When the wedding planning process began for Will and I back in April, I always envisioned registering for wedding gifts would be one of those fun and easy tasks for us. Now, we are less than six months until our wedding day, and we just recently finished setting up our wedding registry. It has taken us over a month from start to finish. The process was much more confusing and time-consuming than I had imagined it would be!
There are so many options of what to register for and so many ways you can register for gifts. In addition to all the options out there, I got a lot of opinions on what was proper or “normal” when it comes to wedding registries. If I could go back and time and give myself some advice before going down the gift registering road, here are the tips I’d share.
My Wedding Registry Tips
- Get inspired. Looking at other couples registries is a great way to start thinking about what you and your partner should register for.
- Make a game plan. Start by checking out a comprehensive wedding registry list online. I printed off two of the ones below. Then, Will and I went through individually and circled things we thought were needed. This was a great way for us to start the conversation. We discussed what we should register for, noted what we already have and thought about items that can be upgraded.
- Pick a few registries. It is good to register at two to four places because your guests will have their own places they typically shop. Some may also prefer shopping online over a store, or vice versa.
- Take your time. Set aside a couple full days on upcoming weekends for you and your partner to focus on the registry together. Going to a store in person was not originally something I thought was necessary, but for certain bigger items it is definitely helpful to see them.
- Don’t delay. It is ideal not to put off registering for gifts until too late. Aim to register for gifts before the six month mark. You do not want the process to feel rushed, and as I mentioned it can take longer than you think to figure it all out!
- Vary the prices. Don’t register for lots of small things or only a few big things. It is best to have the majority of your gifts be under $100 and then have about 25-30% that are more expensive.
- More is better. Register for more gifts than guests. Now, there is no need to register for 400 gifts when you will have 200 guests, but registering for extra things will make gift buying easier because your guests will have different preferences for shopping and gift giving in general.
- Check in. Keep in mind that certain products or items you register for could go out of stock. Every so often, and especially a couple of weeks before your wedding, check on your registries. Make sure all the items on your list are available and make any necessary tweaks or additions.
- It’s ok to be unconventional. Don’t feel pressured by the opinions of friends or family on what you should register for. Everyone has opinions, but if a certain item will not be used or is not your taste, don’t register for it. Whatever people say, it is absolutely fine to register for unconventional gifts. For some, these can include a honeymoon fund, hammock or a cool bluetooth speaker system. This is your time! Your registry should reflect you and your partner’s tastes.
- Keep a gift tracker. Each time you receive a gift, write what the gift is and who sent it. Many registries have an online system that will track it for you. But, if you are registered at a few places, it is much easier to have one master list when you are writing thank yous.
Here is the Wedding Registry Checklist I used, from PopSugar:
Will and I registered at four places – Macy’s, Pottery Barn, Zola and Amazon. Zola is not as well-known as the other three, but it is a great option to consider for your wedding registry, especially if you would like to include have some unconventional gifts. The bulk of our gifts are from there. They have a huge range of brands and products. There are well-known brands like, KitchenAid, Le Creuset and All-Clad to shop from. In addition, Zola has several unique brands like Creative Co-Op and Brooklyn Slate.
Zola also makes it more possible to get some pricier gifts, by allowing you to activate group gifting. For example, we registered for a KitchenAid mixer on Zola that is $380. With the group gift activated, multiple guests can contribute what they’d like to gift you’ve picked out. The other great differentiator for Zola are the unconventional gift options I mentioned in my tips. Through Zola, you can create a honeymoon fund, add a fun experience in your city or give your guests the option to contribute to something like a down payment on a house (pictured below).
Click here to set up your registry on Zola and get $50!!
Some of the gifts on our registry that we are super excited about include a hammock from Zola, All-Clad pots and pans, Kate Spade wine goblets, a power drill
For Will and I, getting wrapped up in registering for gifts left us feeling a little self-centered and greedy, but we reminded ourselves that these do greatly help your guests. Not only that but these gifts will play a huge role in turning our house into our very first home as a married couple.
What do you think about wedding registries?
Now, I’d love to hear from you. How do you feel about giving and receiving more unconventional wedding gifts? Have you used or bought gifts through Zola before? If you’re married, what were your favorite gifts you received? Is there anything you think ever couple should register for? If you aren’t married what do you look forward to getting one day?
Cheers,
Sarah Camille
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What a great list! I will totally saved this and share this to my friends. Thanks for sharing!
Some really awesome tips there. I have a friend who is getting married in January and is always asking questions about registries. She wants a place for household items!
Great post Sarah! I especially love the dinnerware from Pottery Barn *swoon*. I’ve actually been thinking (for quite a while) about changing ours since we’ve had the same set about 15 years, lol. I just haven’t found what I’m looking for (like BONO 😉 but these are super close if not THE ones I want!
Thanks Cori! That’s awesome you’re in the market for some new dinnerware. It’s one of those things that we see every single day so it is definitely fun to get something you really like. Pottery Barn has some good options and I know my mom has had good luck at Pier 1 too. 😊
Okay that Zola cash fund feature is so cool!! It sounds totally lame but we registered at Walmart (in addition to other traditional ones) and I’m so glad we did!! We moved to a small town where that was the only store in town so those gift cards came in clutch and it made returns so easy!
http://www.therookiewife.com
Haha right?! Walmart isn’t lame at all either. With registries, I think it’s all about doing what works best for you. 😊 Thanks for stopping by!
Though my husband and I decided to forgo the wedding registry list (we instead asked guests to bring a favorite recipe!) I really love how wedding registries are a thing now. I’m so particular about what comes in my home, and I’m sure others are too. It’s nice to know that the gifts you’re bringing aren’t duplicates or something the couple will hate. Thanks for sharing this with us!
It’s so important to vary the prices and provides guests with some sort of flexibility and option! Wish I had this when I got married last year!
Vivian | LIVE IN LOVE
IG | @viviyunn_
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Very helpful tips for those who are newly engaged. I personally don’t need it but I will share with others.
I needed this. In the process of planning ny wedding and I havent the slightest clue what to do regarding the registry.
these are all great tips, it can be so overwhelming sometimes!
These are all really great tips. The varying price tip is key because everyone has a different budgets. Also we the internet shopping these days so many out of state family members will shop online and ship the gift rather then travel with it. Great advice.
We found it was those unconventional gifts, that most people wanted to give! Variety in items and price points was key!
Great ideas!! I specially loved the Wedding Registry Checklist, I’ll use it for my wedding for sure! 😀
xoxo,
Piar
Great tips! WIll keep in mind for when I get to plan a wedding 🙂
I think these days wedding registries can be fun!
It’s a great opportunity to give a great heartfelt gift that a couple can cherish forever 🙂
And congratulations!
These are great tips! They would be very helpful for someone who just got engaged!
Although I won’t be getting married anytime soon, these are some really helpful tips! I love weddings. Congratulations and good luck to you!
This is awesome! Wish I had this list when I got married and registered 4 years ago! All very useful tips! xo
These are awesome tips! I can’t wait to get engaged one day and start planning a wedding 🙂
I love your post. Your tips are very helpful, especially to my friends who are planning their wedding. Thanks for sharing.
Great tips, I just forwarded this post to my sister, she’s getting married next November and will be starting on her registry soon.
Thanks Kari! I hope your sister finds it useful & best wishes to her and her fiancé!!
Nice tips. Ill be sure to use them if I ever get married.
Such great advice! Loving the pics too!
Don’t need this now but will save this for later. I think most couples will have everything for their household already so I’m kind of meh about wedding registries. I like the idea of going the unconventional route. Haha perhaps I’d set something up with ThinkGeek. -Fox