No, I don't think there is. You just invite them, using whatever form of invitation you're using for everyone else (anything from email, letter or a telephone call for an informal reception to an engraved invitation for something more formal), and let them decide whether they'll attend. (Just make sure that the invitations aren't to a wedding reception, because this isn't one. It's a reception in honor of a newly-married couple, which is a time-honored tradition.)

I'm sorry, Ally -- I do see your concern -- but there's no "usually" about it: it's never appropriate to mention gifts in a wedding invitation -- including yours. If you are talking about a shower invitation, not the wedding invitation, you have a little more leeway: shower invitations often refer to gifts, often by theme and even by including registry info (I am not crazy about the latter, but it does seem to be common now). But specifying cash for a shower? Not okay, sorry. Search this thread. Search any etiquette or bridal forum. Consult any etiquette book or authority. You will not find even one approving a "cash shower." Even though your reasoning is the difficulty of transporting gifts, don't take the risk of looking mercenary and crass. Try to envision a cash shower: the guests sit and watch the bride open envelope after envelope of cash or checks. Does that sound entertaining? To me, it sounds embarrassing at best. And do you announce how much each guest gave you? Now envision someone opening an invitation to a shower with a notation to bring a cash gift. Even if you understand that the couple is moving overseas and "thing" gifts might be harder to transport, how would that look to you? True, the invitation comes from the host, not from you, but everyone knows you provided the guest list and presumably approved an idea like a request for cash. How is this any different from "Please come to a party and fork over some money"? If I were your friend or relative, I wouldn't say a word to you. But I'd be really, really put off. Your situation is unusual -- but it's not "unique." I have been to more than one wedding just in the last year where the couple lived far away, including one overseas. It's no more inconvenient, and only a little more expensive, to ship things overseas (use the items before you go if necessary to avoid paying duty, at least to some countries). If you won't be overseas for more than a few years, then leave things you won't need for a while with your parents or in storage.

In response to MountainBreeze.... I agree that its sort of "non-traditional" to ask people to come to a destination wedding that you have no intension of reciprocating their efforts by paying for a meal or cake and punch. BUT I also think that if the guest list is small enough for the people traveling to the wedding you don't even NEED to send invitations. Email, call, have your Mom or someone call... It's always easier to talk to someone about a sticky situation informally than trying to figure out some eloquent way to tell them something they might not want to hear. (you know it comes off impersonal and therefore impolite) Then with the people invited to your reception at home, just make it like a regular invitation...as formal or informal as you want. I mean the economy issues go both ways, but if you go to a family member or a friend personally and say... We can't afford this but love you and wish you could attend; please do if you can afford it as well then you don't even need to worry about half the stuff that I'm sure is on your mind. I have a similar problem have been searching around the web....maybe someone brilliant can help me!! I am getting married in my home town...which I don't live in and neither does my man. We are having a small family wedding with a formal sit down dinner to follow in my home town in Indiana. THEN.... we (my fianc� and I) are coming back "home" to Tennessee to have a follow-up less formal reception celebration with our friends and some of my extended family who also live in TN. Majority of the people who are invited to the wedding are not coming to the Reception in Tennessee. (Why would they it's far away and they already saw us get married?) BUT there are about 50 extended family members (that all live in TN) that I want to invite to the wedding with the anticipation that they will choose to come to the Reception in TN instead of driving to IN. So I was thinking of sending the following: Indiana wedding people get invitations to the wedding with RSVP Cards ( That will Read: Please Reply by X: Accept ____ Decline_____ if accepting: Chicken_______ or Steak________; Tennessee Reception ONLY people get there own seperate invitations to the Reception saying (we were married on XYZ, please join us for a Reception celebrating our marriage at blah blah; Then! Here in lies the problem--what do I do about those 50 family members who I want to invite to the wedding and also give them the choice of coming to the Tennessee Reception? I was thinking of sending them a seperate Reception card (included when I send the wedding invites) that say in a nut shell "in lieu of wedding you can instead attend the Tennessee Reception") Now... how do I word that without sounding like an idiot (see above!) or does anyone of this world wide web have a better idea!!!!! I'm getting married in April of 2011 I've have run out of Freaking Time to be clueless!! Thank you to anyone who responds. StephC.

From Emily Post "Q: I am throwing a birthday party for my son and want to invite his whole class. I donÂt want other parents to be inconvenienced and would rather this be a B-day party with no gifts. Of course we will have a dinner and give presents from family and close friends after the class party is over. How do I let parents who I donÂt know well know that they should not bring gifts? A: Gifts are expected for birthday and anniversary parties, but when honorees really donÂt want presents, their wishes should be respected. In the past, any reference to gifts on invitations was considered in poor taste, because guests were assumed to know the occasions when gifts were obligatory, and even today, itÂs incorrect to mention gifts on wedding invitations. But in light of the current gifts-for-every craze, itÂs a courtesy to inform guests when presents are not expected. The etiquette is to write "No gifts, please" at the bottom of the invitation  or to tell invitees when inviting them in person or by phone. When you receive an invitation with such a request, it should be honored. Showing up with a present when asked not to would embarrass the hosts, the honoree, and other guests who, correctly, didnÂt bring anything. If you want to give a special token of affection, you may do so at another time." See - it's fine to put "no gifts, please" on your invites. And I don't see anything wrong with having folks bring a dish to share instead of gifts. Do what you want and have fun!