Personal For You Gifts
The wedding gifts really should be about people in the marriage and so when there is a registry that is filled with gifts that look like they are just for one partner it seems a bit off. The best thing to do is have a well-balanced registry with items for you as a couple and of course a limited amount of things that are just for one of you.
Great Alternatives To Amazon Wedding Registries
Above all, Amazon wedding registries feel impersonal. You can’t send out thank-yous from your registry, and you can’t personalise your registry by writing out your own introduction or gift descriptions. You and your partner will be limited to products, not cash or experiences, as gifts, and because you can’t add your own descriptions or thoughts, your registry will look just like every other registry that your wedding guests have seen. And where’s the fun in that?
But Amazon isn’t the only option when it comes to wedding registries. Online platforms like Hitchd allow you to create the perfect registry that fits your needs and allows you to ask for exactly what you and your partner want. Instead of keeping it bland and predictably on Amazon, why not use your registry to fund your honeymoon or raise money for your community?
Here are great alternatives to Amazon wedding registries that ask for what you truly want and make all guests feel welcome and appreciated.
Atlas 150 Aluminum Pasta Maker
From home appliances and everyday essentials to trendy home decor , Target is the place to register. Watch out for its legendary designer collaborations.
Where to register: Online, in stores, or through the Target Registry app.Shipping options: Free shipping on orders over $25 within the U.S.Return policy: One year after the event for returns or exchanges.Registry will stay active for: 18 months after the event for the couple and one year after the event for the guests.Gift-wrapping fee: Small fee varies by purchase.Discounts to know about: After the event, Target provides a 15 percent off coupon for remaining registry options.
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Durango Side Plates Set Of 4
For the couple who love to cook and entertain, Williams-Sonoma is a one-stop shop: professional cookware, pantry essentials, decor from Williams-Sonoma Home, as well as an extensive gardening and agrarian section.
Where to register: Online or in stores nationwide.Shipping options: Standard shipping applies.Return policy: Can exchange or get a refund within 90 days of your event or day of purchase , except on personalized, final sale, and special orders. Note: Save gift receipts and packing slips to ensure you receive credit for the correct price of your gift.Registry will stay active for: One year after your event.Gift-wrapping fee: Complimentary service in stores and for a small fee online.Discounts to know about: Gift registrants receive 10 percent off all remaining items in the registry, plus anything else theyd like to purchase, for up to six months after the wedding date.
Mistake : Waiting Too Long To Register
Set up a registry shortly after youre engaged, especially if youre planning an engagement party. Even if a soirée hasnt been added to the calendar, you may be surprised by the number of people who want to give you a token of congratulations . You can constantly update your list and add more items at any timeits encouraged to check in regularly and make sure there are plenty of options remaining. Most of your guests will make purchases shortly before the wedding day, adding additional items as needed.
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Cake And Knife Server
A vital accessory for your wedding cake, Luvax wedding cake and knife server set on goes for $18.99. This set also comes in handy during the holidays and adds some chic to your dining table. One of the vital things to add to your registry, and a piece of art that cannot be overlooked.
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Many may think butter dishes are out of fashion, but I dare say theyre not. What better way to hold butter at the dining table? They are also decorative as they come to China, crystal, or silverware. Inexpensive , yet classy.
How Do I Strike A Balance Of Registering For Splurges And Affordable Items
Giving your guests and potential gift-givers a range of options is always great, since what people gift will vary, Julie Lindenman said. A few items might be more costly, like kitchen appliances, luggage, or experiences, but so many are little items that make up a home, like oven mitts and measuring cups.
Additionally, Melissa Trentadue at Zola advised registering for items less than $50 and more than $200, and in between. Keep checking in throughout your engagement to make sure that there are still gifts available in each range, she notes. Plus, theres an option on Zolas registry to mark something as a group gift for larger-ticket items, so they can contribute what they wish.
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Honeymoon Registries Function Just Like Traditional Wedding Registries
Think of a honeymoon registry exactly like you would a Target wedding registry, but instead of asking for only products at the store, you get to ask for honeymoon-related gifts such as spa packages, dinners out at nice restaurants and even adventure excursions like hiking or snorkeling.
Because so many couples are getting married later and living together before tying the knot, fewer of them need to build a home from the ground up. They already have nice sheets and towels and many of those small appliances. As such, it’s difficult to build out a traditional wedding registry because they already have all of those products and what they do need will likely be expensive.
This is where a honeymoon registry comes in. Instead of physical gifts, guests give experience gifts to help send you on a wonderful honeymoon. You can set different price points , ask for multiples of one gift and break down big-ticket items, such as flights and accommodations, into smaller amounts. That way, several guests can chip in to pay for your hotel.
With Hitchd, you can also add physical gifts and cash funds, as mentioned earlier. Guests won’t be buying you the physical gift. Just like experience gifts, they’ll send you the money and you can make the purchase. This allows you to price compare and shop at the store that will give you the best discount or other perks.
Kitchenaid Artisan Stand Mixer
Bed Bath & Beyond covers all the bases, from cookware to vacuums and window shades. Couples looking to register for the basics should look no further.
Where to register: Online and in stores nationwide.Shipping options: Free standard shipping on orders of $39 or more. If an item is on a registry but not available in store, Bed Bath & Beyond will ship it for free.Return policy: Accepts returns for a refund or exchange on any gift on your registry.Registry will stay active for: Two years after the event.Gift-wrapping fee: Complimentary in-store service at the self-wrap station.Discounts to know about: After the event, Bed Bath & Beyond also offers a 20 percent completion discount on all the remaining registry options. The discount can be usedonce online and once in storeanytime up to three months after the event.
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How Soon Should You Register
Its understandable to feel a little uncomfortable when asking for gifts. Weve discovered that some find its the most fun part of the wedding process. The good news? You can start as early as you want to! Most online registries give you the option to password protect or keep your registry private until you are ready to share it. That way, you can have time to build a registry of gifts you need versus just rushing through it. Either way works it just depends onyou guessed ittiming.
Give yourself enough time to decide what gifts you want and to plan. We recommend doing this at least four to six months before the wedding. The sooner you have your registry set up, the longer your guests have to get you the gifts you want. Think about Uncle Henry, who may not be able to make it to the wedding, but wants to send you an advantage in time for the big day. Appropriate notice and planning arent just considerate its important for guests, too.
Mistake : Not Putting Your Registry On Your Wedding Website
The best way to share your registry with guests is through your wedding website. Traditional etiquette indicates that its not required for guests to give a gift, so its best not to share registry information on formal wedding invitations. You can, however, include registry details on an insert in your save-the-dates. Since your wedding website is a hub for important information, its the best way to share gift information with guests.
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Items For The Wedding
Try to avoid registering for items that you plan on using at the weddingdécor items, favors, etc. Not only will you ruin the element of surprise when guests see the items on your registry, theres no guarantee that youll receive the items in time for the big day. It also gives the impression that your guests are paying for your wedding, which is not an appropriate etiquette move.
Is It Okay To Ask For Money Instead Of Gifts
It is completely acceptable to register for cash, says Skurnik, who recommends creating specific cash funds so guests can get excited about contributing to something tangible. Many couples use this opportunity to cover honeymoon expenseshence the rise in popularity of the honeymoon registrybut theres no need to feel limited to that. Create a fund for round-trip airline tickets, theater tickets for two, or a just-married dinner at a fave local restaurant, suggests Skurnick. My husband and I registered for a cash fund to frame our ketubah.
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Is It Okay To Ask For Money Or Gift Cards Instead Of Gifts
Its definitely okay, and you can add cash funds or gift cards on Zola, Trentadue said. Weve found that guests are most likely to contribute to cash funds for something super specific, like a spa day on your honeymoon, a puppy, or a home remodeling project.
Also, you can ask for charitable donations, Lindenman said. She used The Good Beginning for her registry two years ago.
Why Couples Are Adding Honeymoon Registries To Their Target Wedding Registries
Because Target wedding registries do come with some major drawbacks like those listed above, many couples are acknowledging that they might not get everything they want from just one registry and that’s completely okay. It’s not unusual for couples to register at two or three places in order to meet their unique needs.
For this reason, more and more couples are adding honeymoon registries to their Target wedding registries to help fill in the gaps.
Couples that want to politely and strategically ask for cash as a wedding gift often build small Target wedding registries and then add a honeymoon registry. This accommodates those guests who love to buy physical gifts for weddings while also nudging more guests to give cash. When a guest buys a gift on a honeymoon registry, they’re really funding the gift, not booking the flight or hotel, so the money goes directly to you.
Honeymoon registries like Hitchd also offer flexibility in the types of gifts that can be added. Hitchd users can add physical, experience and cash fund gifts to their registries, which opens up a lot of possibilities. If, for example, you want to add a nice sofa to your registry but don’t like the quality of Target’s selection, then you can add a sofa from another store to your honeymoon registry. Some couples split the cost of expensive gifts into smaller amounts so multiple guests can contribute to one large gift.
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How To Register For Wedding Gifts
The couple chooses the wedding gifts they want, and then their friends and family can access their list either in-store or online. The wedding registry gift list is typically updated whenever an item from the list is purchased, showing what is still available for guests to buy.
Occasionally couples feel guilty or greedy for making a list of their must-have items and may choose not to create a registry. But a registry is more of a courtesy for wedding guests rather than a list of demands. A wedding registry is a convenient tool for guests to give the couple a gift that they know the couple wants and will use instead of taking a wild guess and risk purchasing something that the couple doesnt like.
Theres no requirement, of course, that a guest has to pick a gift from the couples registry.
Unique Wedding Registry Ideas
Why not have a few unique items on your registry, no one says wedding registries all have to look the same.
If you are planning on having some unique wedding registry items on your registry you should also try to balance it out with some traditional ones as some guests will prefer to purchase a more traditional gift.
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Do you love different flavors of rum, gin, whiskey, or vodka? Put them down on your wedding registry list, indicating what flavor, type, and product you love the most. A shot or two after a stressful day will leave you invigorated. Dark Jamaican rum which comes in many variants retails for $23.48 on Walmart.
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Things You Intend On Returning
You may be wondering: Why would someone register for a gift they plan on returning? Sometimes in an effort to include more gifts on a registry, a couple might add gifts they have no intention of keepingjust so that their guests have something to buy. The couple will then return the items to receive store credit, gift cards, or cash back. While this may seem like a smart move, returning gifts can be a pain. Plus, your guests want to purchase you gifts that youll actually enjoy and use, so if thats not the plan, dont register for random items. Try a honeymoon or cash registry in addition to a small gift registry.
When Should You Start Your Wedding Registry
Although your wedding invitations are sent out about about 2 months prior to your wedding, you can register with your wedding registry well ahead of this.
A good time to register is typically 7 to 8 months before the wedding. This will just ensure that those that want to plan early have access and can go ahead and purchase gifts.
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