Skip the Wedding Registry: Start a Baby Fund Instead
Written by Sydney Brickey, founder of WeFertility
Last updated: October 12, 2026
If you know fertility treatment is in your future, ask for contributions to a baby fund instead of a traditional wedding registry. Treatment is expensive and hard to predict, and every dollar you set aside before you start takes pressure off later.
We started saving while we were engaged. Here's why, how to set up a fund, and how to word it for your guests.
What happened to us
We started saving for our family before we were married. A friend who'd been through IVF told us to plan for about $80,000. Their journey took three years, and that number stuck with us.
So while we were still engaged, we opened a dedicated bank account just for building our family. We were one of the first in our friend group to do it, and at the time it felt a little early.
It wasn't. Once treatment started, the bills came fast. On one family trip, three of them hit in three days: $2,000, then $4,000, then $3,000. But that money was already set aside. We'd planned for it and set our expectations from the beginning, so it almost felt like it was already spent. That took so much pressure off.
Why choose a baby fund over a wedding registry?
- Most couples already have the basics. A fund goes toward something you can't put on a shelf.
- Fertility costs are hard to predict. Insurance gaps, medication, and lab work add up fast.
- Money set aside means less pressure. When the bills come, you've already planned for them.
- Worst case, it's savings. If you don't use it all, you've got money for something else.
Do you have to tell guests it's for fertility treatment?
No. Call it whatever feels right: a baby fund, a family fund, a future fund. You don't owe anyone details.
Some couples share their story. Others keep it private. Both are completely fine.
How do you word a baby fund for wedding guests?
Keep it short and warm. A few options:
- "We already have everything we need for our home. If you'd like to give a gift, we're saving to grow our family."
- "Instead of a registry, we're building a family fund. Any contribution means the world to us."
- "Your presence is the best gift. If you'd like to give something more, our future fund is here."
How do you set up a baby fund?
- Open a dedicated account. Keep it separate from everyday spending so you always know what's there.
- Add a cash fund to your registry. Most registry sites let you add one.
- Pick a name. Use the one that matches how much you want to share.
- Leave it alone. Let it sit until treatment starts.
How does WeFertility help you make the fund last?
WeFertility doesn't hold your money. It shows you where it goes.
Log every bill as it hits. Snap a picture of it, no scanner needed. See your spending by category so you know exactly how the fund is being used. When a bill needs to be paid or reimbursed, the workflow walks you through it, and pending reimbursements stay on your radar until that money's back.
Your partner sees it all too. You can invite support people and control who sees what, so the family who chipped in doesn't have to see every bill.
Checklist: start your baby fund
- Decide what to call it
- Open a dedicated savings account
- Add a cash fund to your registry
- Choose your wording for guests
- Set up WeFertility and invite your partner
- Log every bill once treatment starts
This is our experience, not medical or legal advice. Talk to your clinic, attorney, or tax professional.
How WeFertility helps
WeFertility remembers, so you don't have to. Every bill, every reimbursement, and where your savings are going. Try it free for 30 days, then it's less than a coffee a month. Download WeFertility on the App Store.
Figuring out your number? Read how much to save before starting fertility treatment or the IVF bills nobody warns you about.