A Buckinghamshire couple turned their wedding reception into a honeymoon fundraiser, installing a tap-and-pay card reader and a direct-pay QR code so guests could contribute to their trip to Mexico the day after the ceremony. Chris Martin, 35, and Tasha White, 33, wed in their hometown before heading off on a romantic escape to Mexico the next day, inviting 140 guests to help finance the journey.
The pair, who have been together for 14 years and share a seven-year-old daughter and a three-year-old son, said they did not want traditional housewarming gifts because they already had a home. They placed a card reader by the bar and a sign reading Dont be tight, pay for our flight. Martin told the Daily Mail that the goal was to fund their dream honeymoon to Mexico, and he noted that the idea was well received; the couple learned that many guests preferred to donate via card rather than cash.
A Daily Mail account described the response as practical and well-received, with an unidentified guest saying the card reader and QR code were a great idea and less faff than cash or a bank transfer. The groom noted that many people do not carry cash these days, making the tap-and-pay option convenient for a largely cashless crowd. He added that generosity tended to rise as the night wore on.
Lopay, the payment processing service that provided the card reader and QR code, said it was delighted to help. Founder Richard Carter described the arrangement as making it easy for guests to give a present on the day without hassle, and he suggested the concept could catch on at wedding venues across the country. Carter noted that some guests tapped more than once as celebrations continued.
The couple did not disclose the total amount raised, emphasizing that the plan was to fund the honeymoon rather than acquire traditional gifts. They described traveling to Mexico the day after the wedding as a key motivator, with the money directed toward the trip rather than the home. The story has drawn attention from outlets including the New York Post and Daily Mail, and Lopay indicated that the concept could signal a broader shift toward cashless, on-the-spot contributions at weddings. Carter said the idea might catch on at venues across Britain as guests increasingly use cards for everyday purchases.