The Right Way to Write a Wedding Check

Money can’t buy you love—but it sure does make a popular wedding gift. Giving newlyweds a check as a celebratory present is an easy way to guarantee they get exactly what they want, whether it’s an extravagant honeymoon, a down payment on a new home, or that fancy espresso maker left lingering on their registry. However, when writing a wedding check, it’s important to make sure you nail the details: Incorporating the right names in the right format can be the difference between the happy couple using your gift immediately or facing a back-and-forth with their bank. 

Here, Chris Powell, head of deposits and customer engagement at Citizens, clarifies exactly how to write a wedding check—and to whom you should make it out to.

Stick With Their Pre-Wedding Names

While either (or both) newlyweds may plan to change their name after the wedding, they will most likely want to cash your check before that paperwork is filed. “Things go smoothest if the name on the check matches the name that is on the bank account at time of deposit,” says Powell. “In the case of a name change, if the account is not yet updated to match a ‘married name’ at time of the deposit, then using the ‘maiden name’ on the check would work best.”

Always Write Out the Couple's Full Names

You should also resist your excitement to turn the check into a sentimental document by using a playful format like, “Mr. and Mrs. Carter” or “The New Mr. and Mrs. Bridgerton.” Accepting a check with a payable-to line like that is up to the couple’s specific bank, so while they may still be able to deposit your gift, it could also end up causing a bit of a hassle. “As a rule of thumb, using full names whenever possible is recommended,” says Powell. “A check is technically a contract to pay a certain individual, or set of individuals, and should be thought of as so.”

You Can Make the Check Out to One Person or Both

Even if your gift recipients don’t share a joint bank account, they should be able to deposit a check made out to both of them—as long as both partners have endorsed the check. “Generally for deposits, as long as both endorsements are on the check (both payees sign on the back), either person can deposit it at their bank, regardless of whether the account is held by both payees or just one of them,” says Powell. The order in which you list the payees does not matter.

Use "or" Instead of "and" If You Write Out Both Partner's Names

Detail-oriented gift givers also debate whether the check should be made out to both partners using “or” or “and” between their names. “Typically, using ‘or’ between the names of two recipients, like in the case of a couple, is less restrictive than ‘and’ when it comes to how a check is addressed,” says Powell. If you opt for “or,” then either partner should be able to endorse the check and deposit into their own account; “and” requires multiple signatures. “‘Or’ means payable to either payee individually or jointly: Either payee can typically deposit the check on their own without the endorsement of the other payee,” says Powell. “‘And’ means the payment is for both payees: Both endorsements are typically required for the check to be processed.”

Fill Out the Rest of the Check Properly

Most of us don't write out checks regularly, so it's important to double check that you've filled the rest of it out properly—after all, a couple's ability to cash a wedding check is contingent upon more than just their names.

• Use permanent ink: This is part of check writing 101; stick to permanent ink, which seeps into the paper, to prevent check fraud (unlikely in this case, but important nonetheless!).
• Write the exact date: Always write the date of the day you actually write the check; the couple's wedding date works, too, if you're giving the gift on the day of. Do not use the wedding date if you are sending a check after the fact; this is called backdating and is illegal or fraudulent in some situations.
• Fill in the numeric gift amount and write it out: The full numeric value ($150.00) goes in the box on the right upper section of the check. On the line below the "Pay to the order of" field, write out the dollar amount, which should look like this: One hundred fifty and 0/100. Strike out the remainder of a the field with a line that runs all the way to the world "dollar" at the end.
• Memos are optional, but encouraged: Feel free to write something like "To the newlyweds!" in this field, especially if you've only made the check out to one person. This reinforces the idea that the gift is for both parties.
• Don't forget to sign: Your signature authorizes the check to be cashed by the indicated party, so don't forget to give it your autograph before you pop it in your wedding card!
  

Make Sure You Have the Allotted Funds in Your Account

It goes without saying, but be sure the money amount you write on the check will clear your account once the couple cashes it to prevent bouncing (which is embarrassing for both you and the couple). If you're using checks attached to an account that sees a lot of automatic money movement—perhaps you have certain bills or your apartment's monthly rent on auto-pay—be sure you'll have enough funds in the account to support those bills and the gift expense. It might be worth padding the account with the dollar amount, if possible, to prevent stress and limit room for error.