Starting your Wedding Registry is not hard. Pick out two to three different places for your guests to shop for your big day. If you want a monetary gift then pick a service that allows your guests to provide money. If you want items then pick places that you think they will easily have access to.
When should we start planning our Registry?
As a newly engaged couple the last thing you may be thinking about is your Wedding Registry. If you are reading this, then hopefully you are starting to make plans for your big day. A great thing to do now is to start your wedding registries (Yes, I said registries). It is a good rule to have at least more than one registry to keep options open for all guests. The exception to this rule would be if you are only wanting monetary gifts. I will talk more about that later.
While there is no perfect time to start your registry it would be good to start the registry at least two to three weeks before sending out your Save the Date’s to your guests. A good rule of thumb would be to have the registry started by the time you send out your save the date cards. Don’t be like me and wait until the last minute and only have small list of items. Also don’t just register things to have a big list to pick from (Although this did help me get a new TV.. Shhh).
How many Wedding Registries should we have?
Registering at multiple stores gives your guests plenty of gifting options. This also depends on whether your needs are as a new couple or a couple that has been living together already. For example, if you already have a home together you would need less houseware type items than if you have not lived together previously.
The second option, if you would rather have money to use for your honeymoon or after wedding expense you can use a service to accept your guest’s monetary gifts. This would be an easy way to allow your guests to pay with a service instead of the old method of bringing cash to the wedding in a card.
Ten popular Wedding Registry places.
Target
This is a popular option for everyone because almost everyone has a target which is convenient to their location. If you make regular visits to Target it will also be beneficial being on your registry. The types of items that can be purchased at Target have a range from Housewares to Clothing and Essential Items. Your guests can shop your list online, through the registry app or in store which makes it convenient and easy. Target also allows group gifting so if your guests would like to contribute together toward larger items they can easily. When you register with Target you will receive a 15% discount on anything left on your registry after the big day.
Macy’s
Everyone knows Macy’s and they have a huge selection of items and brands. Macy’s has many locations throughout the US and when you register they will give you a newlywed bonus of up to 20 percent off the remaining items on your list after your big day. Macy’s also includes exclusive coupons just for signing up. If you are wanting a big ticket item they will allow your guests to contribute to a dream fund for your big purchase. Macy’s has a thank you card manager also that allows you to track gifts received and help you with thank you cards. If you use Zola, Macy’s has partnered with them as of 2020 and you can add Macy’s items directly through Zola.
Ikea
The Swedish retailer Ikea is a great option for those newlyweds that are starting a new home together. Ikea has anything you would ever want for the home and at great prices. Ikea has an app that you can use to create your registry items and they provide a wedding registry inspiration guide to help you on your way to setting up a great list of items. You can have your guests ship the gift items directly to a US address.
Bed Bath and Beyond
I’m sure you have heard of Bed Bath and Beyond and even shopped their wide variety of items. Bed Bath and Beyond has over 1,500 brick and mortar stores across the US. You can use their traditional website or a smartphone app add items to your registry. Guests can use the app on their phone to pick the perfect gift for you and at the end of your wedding event if the items are not purchased you will get 20% percent off them.
Amazon
Who doesn’t use Amazon these days? But did you know that you could use them for your registry? Amazon has a huge e-commerce site that allows you to register for almost anything you would want for your home. The great part about Amazon is that it allows you to add items that are not the typical wedding gifts. This way you and your loved one can think outside of the box and add items that you would otherwise not find in brick and mortar stores. The other plus about Amazon is that you can check the reviews of the items before placing them on your registry which really helps when trying to select between two different brand items. If your guests have an Amazon prime account, they can also ship the items to you for free and even last minute. After your event you will receive a 20% off discount if you are an amazon prime member and if you aren’t you will receive a 10% off discount on your items that weren’t purchased. You will have 180 days to return your items if necessary.
Honeyfund
This service was founded by a couple that wanted to make their honeymoon dream a reality and they made a perfect way for guests to contribute to your post-wedding vacation or experiences. Honey fund is great if you want cash gifts or experiences. You can receive your gift through Gift Cards, Bank Account, Paypal or cash/check.
Walmart
This is a familiar name in almost any household. The reason to use Walmart is the same reason you would use Target or Amazon. It’s a familiar store that most people use on a daily basis. Walmart has an app that you can use to scan items into your registry while in store or simply create a registry online. Walmart also provides you with custom registry cards that can be printed out at home and added to your guest invitations.
Blue Print
If you are looking for an all-inclusive registry, then look no further than Blue Print. Your guests can shop items from any of the big box retailer you add to your list. You can also create group gifting options for expensive items like furniture or electronics. You can organize your gifts by room. Other options include cash based gifts for your honeymoon, favorite charity or couple date time. Blueprint also can make sending out thank you cards automatic. Two weeks after your wedding the registry will send you a master list of all the gifts your guests provided, who they were from and a guide to return the items.
Zola
Do you want a site that offers your guests the ability to give cash, gifts, honeymoons, and more? Then you should check out Zola. You can add items from a large selection of brands. Zola also has a Google Chrome extension that allows you to add items from other retailers to your registry. Zola can help you send out invites, make a wedding website, and of course make a gift registry from your couch.
Best Buy
I couldn’t leave out Best Buy, C’mon I’m a guy blogging about weddings. Haha, but seriously you can find so many items at Best Buy that could help you in your new marriage. I remember us getting a new television from gift cards and cash that we received from our wedding. Best buy offers an area where you can create a gift list that can be used as your wedding registry but they don’t call this a wedding registry. Best Buy calls this a Sharable List which can be accessed through your best buy online account. You can create the list through the website or their app. Your guests can then search for your list from the Gift Ideas Page by your name.
How many items should I put on my Registry?
There is no exact number for the items that you should register. If you have 100 guests that are invited to your wedding, then a good rule of measure would be to add at least 200 items to your gift registry. That way each person has a list of items to pick from.
It is also good to have a variety of items in different price ranges. Add items under $25 dollars for guests like your co-workers and casual acquaintances. Then add more expensive items for family and longtime friends. Just remember that guests can always use the group purchase options that many Wedding Registries offer.
What are five Wedding Gifts for couples that have everything?
- Personalized Home Signs
- Custom made Coasters
- Outdoor games for entertaining, Giant Stacking Tower or Bag Toss ( We call them Cornhole Boards in WV 🙂 )
- Cork Shadow Box
- A date night gift box ( Gift Cards, Popcorn, Movies, endless ideas )
Can I register at too many places?
Yes!!! You can register at too many different places. This will not be a good thing because it will give guests too many places to pick from and often makes it harder to shop for you.
No one will think you are greedy for registering at too many places but they will have a hard time navigating your different registries for gifts to pick from. If you can find all the same items at one or two places, then your guests will thank you.
Sometimes your guests have an idea of items they want to purchase and if they need to go through eight different registries to find that item they will probably just purchase it outside of the registry. Pick an all in one registry if it fits your needs. Whatever you decide make sure you pick items together to make sure you get what you need to grow your new life together.
Good Luck! Be Happy! Be Safe!
