Host guides · 5 min read
Getting the most from cash funds and group gifts
More and more guests like giving toward an experience or a big purchase. Registry funds and group gifts let them do that in a way that still feels personal.
Set up payouts first
Before guests can give, connect your bank account with Stripe. It takes about five minutes. Gift contributions go straight to your own Stripe account and on to your bank. TheBowList never holds the money.
- Have your banking details and a photo ID handy. Stripe may ask to confirm who you are.
- Only the person who created the registry receives contributions, so that person should set up payouts.
Name each fund for something real
“Two nights in Lisbon” or “The nursery glider” gets more love than “Cash”. Guests like knowing what their gift will become, and a short note on the fund lets you say it in your own words.
- Add a goal. Funds with a goal and a progress bar tend to get more contributions.
- Several smaller funds (flights, hotel, a special dinner) give guests more ways to pick something that feels like theirs.
Let guests chip in on big items
Got a stroller, a stand mixer or a sofa on your list? Tap “Let guests chip in” on the item and it becomes a group gift. Guests can give any amount toward it, and you can see how close it is.
- Group gifting works best on items over about $200, where one guest alone might hesitate.
- Keep a few smaller items on the list too, so every budget has an easy choice.
What guests and hosts pay
Guests pay a small Registry Service & Software Fee of 1.5% on top of their gift, and it's shown before they pay. Stripe's card processing (about 2.9% + 30¢) comes out of the contribution before it reaches you. There are no monthly fees and nothing to pay for physical gifts.
- Every contribution shows up on your dashboard and in your thank-you list, with the guest's message.
Bring the fund to the party
A fund can quietly sit on your page, or it can be a moment. Big-screen mode puts a giant QR code for one fund on the TV or projector, with an optional progress bar the room can watch fill up.
- Pick a natural pause, like after the speeches, and have someone mention it out loud.
Ready to try it?
Open your registry to put this guide to work. Everything here is free.