't, and we alllive together now.
Like most, a lot of coupleslive together before they get
married and they have everythingthat they need a want.
Yeah, it feels to me likeyou're going and wasting money
(08:39):
on something they potentiallydon't like and and it's landfill
right.
We're buying junk.
That ends up in landfill.
Lara (08:45):
Yeah, like who wants more things?
Lena (08:47):
Yeah, I mean we're constantly cluttering, so Say
that me too.
Yvette Sitters (08:52):
It's like the constant.
No, yeah, it gives me anxiety.
I'm like that rid of thatclutter.
Yeah, just don't need itno-transcript.
Lara (09:02):
Sorry.
What are you gonna say?
Yvette Sitters (09:03):
No, I was just gonna say I've got a vase, I
think, in the back of my kitchenand right now I'm thinking
about that vase and I was giventhat for a wedding gift and it's
never, ever been used.
Like I got married 10 years ago, like it's just gotta go.
Lara (09:18):
Yeah, I mean, when we were doing our this was about for me
10 years ago, eight years agofor Lina, with our bridal shower
registries I felt like we wereputting things on there just for
the sake of filling it up andhaving gifts for people to buy.
And then I mean how manyplatters can you use?
You don't wanna put anything onthere that's too expensive,
because you feel likeembarrassed to ask for that.
(09:39):
At least like when you're juststraight up saying monetary
gifts.
It's so flexible, like peoplecan just give what they can
afford or what they want to.
It depends on how close you arewith them, whereas if you're
not so close to someone andyou've got a registry, they're
like oh, am I just gonna give?
Like a spiral.
Yvette Sitters (09:58):
Yeah, I was even thinking about, as you were
saying that, for the bridalshower.
Like you could even do it theother way around, where the maid
of honor is organizing it alland the brides told her I want,
what do you want for your bridalshower as a gift?
Oh, I want a robe and I wantsome nice white, fluffy slippers
.
Yeah, then the maid of honorcould even use the app to
(10:18):
collect the money from all theguests and go and buy that wish
list item that they wanted.
Lara (10:24):
Yeah, absolutely.
Oh, I love it.
It's funny you mentioned thatbecause we've actually had a few
wishing walls created for henceparties.
So when you organize the maidof honor's, organized the hands,
and then they're collecting allthe money from everybody to
attend they've actually made awishing wall for that because
it's just easier, because theycan keep track.
It all goes to the one bankaccount.
There's no messier transfers oranything, and so I mean we
(10:48):
never expected that to be used,but that party has been.
So that's yeah.
Yvette Sitters (10:51):
That's such a good idea.
Absolutely love that.
That's a great concept.
Yep, definitely.
And then you've got all thedetails, because I know how many
times like, like, go to anevent or a birthday party or a
function or something, and I'mlike, where is that invite?
Where, yes, like, even if theyemail you an invite, sometimes
you can't find it in your emails.
Lena (11:11):
Yeah, there is certainly messages in our like family chat
.
Can you send us the invite?
What time does it start?
Like it, just it doesn't stop.
Lara (11:19):
Yeah, I think we literally tailored this up for ourselves.
Yeah, pretty much.
Yvette Sitters (11:24):
Yeah, but you're speaking for the whole world,
I'm telling you.
So it's needed, it's needed,it's needed.
I love it.
So I think we have said that wedon't think guests feel very
comfortable about gifting moneythese days and I know that I do,
you do.
I think it's pretty normal togift money, and bridal couples
(11:45):
oh my gosh, I should not stress.
So, if you're listening, do notworry about asking for money.
Like people prefer it.
They don't want the hassle ofthinking about what to buy you.
Do you think that they needanother option aside from money,
in your opinion?
Lara (12:03):
I mean there's even though you've requested for people to
give you money, there's nothingstopping you from also having a
registry, or people can stillbring gifts.
If there's somethingsentimental or it's not like
there's no gun to anyone, theysay you have to give me money.
So I mean, even if you want tohave the app and also the
traditional wishing well box forthe older crowd that don't feel
(12:26):
comfortable with technology, Imean it's pretty flexible.
Lena (12:30):
We think you can probably have both options or more
options.
Yvette Sitters (12:34):
Yeah, yeah, and I think about what most weddings
have been to or weddings I'verun.
You always get three or fourgifts that are still sitting
there on the table and you'reright like normally grandma or
an auntie that's elderly or afriend that has probably given
you money as well, but they wantto also give you something
(12:55):
funny or something sentimentaltoo, so you're always going to
get that.
I think we'll never lose thosecouple of people that want to do
that.
Lara (13:04):
Yeah, and that's the thing I mean.
We completely get that as well,and that's why we wanted to
make the app personal.
We wanted to make it anexperience, not just a
transaction.
So that's why we are teachingas well to give people the
opportunity to share their funnymemories or to give their
wishes over video, because youcan see their faces and it's so
much nicer than just receiving awritten card.
(13:26):
Yeah, like it just adds thatextra, I don't know.
Lena (13:29):
Yeah, it's just personal, like you can watch your videos
and stuff later on as well, andjust relive.
Yvette Sitters (13:36):
Are they there forever?
Like, how does it work with thevideos that have been recorded?
Can they download them or canthey go and visit them whenever
they want?
Lara (13:45):
So they're stored on the app for 30 days and then, after
the 30 days pass, then we'llsend a link with all the videos
there, so like a Google Drivelink, and then they can do
whatever they like with them.
So all electronic.
They don't have to worry aboutstoring cards or anything like
that.
Yvette Sitters (13:58):
Yeah, I love that and I'm thinking to myself
like how fun it would be to usethat audio, because we always
get all those photos that allour guests have taken at the
wedding and we don't know whatto do with them.
But they're the funnest and thebest photos, I reckon, because
it's like all the from the guestperspective of the day and you
get all these photos of peoplethat the photographer might not
have taken.
And I was thinking like youcould create like a little
(14:20):
slideshow with the audio or thecards reading in the background.
I'm like, oh my gosh, you coulddo so many things with that.
Lara (14:28):
Yeah, the options are endless, yeah.
Yvette Sitters (14:30):
I love that.
So you get a link after 30 days.
That's perfect.
So they're never lost.
No, that's right.
What do you think?
This is a really big question,I know, but what do you guys
think there's how much we shouldgive to people.
Is there an expectation?
I see lots of conversationsaround this in Facebook groups,
(14:53):
like wedding Facebook groups.
What do you think?
Lena (15:00):
So my opinion is kind of you might sound a bit bad, cover
your costs and then some asyour gift.
That's kind of how I look at it, but then of course it comes
down to you and it's just.
I don't think there's really aright or wrong.
Lara (15:21):
But yeah, I don't think there's.
It's really down to, I think,more than covering your costs,
because I feel like with thecost of your wedding I think
I've got a different opinion tolean on this.
But when you're thinking aboutcovering the cost of your
wedding, it's not just your mealthat you're covering.
There's so many costsassociated.
So I really feel like it comesdown to how close you are with
(15:41):
the person, like the couple.
I think that is probably themost important.
That is definitely the biggest,thing, yeah.
It's like an acquaintance, thenyou're not going to be, you're
not going to want to give asmuch and you're not expected to
I don't think from the coupleeither Whereas if it's like your
sister or your husband orsomething like that, then you're
(16:01):
going to.
You personally, are going towant to give more anyway.
Yeah.
Lena (16:05):
No, that's definitely true .
Lara (16:06):
But then also I don't know about, I mean with our cultural
background, there's definitelyall they gave this much.
Yvette Sitters (16:12):
So we're going to give this much.
Tell the listeners yourcultural background is.
Lara (16:17):
Where Armenian yes, and everyone keeps a list.
Yes, yeah, but it's there and Ithink that tells you what to
the Greeks.
Do it too, and that's why we'vegot that gift.
Some of them are in there aswell, so you don't need to keep
the list like they're written onthere.
Yeah.
Yvette Sitters (16:34):
I don't think I've got a written list anywhere
, but I'm as obvious as theycome.
So I get that, though it is sotrue because it's cultural and
religion too.
Certain religions do thingsdifferent as well.
I was thinking about it as youwere talking about it, I know I
definitely when I go somewhere,I'm thinking about my
relationship with the person.
I'm like, because you, I hadn'tthought of it in that way until
(16:57):
you said that and I'm like,yeah, I do think about that.
I'm like, okay, I sort ofalways give that amount to my
best friends.
I sort of give that amount topeople that might be a work
colleague but not close, butthey kind of want to fill the
seats sometimes through thatscenario too.
But I was then thinking aboutthe day.
I hadn't thought about thisuntil now because we're talking
(17:17):
about it, but I was thinkingabout the day after my wedding
when I was opening all my cardsin a hurry, sadly, any of my
friends and family listening.
We did read the cards when wecame back and I do have them all
actually in a wedding boxactually.
So we do look at them sometimes, but I don't think at any point
I was looking at them going gee, that wasn't a lot of money.
(17:41):
I don't think I was.
I remember the big ones andyou're like whoa, I can't
believe they did that.
And it didn't set anexpectation.
For the rest, you were kind ofjust grateful.
And what are those friendsyou're like?
Oh, you expected them not to.
Really, that's pretty normal.
They wear all your friends Kindof know they're a bit tight, or
Can I say that.
But you know what I mean,everyone knows what I mean.
(18:03):
But yeah, there's never anylike hard feelings towards any
of it, and I don't even think Iremember to this day who gave
what.
But so I think that, yeah, doit based on how you feel about
the person, and also like we'reliving in 2023.
I know us girls just quicklytalked about this briefly.
(18:24):
Everything is so expensive.
Lena (18:27):
I was just going to say it's hard now.
We got married seven years ago,yeah, and you've got a list.
So if we get invited tosomeone's wedding now, we look
back we're like, okay, they gaveus that much, but look at the
cost of living now.
You can't, for example, givethem the $150 that they gave you
after so many years.
Lara (18:45):
So, yeah, Inflation, yeah, interest.
Yvette Sitters (18:49):
Yeah, it's so true yeah.
Lena (18:52):
Yeah.
Yvette Sitters (18:53):
Because it's definitely costing a lot more to
host an event these days thanit was there, yeah, so yeah, and
hence why we're getting so manypeople are loping and having
all the weddings at the momenttoo, because it's just a trend,
because people just can't affordit.
People are worried about theirmoney, yeah, but so, yeah, go
with, don't put yourself in debt.
(19:14):
If you're listening and you'reabout to go to a wedding as well
, don't put yourself in debtbecause you think that they
expect a certain amount, likedid the right thing by you and
them.
Really isn't it.
Lara (19:25):
Yeah, I feel like after you've got a marriage, you just
feel so elated anyway, likeyou're on cloud nine.
You're relieved that thewedding stress is over.
I think the last thing you'reworrying about is how much
someone so gave you.
Yeah.
Yvette Sitters (19:37):
Yeah, totally agree, totally agree.
And I think it's all also inthe way that you ask for the
money, because everyone getshung up on asking for money, but
that's not, actually, I don'tthink, the problem.
I think we just need to ask forit in a nice way and we need to
word it.
There's so many beautiful waysthat you can now word on your
invite or on your website, oryou can word it so nicely about
(20:01):
asking for money.
You can make it a poem or justa really light kind of way to
ask people.
It's not, hey, we don't wantgifts, give us money, yeah.
Lara (20:10):
Exactly, yeah, we've actually got a blog article
about that.
Yeah, like non-tacky and likekind of nice ways to ask for
monetary gifts.
So there are definitely likeways to go about it where it
feels less confronting for thewhole year and, yeah, makes it
easier.
Yvette Sitters (20:31):
Yeah, I agree, I think so too.
I don't think anyone gets acard these days and expects them
to be giving like this whole,like a list from Maya of what
they need to buy them.
Yeah, yeah, I can't imaginegetting that.
I can't remember the last timethat actually happened.
Actually, it's been a while.
It's been a while.
Lara (20:49):
Actually I was.
It's funny because people justconfess things to us.
They know we're behind the appand they just blurt out that you
probably wouldn't normally say.
But I was speaking to someonethe other day and she was going
to a kitchen tea with theregistry and she was like
everything on here is soexpensive.
There's like four cups for $600.
She goes.
I know that if if she was to gobuy it herself, she would have
(21:12):
gotten them from Kmart.
Lena (21:16):
It's true, right, yeah, because you're not really going
to go spin.
Yeah, it's exogenous.
Lara (21:23):
I just feel like it's probably a really dated, concept
yeah, definitely.
Yvette Sitters (21:26):
Yeah, I agree, and it's like the whole
traditional thing as well, likewedding traditions have kind of
escaped us for a reason, becausethey're not personalized.
Wedding traditions aresomething someone put in place a
long time ago and that don'treflect our personalities.
I think that the whole giftingthing is one of those traditions
that's just been squashed forall the right reasons.
(21:48):
Yeah, so I love what you guyshave done.
It's a great concept, it's agreat idea, it's such a nice way
you can do it.
Have you had any nice storiesand feedback afterwards as well,
from Brides, from Brides, Iguess?
Lena (22:03):
Yes, I guess so.
Lara (22:04):
It's always the bride, isn't it?
Yvette Sitters (22:06):
It's not after the groom, but it comes back.
Lara (22:09):
I think ours is really popular with the grooms.
Yes, they're all down for itwhen we go to X-Bose, x-bose.
Lena (22:17):
Yeah, I feel like they're easily more.
They come in faster than thebrides are.
They're just like, yeah,anything that's going to make
things easier.
Yvette Sitters (22:25):
Yes, it's not all the pretty fluffy stuff to
them, right?
It's like techie, it's moneyyeah.
Lara (22:33):
But after weddings people are just kind of mind blown
because it's not reallysomething that you think about
and you think about organizinguntil it's probably too late.
Lena (22:43):
Yeah.
Lara (22:45):
So then once they, if they have done it and they have
included on their invitationsand everything they're like this
actually solved so manylogistical nightmares that we
didn't even anticipate, and justknowing that we didn't have to
deal with it is you guys havebeen a life saver.
Yeah.
Lena (23:01):
And it is those, as you were mentioning before, who's
going to take the money andbanking it and all that stuff.
So, yeah, well, the guests,they love it because it's easier
.
Unlike what we were sayingbefore, there's just eliminates
that headache of the card, thecash out, because a lot of
people nowadays don't reallyhave cash anyway.
So a lot of the feedback we getfrom the guests as well.
(23:23):
It's just it's so easy, it's soconvenient.
They love the video messaging,especially when they can
actually record their messageduring their event as well,
which is really fun to see witha couple as well later on.
So yeah, all rounds, it's justgreat feedback.
Yvette Sitters (23:39):
Yeah, I'm so glad to hear that.
I have one logistical questionfor you.
Actually, it made me thinkabout it as you're talking about
that.
Can they access the fundsbefore the wedding?
Lara (23:50):
So they can.
The guests can send their giftspretty much as soon as they
scan the code or access the weblink.
And, yes, so those funds are intheir bank account within three
business days.
Yeah, it's based on when theguests send, if they're not held
or anything and we don'tactually touch the funds at all.
So a gift is sent and it's allprocessed through Stripe.
(24:11):
So then Stripe will pay it outto the bank account and it's
their bank account within a fewbusiness days.
So if the guest chooses to sendthe gift early on, that's there
, which is so good for whenyou're meeting.
Yes, like that.
And then if they also have upto 30 days after the event to
send gifts as well, if they'vebeen lazy or forgotten or
(24:31):
unorganized, they've got that 30day window after an event has
passed to continue to send gifts.
Yvette Sitters (24:36):
Perfect, because I was just thinking about it's
hard in those last couple ofweeks of wedding planning with
money.
Yeah, a lot of people run outof money.
Lena (24:44):
Yeah, things due right before the wedding.
Yvette Sitters (24:46):
Yeah, it's fantastic.
I love the idea, and the couplecould even set up a wedding
account or a honeymoon bankaccount, so all the money goes
straight there, and then theyhave it all kept together as
well.
I love it.
It's a great idea.
Lara (25:00):
They also get notifications every time a gift
comes in, so within the app andan email to let them know.
So it's an easy way for them totrack it as well.
So they'll know if they've gotsome money hitting their account
anytime soon, which is alwaysexciting.
Yvette Sitters (25:13):
We all want money hitting our bank account.
Oh no, it's fantastic.
Thanks so much, guys, forsharing.
I love what you've done.
Can you give us your number onewedding planning tip?
Cool, do you want to start?
Obviously, we know that yournumber one planning tip is get
(25:34):
this app, because you're goingto make your life easier, but
aside from that, tell us whatyou can both give us.
Give me one, if you like.
Lara (25:43):
I think I have one Okay.
I think that it is so importantto just you need to do you
Absolutely.
You're going to have so muchnoise and people telling you you
should do this or you should dothat, and there's so much out
there, like on social media, andI just feel like you need to
take a step back and not feelpressured and really sit down
(26:05):
with your partner and think thisis what we want and this is how
we want to do it, Because onceyou get to the day, it's not
going to be like I told them todo this and they didn't do that.
Everyone's just going to kindof be happy to be there
celebrating with you and you'regoing to be the one that's
thinking, oh, I wish I did it myway.
So I think really just listento figure out what you want and
stick to it.
Lena (26:25):
I think that's so important.
I couldn't agree more,especially with how it is
nowadays with social media, likewe didn't have to go through.
But yeah, seeing it all now, Idefinitely agree.
Yvette Sitters (26:36):
Yeah.
Lena (26:37):
Do what?
Yvette Sitters (26:37):
makes.
Totally, it's my biggest thing,like it's the biggest reason
people have regrets.
It's the main reason people areoverwhelmed.
It's the main reason people arenot enjoying wedding planning,
because people's opinions,advice and it's just you've got
to accept it.
You've got to say yes, thankyou, yeah, nod your head, yeah,
(26:58):
take it on board and just forgetabout it Because there's so
much pressure.
Isn't there?
Like, I feel like Instagram,especially Instagram and
Pinterest yeah, weddings hasreally made people think that
they need so much more than whatthey actually need.
Yeah, yeah, I think it's gone,gone yeah.
(27:18):
Yeah, so, no, that's a fantastictip.
It's so important and it'ssomething that I probably bang
on about it a lot, so you justreconfirming my thoughts.
So great tip, hearing yourreels and things like that.
Oh yeah, it's stuck with me.
You also know it's working.
No, it's so true, like the dayafter your wedding, your auntie
(27:42):
doesn't wake up and go oh, shedidn't have those flowers I said
she should have, and even ifshe did, a week later she's
going to forget.
But you're always going to bethe one that wakes up forever
saying I wish I didn't do that.
I just want to do that.
Yeah, so it's great, greatpiece of advice.
So thank you so much again.
Ladies, can you tell thelisteners where can they find
(28:03):
you?
Lara (28:03):
Yes, so, first of all, they can download the app for
free on the App Store, googlePlay, where wishingwellapp on
Instagram andwishingwellappcomau for our
website.
Yvette Sitters (28:15):
Yep, and I am going to share all the links in
the show notes as well.
So if you need to go there, goto the show notes and check out
those links and go and downloadthe app.
We all want things in ourwedding planning journey that
make things easier, easier,cheaper and just save us time,
and this is definitely one ofthose, and I think this is
(28:38):
something that everyone shouldhave for their wedding.
So make sure, please go anddownload the wishingwellapp and,
as you can see, you can't seeyour hearing.
As you can hear, these ladiesare lovely.
They're awesome humans.
They've created somethingreally good.
So I'm all for supportingfamily to family run businesses
really there's two differentfamilies but I'm all for
(28:59):
supporting businesses thatamazing women have created
themselves.
So well done, girls.
I think it's fantastic and abig supporter.
Thank you so much.
Lara (29:08):
Yvette, that means so much .
Yvette Sitters (29:11):
Oh, you're welcome.
Thank you for being here todayand sharing.
Thank you.
Welcome to the Manage my Wedding podcast, where
we believe your wedding is themost important time in your life
and you deserve to feelsupported and organised when
planning the wedding of yourdreams.
I'm your host, yvette Sidders.
Today, we are going to betalking about how to receive
money as a gift from yourwedding guests, and I know, for
(00:22):
many of you listening, you feelstrange about asking for money
for gifts, so we are going tomake this easy for you.
Today, I'm very happy to betalking about this with the
lovely ladies Lara and Lena fromthe Wishingwell app, which is
your ultimate digital giftingplatform.
So welcome to the Manage myWedding podcast, ladies.
Lara (00:42):
Hi, yvette, thanks for having us.
Yvette Sitters (00:45):
Oh, I'm thrilled to talk to you, ladies.
I've been watching you for awhile and I absolutely love your
app and the whole concept of itand what you're doing.
So I'm going to be talkingabout how to make things easier
for wedding couples, becausethat's what we all want to do,
right.
Lara (00:58):
Yep, that's the goal.
Yvette Sitters (01:01):
Exactly so.
Tell us all about theWishingwell app, so everyone
knows what it does, and tell usall about it.
Lara (01:08):
So basically, it is a gifting platform, an electronic
gifting platform.
A host will create an event onthe app which essentially, is
creating their digital wishing.
Well, it's completely free forhosts to do that.
So, to create your event toreceive gifts, it's all.
It's at no cost, because wedon't believe that you should
(01:29):
have to pay to receive yourgifts.
We think that you're paying foreverything else.
So let's give you somethinghere you can have for free.
So, basically, once theWishingwell is created, then you
share a QR code, a web link ora web link with your guests,
usually through your eventinvitation.
They just have to scan that orclick on the web link and then
(01:50):
they can easily send you amonetary gift.
They can send video messages,e-cards, and then, on the other
end, you're receiving a giftsummary which you can search
guest names.
It's really easy to follow.
You'll see all the gifts sent,you'll see their videos, their
cards and everything is allthere for you.
So it's so easy to track whenyou're doing your thank you.
And then for the guest, I mean,people are sometimes like, oh,
(02:13):
do we have to download an app?
But the thing is, because it'son an app, it's so accessible
and it's giving you directionsto the event.
It's giving you an interactivemap to the venue.
All of the details are thereand then you can basically send
the gift whenever you like.
You can send video messageswhenever you like.
It's more convenient and justaccessible and easy.
I love that.
Yvette Sitters (02:34):
So basically, as well as being able to gift
their money, it's like a kind ofa like a little mini website, I
suppose, with all theinformation, yeah.
Lara (02:43):
Yeah, so it's gosh.
I love that what the eventwebsite does and it's all on
your phone or on your device.
Yvette Sitters (02:50):
Yeah, that's amazing.
I love that concept.
I mean I worked in venues forso many years and I know, as a
wedding coordinator at the venue, how stressful it is worrying
about the traditional rememberthe traditional wishing well,
where everyone put the wishingwell like on the card table.
Yeah, it was stressful becauseyou're like you don't want to be
(03:10):
, as the venue, accused orblamed of anything or anything
to go missing or it's a bitrisky and I remember there was
always like a bit of pressurearound who takes that at the end
of the night.
Sometimes no one would take itand then we'd end up having to
put it in the safe overnight andwe hated doing that because
then it's kind of on ourshoulders.
You know everything would gomissing.
(03:31):
So you guys are kind of likeeliminating all of that.
Lena (03:35):
Yeah, yeah, and then I guess, as like Brian and Groom,
you don't have to worry aboutgoing to the bank and trying to
get that money all into youraccount after.
It's just like one lessheadache.
It's just all there for you inyour account.
Yvette Sitters (03:48):
Oh yes, I didn't even think of that because I
remember the day after mywedding we didn't even have time
to go through the cards becausewe had so many people around us
.
And then the next day we werelike quickly opening them and
frantically like reading themnot really nicely and we did
later, when we came back fromthe honeymoon.
But we wanted to take moneywith us on the honeymoon and I
(04:09):
remember we were just like we'rein, it was so hurried and it
wasn't really as pleasant as itcould have been, can read your
messages on your honeymoon.
Yes, I love that.
How did you guys come up withthis concept?
It's the funniest story.
Yeah, I love that you're bothlaughing here together.
Lara (04:30):
It's just us, in a nutshell, and I pretty much.
We've done this with ourhusbands.
Lena (04:34):
So we're sister-in-law and we're married to two brothers
and it's just from us beingunorganized Pretty much we were
on our way to a christening andas we're leaving the house will
just, yeah, we'll just grab acard and some cash on on the way
there in between church and thereception.
And we're on the way to thereception and pull into a servo
(04:56):
and there's no christening cards.
Oh, we'll just go to the nextone.
Five servers later, nochristening cards.
We actually had to detour andgo into a shopping center, get
out and get the card and then solike we were like buying for
each other as well, so it waslike two cards and like eight PM
fees.
Later we had spent like thirtydollars, if not more, on just
(05:18):
trying to cash out and we're atthe venue like where are you
guys?
Lara (05:21):
Hurry up.
Yeah, okay, what do you?
Lena (05:23):
couldn't.
We got in the car.
My husband was like, how isthere like not an app for this?
There has to be an easier wayto do this.
This is just ridiculous.
So then it just kind of stemmedfrom there and yeah, next few
years was just trying to get itall developed and get it out
there.
So yeah, just came frompersonal experience.
Lara (05:43):
Yeah, 2000 years a while ago.
Yvette Sitters (05:47):
Oh my gosh, I love this and I'm thinking 2018.
It felt like we all had moretime.
I'm thinking we're in 2023.
Now.
Lara (05:55):
No one's got time to go find a card or do all of those
things, and then it was likepre-covid and everything, so QR
codes weren't really a thingback then, so and then that
everyone got really used tothose yeah sorry yeah.
Yvette Sitters (06:09):
I love that.
That's a really cool concept.
I love how things happen, likewhen some, when you have that
moment and you're like, oh,what's missing in our life right
now?
We need that we need that.
Lara (06:20):
Yeah, I am.
Yvette Sitters (06:22):
I've done the card dash many a times.
I have to.
We've all been yeah.
And then you end up giving themthis card that you're like that
.
I would never pick a card thatlooks like that.
That is something.
Lena (06:35):
I know, because you don't really have many options as well
, especially like at a servo.
They're like kind of yeah, soyou just grab one and it's.
Yvette Sitters (06:43):
Yeah, yeah, I think it's one of those when you
know you're gonna gift money,you just leave it to the last
minute, you know, yeah so, onthat topic, because you're like,
you know you're gonna givemoney, because it seems to be
like the way the world has gone,how do you think guests feel
these days about gifting money?
Lara (07:05):
So personally, I think it's.
I think they deep down preferit because they don't have to go
out shopping Finding a perfectgift and then worrying about, oh
, do they already have this oris it gonna match what they have
in their home, or anything likethat.
I think, deep down, a guestwould be thankful if they're
requested to give money.
I think that kind of whole.
(07:25):
Oh, it's rude to ask for money.
Lena (07:28):
Yeah, I think I'm kind of moving like past that slowly I
found over the years.
I don't know if that people area lot more comfortable.
Yeah, asking for it.
Yeah, I said I think there arepeople guests themselves are
more relieved to kind of see it.
Lara (07:42):
Yeah, and I think if you go out at the right way as the
event host, if you're not nottoo direct about it, kind of
make it a bit more subtle, likeif you were to give a gift we
would really appreciate amonetary gift and if you kind of
explain what it's going towards, if you're going to put it
towards your Honey yeahfurnishing your home.
I think that makes it a littlebit more personal.
So we've included like an eventdescription section where you
(08:05):
can kind of say where your giftsare going, and I think that
helps because then your guestsknows what you're going to be
spending the money on andthey're putting it towards
something.
Yvette Sitters (08:17):
Yeah, I love that you can actually tell them
what it's for.
That is so good.
I know, when I go somewhere now, I'd I don't want to really
think about what to buy themlike.
I actually don't, and we alllive together now.
Like most, a lot of coupleslive together before they get
married and they have everythingthat they need a want.
Yeah, it feels to me likeyou're going and wasting money
(08:39):
on something they potentiallydon't like and and it's landfill
right.
We're buying junk.
That ends up in landfill.
Lara (08:45):
Yeah, like who wants more things?
Lena (08:47):
Yeah, I mean we're constantly cluttering, so Say
that me too.
Yvette Sitters (08:52):
It's like the constant.
No, yeah, it gives me anxiety.
I'm like that rid of thatclutter.
Yeah, just don't need itno-transcript.
Lara (09:02):
Sorry.
What are you gonna say?
Yvette Sitters (09:03):
No, I was just gonna say I've got a vase, I
think, in the back of my kitchenand right now I'm thinking
about that vase and I was giventhat for a wedding gift and it's
never, ever been used.
Like I got married 10 years ago, like it's just gotta go.
Lara (09:18):
Yeah, I mean, when we were doing our this was about for me
10 years ago, eight years agofor Lina, with our bridal shower
registries I felt like we wereputting things on there just for
the sake of filling it up andhaving gifts for people to buy.
And then I mean how manyplatters can you use?
You don't wanna put anything onthere that's too expensive,
because you feel likeembarrassed to ask for that.
(09:39):
At least like when you're juststraight up saying monetary
gifts.
It's so flexible, like peoplecan just give what they can
afford or what they want to.
It depends on how close you arewith them, whereas if you're
not so close to someone andyou've got a registry, they're
like oh, am I just gonna give?
Like a spiral.
Yvette Sitters (09:58):
Yeah, I was even thinking about, as you were
saying that, for the bridalshower.
Like you could even do it theother way around, where the maid
of honor is organizing it alland the brides told her I want,
what do you want for your bridalshower as a gift?
Oh, I want a robe and I wantsome nice white, fluffy slippers
.
Yeah, then the maid of honorcould even use the app to
(10:18):
collect the money from all theguests and go and buy that wish
list item that they wanted.
Lara (10:24):
Yeah, absolutely.
Oh, I love it.
It's funny you mentioned thatbecause we've actually had a few
wishing walls created for henceparties.
So when you organize the maidof honor's, organized the hands,
and then they're collecting allthe money from everybody to
attend they've actually made awishing wall for that because
it's just easier, because theycan keep track.
It all goes to the one bankaccount.
There's no messier transfers oranything, and so I mean we
(10:48):
never expected that to be used,but that party has been.
So that's yeah.
Yvette Sitters (10:51):
That's such a good idea.
Absolutely love that.
That's a great concept.
Yep, definitely.
And then you've got all thedetails, because I know how many
times like, like, go to anevent or a birthday party or a
function or something, and I'mlike, where is that invite?
Where, yes, like, even if theyemail you an invite, sometimes
you can't find it in your emails.
Lena (11:11):
Yeah, there is certainly messages in our like family chat
.
Can you send us the invite?
What time does it start?
Like it, just it doesn't stop.
Lara (11:19):
Yeah, I think we literally tailored this up for ourselves.
Yeah, pretty much.
Yvette Sitters (11:24):
Yeah, but you're speaking for the whole world,
I'm telling you.
So it's needed, it's needed,it's needed.
I love it.
So I think we have said that wedon't think guests feel very
comfortable about gifting moneythese days and I know that I do,
you do.
I think it's pretty normal togift money, and bridal couples
(11:45):
oh my gosh, I should not stress.
So, if you're listening, do notworry about asking for money.
Like people prefer it.
They don't want the hassle ofthinking about what to buy you.
Do you think that they needanother option aside from money,
in your opinion?
Lara (12:03):
I mean there's even though you've requested for people to
give you money, there's nothingstopping you from also having a
registry, or people can stillbring gifts.
If there's somethingsentimental or it's not like
there's no gun to anyone, theysay you have to give me money.
So I mean, even if you want tohave the app and also the
traditional wishing well box forthe older crowd that don't feel
(12:26):
comfortable with technology, Imean it's pretty flexible.
Lena (12:30):
We think you can probably have both options or more
options.
Yvette Sitters (12:34):
Yeah, yeah, and I think about what most weddings
have been to or weddings I'verun.
You always get three or fourgifts that are still sitting
there on the table and you'reright like normally grandma or
an auntie that's elderly or afriend that has probably given
you money as well, but they wantto also give you something
(12:55):
funny or something sentimentaltoo, so you're always going to
get that.
I think we'll never lose thosecouple of people that want to do
that.
Lara (13:04):
Yeah, and that's the thing I mean.
We completely get that as well,and that's why we wanted to
make the app personal.
We wanted to make it anexperience, not just a
transaction.
So that's why we are teachingas well to give people the
opportunity to share their funnymemories or to give their
wishes over video, because youcan see their faces and it's so
much nicer than just receiving awritten card.
(13:26):
Yeah, like it just adds thatextra, I don't know.
Lena (13:29):
Yeah, it's just personal, like you can watch your videos
and stuff later on as well, andjust relive.
Yvette Sitters (13:36):
Are they there forever?
Like, how does it work with thevideos that have been recorded?
Can they download them or canthey go and visit them whenever
they want?
Lara (13:45):
So they're stored on the app for 30 days and then, after
the 30 days pass, then we'llsend a link with all the videos
there, so like a Google Drivelink, and then they can do
whatever they like with them.
So all electronic.
They don't have to worry aboutstoring cards or anything like
that.
Yvette Sitters (13:58):
Yeah, I love that and I'm thinking to myself
like how fun it would be to usethat audio, because we always
get all those photos that allour guests have taken at the
wedding and we don't know whatto do with them.
But they're the funnest and thebest photos, I reckon, because
it's like all the from the guestperspective of the day and you
get all these photos of peoplethat the photographer might not
have taken.
And I was thinking like youcould create like a little
(14:20):
slideshow with the audio or thecards reading in the background.
I'm like, oh my gosh, you coulddo so many things with that.
Lara (14:28):
Yeah, the options are endless, yeah.
Yvette Sitters (14:30):
I love that.
So you get a link after 30 days.
That's perfect.
So they're never lost.
No, that's right.
What do you think?
This is a really big question,I know, but what do you guys
think there's how much we shouldgive to people.
Is there an expectation?
I see lots of conversationsaround this in Facebook groups,
(14:53):
like wedding Facebook groups.
What do you think?
Lena (15:00):
So my opinion is kind of you might sound a bit bad, cover
your costs and then some asyour gift.
That's kind of how I look at it, but then of course it comes
down to you and it's just.
I don't think there's really aright or wrong.
Lara (15:21):
But yeah, I don't think there's.
It's really down to, I think,more than covering your costs,
because I feel like with thecost of your wedding I think
I've got a different opinion tolean on this.
But when you're thinking aboutcovering the cost of your
wedding, it's not just your mealthat you're covering.
There's so many costsassociated.
So I really feel like it comesdown to how close you are with
(15:41):
the person, like the couple.
I think that is probably themost important.
That is definitely the biggest,thing, yeah.
It's like an acquaintance, thenyou're not going to be, you're
not going to want to give asmuch and you're not expected to
I don't think from the coupleeither Whereas if it's like your
sister or your husband orsomething like that, then you're
(16:01):
going to.
You personally, are going towant to give more anyway.
Yeah.
Lena (16:05):
No, that's definitely true .
Lara (16:06):
But then also I don't know about, I mean with our cultural
background, there's definitelyall they gave this much.
Yvette Sitters (16:12):
So we're going to give this much.
Tell the listeners yourcultural background is.
Lara (16:17):
Where Armenian yes, and everyone keeps a list.
Yes, yeah, but it's there and Ithink that tells you what to
the Greeks.
Do it too, and that's why we'vegot that gift.
Some of them are in there aswell, so you don't need to keep
the list like they're written onthere.
Yeah.
Yvette Sitters (16:34):
I don't think I've got a written list anywhere
, but I'm as obvious as theycome.
So I get that, though it is sotrue because it's cultural and
religion too.
Certain religions do thingsdifferent as well.
I was thinking about it as youwere talking about it, I know I
definitely when I go somewhere,I'm thinking about my
relationship with the person.
I'm like, because you, I hadn'tthought of it in that way until
(16:57):
you said that and I'm like,yeah, I do think about that.
I'm like, okay, I sort ofalways give that amount to my
best friends.
I sort of give that amount topeople that might be a work
colleague but not close, butthey kind of want to fill the
seats sometimes through thatscenario too.
But I was then thinking aboutthe day.
I hadn't thought about thisuntil now because we're talking
(17:17):
about it, but I was thinkingabout the day after my wedding
when I was opening all my cardsin a hurry, sadly, any of my
friends and family listening.
We did read the cards when wecame back and I do have them all
actually in a wedding boxactually.
So we do look at them sometimes, but I don't think at any point
I was looking at them going gee, that wasn't a lot of money.
(17:41):
I don't think I was.
I remember the big ones andyou're like whoa, I can't
believe they did that.
And it didn't set anexpectation.
For the rest, you were kind ofjust grateful.
And what are those friendsyou're like?
Oh, you expected them not to.
Really, that's pretty normal.
They wear all your friends Kindof know they're a bit tight, or
Can I say that.
But you know what I mean,everyone knows what I mean.
(18:03):
But yeah, there's never anylike hard feelings towards any
of it, and I don't even think Iremember to this day who gave
what.
But so I think that, yeah, doit based on how you feel about
the person, and also like we'reliving in 2023.
I know us girls just quicklytalked about this briefly.
(18:24):
Everything is so expensive.
Lena (18:27):
I was just going to say it's hard now.
We got married seven years ago,yeah, and you've got a list.
So if we get invited tosomeone's wedding now, we look
back we're like, okay, they gaveus that much, but look at the
cost of living now.
You can't, for example, givethem the $150 that they gave you
after so many years.
Lara (18:45):
So, yeah, Inflation, yeah, interest.
Yvette Sitters (18:49):
Yeah, it's so true yeah.
Lena (18:52):
Yeah.
Yvette Sitters (18:53):
Because it's definitely costing a lot more to
host an event these days thanit was there, yeah, so yeah, and
hence why we're getting so manypeople are loping and having
all the weddings at the momenttoo, because it's just a trend,
because people just can't affordit.
People are worried about theirmoney, yeah, but so, yeah, go
with, don't put yourself in debt.
(19:14):
If you're listening and you'reabout to go to a wedding as well
, don't put yourself in debtbecause you think that they
expect a certain amount, likedid the right thing by you and
them.
Really isn't it.
Lara (19:25):
Yeah, I feel like after you've got a marriage, you just
feel so elated anyway, likeyou're on cloud nine.
You're relieved that thewedding stress is over.
I think the last thing you'reworrying about is how much
someone so gave you.
Yeah.
Yvette Sitters (19:37):
Yeah, totally agree, totally agree.
And I think it's all also inthe way that you ask for the
money, because everyone getshung up on asking for money, but
that's not, actually, I don'tthink, the problem.
I think we just need to ask forit in a nice way and we need to
word it.
There's so many beautiful waysthat you can now word on your
invite or on your website, oryou can word it so nicely about
(20:01):
asking for money.
You can make it a poem or justa really light kind of way to
ask people.
It's not, hey, we don't wantgifts, give us money, yeah.
Lara (20:10):
Exactly, yeah, we've actually got a blog article
about that.
Yeah, like non-tacky and likekind of nice ways to ask for
monetary gifts.
So there are definitely likeways to go about it where it
feels less confronting for thewhole year and, yeah, makes it
easier.
Yvette Sitters (20:31):
Yeah, I agree, I think so too.
I don't think anyone gets acard these days and expects them
to be giving like this whole,like a list from Maya of what
they need to buy them.
Yeah, yeah, I can't imaginegetting that.
I can't remember the last timethat actually happened.
Actually, it's been a while.
It's been a while.
Lara (20:49):
Actually I was.
It's funny because people justconfess things to us.
They know we're behind the appand they just blurt out that you
probably wouldn't normally say.
But I was speaking to someonethe other day and she was going
to a kitchen tea with theregistry and she was like
everything on here is soexpensive.
There's like four cups for $600.
She goes.
I know that if if she was to gobuy it herself, she would have
(21:12):
gotten them from Kmart.
Lena (21:16):
It's true, right, yeah, because you're not really going
to go spin.
Yeah, it's exogenous.
Lara (21:23):
I just feel like it's probably a really dated, concept
yeah, definitely.
Yvette Sitters (21:26):
Yeah, I agree, and it's like the whole
traditional thing as well, likewedding traditions have kind of
escaped us for a reason, becausethey're not personalized.
Wedding traditions aresomething someone put in place a
long time ago and that don'treflect our personalities.
I think that the whole giftingthing is one of those traditions
that's just been squashed forall the right reasons.
(21:48):
Yeah, so I love what you guyshave done.
It's a great concept, it's agreat idea, it's such a nice way
you can do it.
Have you had any nice storiesand feedback afterwards as well,
from Brides, from Brides, Iguess?
Lena (22:03):
Yes, I guess so.
Lara (22:04):
It's always the bride, isn't it?
Yvette Sitters (22:06):
It's not after the groom, but it comes back.
Lara (22:09):
I think ours is really popular with the grooms.
Yes, they're all down for itwhen we go to X-Bose, x-bose.
Lena (22:17):
Yeah, I feel like they're easily more.
They come in faster than thebrides are.
They're just like, yeah,anything that's going to make
things easier.
Yvette Sitters (22:25):
Yes, it's not all the pretty fluffy stuff to
them, right?
It's like techie, it's moneyyeah.
Lara (22:33):
But after weddings people are just kind of mind blown
because it's not reallysomething that you think about
and you think about organizinguntil it's probably too late.
Lena (22:43):
Yeah.
Lara (22:45):
So then once they, if they have done it and they have
included on their invitationsand everything they're like this
actually solved so manylogistical nightmares that we
didn't even anticipate, and justknowing that we didn't have to
deal with it is you guys havebeen a life saver.
Yeah.
Lena (23:01):
And it is those, as you were mentioning before, who's
going to take the money andbanking it and all that stuff.
So, yeah, well, the guests,they love it because it's easier
.
Unlike what we were sayingbefore, there's just eliminates
that headache of the card, thecash out, because a lot of
people nowadays don't reallyhave cash anyway.
So a lot of the feedback we getfrom the guests as well.
(23:23):
It's just it's so easy, it's soconvenient.
They love the video messaging,especially when they can
actually record their messageduring their event as well,
which is really fun to see witha couple as well later on.
So yeah, all rounds, it's justgreat feedback.
Yvette Sitters (23:39):
Yeah, I'm so glad to hear that.
I have one logistical questionfor you.
Actually, it made me thinkabout it as you're talking about
that.
Can they access the fundsbefore the wedding?
Lara (23:50):
So they can.
The guests can send their giftspretty much as soon as they
scan the code or access the weblink.
And, yes, so those funds are intheir bank account within three
business days.
Yeah, it's based on when theguests send, if they're not held
or anything and we don'tactually touch the funds at all.
So a gift is sent and it's allprocessed through Stripe.
(24:11):
So then Stripe will pay it outto the bank account and it's
their bank account within a fewbusiness days.
So if the guest chooses to sendthe gift early on, that's there
, which is so good for whenyou're meeting.
Yes, like that.
And then if they also have upto 30 days after the event to
send gifts as well, if they'vebeen lazy or forgotten or
(24:31):
unorganized, they've got that 30day window after an event has
passed to continue to send gifts.
Yvette Sitters (24:36):
Perfect, because I was just thinking about it's
hard in those last couple ofweeks of wedding planning with
money.
Yeah, a lot of people run outof money.
Lena (24:44):
Yeah, things due right before the wedding.
Yvette Sitters (24:46):
Yeah, it's fantastic.
I love the idea, and the couplecould even set up a wedding
account or a honeymoon bankaccount, so all the money goes
straight there, and then theyhave it all kept together as
well.
I love it.
It's a great idea.
Lara (25:00):
They also get notifications every time a gift
comes in, so within the app andan email to let them know.
So it's an easy way for them totrack it as well.
So they'll know if they've gotsome money hitting their account
anytime soon, which is alwaysexciting.
Yvette Sitters (25:13):
We all want money hitting our bank account.
Oh no, it's fantastic.
Thanks so much, guys, forsharing.
I love what you've done.
Can you give us your number onewedding planning tip?
Cool, do you want to start?
Obviously, we know that yournumber one planning tip is get
(25:34):
this app, because you're goingto make your life easier, but
aside from that, tell us whatyou can both give us.
Give me one, if you like.
Lara (25:43):
I think I have one Okay.
I think that it is so importantto just you need to do you
Absolutely.
You're going to have so muchnoise and people telling you you
should do this or you should dothat, and there's so much out
there, like on social media, andI just feel like you need to
take a step back and not feelpressured and really sit down
(26:05):
with your partner and think thisis what we want and this is how
we want to do it, Because onceyou get to the day, it's not
going to be like I told them todo this and they didn't do that.
Everyone's just going to kindof be happy to be there
celebrating with you and you'regoing to be the one that's
thinking, oh, I wish I did it myway.
So I think really just listento figure out what you want and
stick to it.
Lena (26:25):
I think that's so important.
I couldn't agree more,especially with how it is
nowadays with social media, likewe didn't have to go through.
But yeah, seeing it all now, Idefinitely agree.
Yvette Sitters (26:36):
Yeah.
Lena (26:37):
Do what?
Yvette Sitters (26:37):
makes.
Totally, it's my biggest thing,like it's the biggest reason
people have regrets.
It's the main reason people areoverwhelmed.
It's the main reason people arenot enjoying wedding planning,
because people's opinions,advice and it's just you've got
to accept it.
You've got to say yes, thankyou, yeah, nod your head, yeah,
(26:58):
take it on board and just forgetabout it Because there's so
much pressure.
Isn't there?
Like, I feel like Instagram,especially Instagram and
Pinterest yeah, weddings hasreally made people think that
they need so much more than whatthey actually need.
Yeah, yeah, I think it's gone,gone yeah.
(27:18):
Yeah, so, no, that's a fantastictip.
It's so important and it'ssomething that I probably bang
on about it a lot, so you justreconfirming my thoughts.
So great tip, hearing yourreels and things like that.
Oh yeah, it's stuck with me.
You also know it's working.
No, it's so true, like the dayafter your wedding, your auntie
(27:42):
doesn't wake up and go oh, shedidn't have those flowers I said
she should have, and even ifshe did, a week later she's
going to forget.
But you're always going to bethe one that wakes up forever
saying I wish I didn't do that.
I just want to do that.
Yeah, so it's great, greatpiece of advice.
So thank you so much again.
Ladies, can you tell thelisteners where can they find
(28:03):
you?
Lara (28:03):
Yes, so, first of all, they can download the app for
free on the App Store, googlePlay, where wishingwellapp on
Instagram andwishingwellappcomau for our
website.
Yvette Sitters (28:15):
Yep, and I am going to share all the links in
the show notes as well.
So if you need to go there, goto the show notes and check out
those links and go and downloadthe app.
We all want things in ourwedding planning journey that
make things easier, easier,cheaper and just save us time,
and this is definitely one ofthose, and I think this is
(28:38):
something that everyone shouldhave for their wedding.
So make sure, please go anddownload the wishingwellapp and,
as you can see, you can't seeyour hearing.
As you can hear, these ladiesare lovely.
They're awesome humans.
They've created somethingreally good.
So I'm all for supportingfamily to family run businesses
really there's two differentfamilies but I'm all for
(28:59):
supporting businesses thatamazing women have created
themselves.
So well done, girls.
I think it's fantastic and abig supporter.
Thank you so much.
Lara (29:08):
Yvette, that means so much .
Yvette Sitters (29:11):
Oh, you're welcome.
Thank you for being here todayand sharing.
Thank you.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
The Joe Rogan Experience
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Special Summer Offer: Exclusively on Apple Podcasts, try our Dateline Premium subscription completely free for one month! With Dateline Premium, you get every episode ad-free plus exclusive bonus content.