Hey Beautiful Readers!
Outside of the excitement you have from being engaged, there is something else that you get to be excited about, and that is GIFTS! Yes, none of us are getting married just to get gifts, but as cliche as it may be, navigating your registry & asking for gifts is a topic we must discuss.
Understanding the WHEN is important. What point after your engagement before your wedding should you create your registry? My honest answer is as soon as possible. It should be one of the first things you and your partner sit down to do. Keep in mind, there are multiple events that lead up to the big day, and your family and friends may want to get you gifts for your engagement or shower. Getting your registry up is ideally a task to check off your list before you send out your Save The Dates.
There are a ton of websites whose primary purpose is helping couples navigate the aspects of their wedding day such as Zola, The Knot, Wedding Wire. These planning resources help your guests to have one universal hub to go to and see all of your desired gifts. They make integration with common registry item providers seamless for ease on the couple.
Utilizing an all in one registry allows you to select shipping preferences, track your gifting progress and plan for what you may not get as it gets closer. Allowing your guests to make their contribution online, in any manner, makes it easier for them on the day of the wedding since they have already given their gift.The couple is also able to connect a bank account, to remove any potential loss of cash or checks, and deposit the money directly into a bank account.
Each couple gets married at a different point in their lives, some are already living together, some just about to move in, some purchasing new homes and others that are completely settled. Somewhere in between those, we all find ourselves needing something. So gear your registry towards those particular items that add value to where you and your fiance are at in your relationship. Not only will you utilize them more in your everyday life, but your guests will feel that much better knowing they are giving you something you need. (And yes, new towels can be important to some people, so ask for those fancy towels and heck, the warmer to go with it; someone is bound to buy it, and we all know you can’t get what you don’t ask for!)
There are a ton of businesses that have seamless registry options: Target, Crate & Barrel, Amazon, William Sonoma, Pottery Barn. These may offer more options but less customizable or unique options, so consider also providing links to speciality items through cash funds, or a shared document that your guests can access.
Some blogs will advise you to consider things like guest size or location when creating your registry however, I somewhat disagree. If you are the couple that needs new items for your home, then absolutely. For the couples that are already living together, or may have moved into a home full of stuff - there might be a bit more consideration. This is a great opportunity to refresh some basic home items such as towels, kitchen utensils, tools, decor and more! But if you don’t need any of it, resort to cash funds, or fewer quantities of higher priced items that guests can contribute incremental amounts to. The more tangible gifts you have on there, the more you should consider guest size and relative price. Consider having items in all different price ranges to ensure guests have many options that fit within their financial means.
Having a combination of both cash funds and tangibles is definitely the most common usage of a registry; however, this is not required. We all can use new things, but I would shy away from putting things on the registry just to put things on there. Some common uses of cash funds include, new home, new car, honeymoon, home renovations, baby on the way, whatever you could use a little extra support on.
Honeymoon funds are great because on top of funding a wedding, you want to be able to celebrate in a more elaborate way than just your typical vacation. Some couples utilize one single cash fund, others will actually add specific excursions or components such as a “Cooking Class for 2” or a “Scuba Diving Experience”.The nice thing about both types of cash funds is that multiple people can contribute to them, with an amount that is comfortable for them. You can contribute $200 to something valued at $500 or you can purchase a single $175 event. This also gives your guests more of an idea where their contribution is being used, which sometimes brings additional joy to people giving the gift.
The same goes for home, car, baby and any other general cash fund that the couple could use. If the couple is planning on purchasing a home within the months following their wedding, these contributions go miles in allowing them to also complete that major milestone in the same year as their wedding.
Remember to order your Thank You cards when you order your invitations. You might think I'm crazy but the sooner you do it, the sooner you can start them, and you HAVE to do them. If you want to use a photo from your wedding on the card, order them the next week, when you get your sneak peaks back. It should never be forgotten that wedding guests go out of their way to attend and contribute to your special day, and sending a personalized thank you note to guests, those that attend and even those that don’t for their generosity, is a necessity. Most invitation providers will also have Thank You card options, but you can also personalize them with photos or use basic cards. And let’s shy away from waiting a whole year before its been “too long”. A friend of mine who was also a 2023 bride started writing hers the second she started getting gifts. It alleviated pressure after the wedding on having to write tons of cards, but also provided a timely gesture of appreciation to your guests.
Have further questions about navigating and creating your registry? Reach out with questions for yourself or someone you know, and be sure to keep reading along each week to gain more insight into wedding planning and some inspiration for your big day!
Xoxo,
Alyssa
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