A couple in Milton Keynes invited guests to pay for their honeymoon at the reception instead of bringing traditional wedding presents, installing a contactless card reader and a QR code for on-the-spot contributions.
Chris Martin, 35, and Tasha White, 33, who have been together 14 years and share a seven-year-old daughter and a three-year-old son, were married at Furtho Manor Farm with about 140 guests before departing for Mexico the following day. The couple said they already had a home and household items and wanted financial contributions toward their honeymoon instead.
The card reader was placed by the bar, and a framed QR code was positioned alongside a sign that read, "Don't be tight, pay for our flight." Martin said guests were generous, with some using the reader more than once, and that donations increased as the evening progressed. He did not disclose the total amount collected.
"Tasha and I already have a house and everything we need — no one needs another five toasters!" Martin said. "People don't carry cash anymore so we thought we could have a bit of fun and raise money for our honeymoon at the same time."
One guest described the arrangement as less cumbersome than exchanging cash or arranging bank transfers. "I think the card reader and QR code were a great idea. No one knows what to really do about wedding gifts nowadays so it's usually money. This was so much less faff than cash or a bank transfer," the guest said.
The payment device and QR code were supplied by Lopay, a payment firm whose founder, Richard Carter, said the company was pleased to help. Carter said the devices made it easier for guests to give the couple a present on the day "without any hassle." Lopay's promotional material states the service charges no fees on the first £2,000 processed and advertises processing rates starting at 0.79%, which it says is lower than some competitors.
Using contactless payments and QR codes at social events has grown more common as cash use declines, and wedding registries increasingly include honeymoon funds or experiences instead of physical gifts. Couples and venues have sought ways to streamline contributions and reduce logistical complications tied to receiving cash or coordinating transfers.
Martin said the couple were happy with the reception and with how guests responded to the fundraising idea. The wedding, the contactless setup and the prompt departure to Mexico illustrate how some couples are adapting traditional gift customs to modern payment methods and priorities.