How to Make a Wedding Registry: Simple Answers to Common Questions

 

If you’re planning a wedding, or have been invited to one this season, you’ve probably heard about wedding registries. You might be wondering what they are, if you need one, or how to choose the best gift from the list. We’re here to answer all these questions and more – starting with the most common. 

 

What is a wedding registry? 

 

A wedding registry is a wish list for soon-to-weds: a list of items, services, or experiences that a couple would like to receive as wedding gifts – or the money to pay for these things. 

 

5 Common types of wedding registries

 

• Traditional registry: This registry includes useful items for your home, such as kitchen tools, dinnerware, or linens.

 

• Experience registry: This registry includes items and services that create shared experiences and memories, such as camping gear, cooking lessons, or a spa date.

 

• Cash fund / money registry: This type of registry allows guests to donate money toward a big-ticket purchase or long term goal, such as a honeymoon fund, new car or appliances, or home renovations. 

 

• Charitable registry: This type of registry includes one or more charitable organizations, which guests can contribute to instead of purchasing a wedding gift. 

 

• ‘All in one’ wedding registry: This type of registry is increasingly popular because it lets couples register for anything they want from each category (physical items, experiences, cash funds, etc), all in one place. It’s also called a ‘universal registry’ or ‘hybrid registry.’

 

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(Photo: AscentXmedia / iStock)
 

 

How did the wedding registry tradition start? 

 

The wedding registry tradition got its start in the 1920s, when a popular department store chain created a unique “bridal registry” program. The program was created to boost sales, reduce the number of returned gifts the store had to process, make gift giving easier for guests, and make receiving gifts more enjoyable for couples. 

 

Related: 5 Strange and Delightful Wedding Traditions From The Past

 

It was a simple idea: couples would write down a list of items that they would like to have from the store’s inventory, and communicate to guests to check the list before making a purchase. Each time an item was purchased, staff would cross it off the list. This made sure that happy couples wouldn’t end up with five food processors, or a fondue set they’ll never use. 

 

The registry program was very profitable for the stores and widely appreciated by shoppers and newlyweds, and was quickly adopted by many other department stores and shops. Soon, the ‘bridal registry’ was renamed a ‘wedding registry,’ lists moved online, and the practice became a common tradition around the country.  

 

Related: 7 Ultimate Engagement Gifts To Make a Couple’s Wedding Planning a Breeze

 

 

What kind of wedding registry should you choose? 

 

Many couples who are just starting out, or starting over, choose a traditional registry as a chance to set their homes up for happy living. This is an opportunity to receive a large number of home items at once, like nice sheets and towels, kitchen basics, home and yard tools, dinnerware, and decor. 

 

On the other hand, maybe you’ve been living together for years and the last thing you need is more stuff at home. In this case, you might want to choose an experience registry, as a way to explore fun activities and make new memories as married people. 

 

Related: How to Budget for a Wedding: 8 Simple Steps

 

If you’re saving up for a large purchase or financial goal, a money or fund registry might be the best fit. This is a great way to ‘crowdfund’ your future, with the help of friends and family who love you. 

 

And if creating a ‘wish list’ feels weird to you, but you know your loved ones want to give a gift, a charitable registry is a simple way to accept gifts without the pressure. This is also a great choice for couples who are already well-off financially, or deeply passionate about a specific cause.

 

And of course, many couples choose a few items from each category with an all-in-one wedding registry! 

 

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What to put on your wedding registry?

 

Once you know the type of wedding registry you want, it’s time to fill your wish list with handpicked items in a range of prices. (We cover the recommended price range in the next section.) Depending on your registry type, you might select items that: make your home feel more welcoming and 'settled,' create new memories or encourage new adventures, help you pay for big dreams and goals, or help causes you're passionate about.

 

Common items on a traditional wedding registry include: 

 

• Kitchen knife set
• Luxury bedsheets
• Casserole dishes 
• One-pot cooker, crockpot, or air fryer
• Barware
• Smart home devices & home gadgets
• Grills, smokers, and party hosting equipment

 

Common items on an experience wedding registry include: 

 

• Cooking lessons
• Dance classes
• Concert tickets, movie passes, museum and zoo passes
• Niche subscription services (board game of the month, beer, coffee, or meat of the month, etc.) 
• Camping gear and outdoor equipment
• Musical instruments and art supplies

 

Common items on a money / fund wedding registry: 

 

• Honeymoon or vacation fund
• New pet or new child fund
• Student loan payoff fund
• Home purchase or renovation fund
• Appliances or new car fund

Common items on a charitable wedding registry: 

 

• Local charities and organizations
• Environmental charities
• Youth and teen organizations
• Arts and literacy organizations

Common items on an ‘all in one’ wedding registry: 

 

Remember, universal registries include a couple’s favorite items from each category, and are very personalized: 

 

• Luxurious sheets and towels
• Weekend winery trip fund
• Concert tickets
• Gardening tools
• Air fryer
• Spice-of-the-month subscription

 

 

(Photo:  Brandy / Pexels)

 

 

What price range for a wedding registry? 

 

It’s considerate to keep your guests in mind when choosing items for your wish list, especially when it comes to cost! Since everyone’s finances look different, choose items in a wide range of prices – $5 to $500 – to make sure all guests can show their love and support without going over their budget. On average, guests spend $35 to $150 on wedding gifts, so most experts recommend having the majority of your list items fall within this range.

 

Including items from a range of price-points is especially thoughtful if you’re also asking guests to follow a dress code that might require clothing purchases, to cover personal travel expenses to your venue, or to pay for refreshments at your celebration.

 

Related: Plan a ‘Guest Friendly’ Wedding & Help Stop Guest Burnout

 

 

What should you not put on your wedding registry?

 

In general, experts recommend that couples not put personal items on a registry if they are only for one person, rather than a shared item for the couple. This includes personal clothing, makeup, fragrances, and jewelry. 

 

For example, a makeup palette might be a bad choice if it can only be used by one person in the marriage – but a special effects makeup kit for two theater nerds who will both enjoy it might be a great choice!

 

It's also a good idea to avoid adding any adult-themed or intimacy-related items to your registry. This advice really applies to all couples, but especially if your guest list includes a mix of people (like coworkers, religious or reserved relatives, and children).  R-rated gifts are more appropriate for a playful bach party or pre-wedding bash. 

 

In addition, many wedding etiquette experts agree that it's in bad taste to add anything wedding-related to your registry – whether it's seasonal wedding decor or donations to a cash fund to pay for live entertainment.  

 

How much to put on your wedding registry?

 

How many gifts should you add to a wedding registry list? If you’re planning a traditional registry, or a registry with a mix of physical items and services, experts recommend multiplying your guest list by two (2) to determine the number of items to add: 

 

(total guest number) x 2 = (the number of gifts in your registry)

 

Some industry experts recommend multiplying your guest count by 2.5 if you’re also planning a wedding shower with gifts – since guests who come to both events may want to purchase a gift to each one. 

 

Related: Who Should You Invite to your Wedding?

 

 

(Photo: Reymond Casas Irog-irog  / Pexels)

 

Which stores offer a wedding registry service?

 

There are currently hundreds of stores, online marketplaces, and apps providing wedding registry services – and the list is constantly expanding!

 

Major retailers like Pottery Barn, Crate & Barrel, Target, Costco, and Macy’s offer online wedding registries. Amazon and Etsy marketplaces offer registry services too; and wedding-industry-leaders The Knot and Zola both offer modern “all in one” wedding registry options that let couples choose items and services from stores all over the world. Other commonly mentioned choices are MyRegistry, Joy (formerly WithJoy), Honeyfund, and Traveler's Joy. 

 

Here’s a summary of these commonly-mentioned options above, and the type of registry they provide:

 

• The Knot Wedding Registry
  (universal registry / all-in-one option)
• Zola Wedding Registry
  (universal registry / all-in-one option)
• Pottery Barn
  (traditional registry option)
• Crate & Barrel
  (traditional registry option)
• Target  
  (traditional registry option)
• Costco  
  (traditional registry option)
• Macy’s  
  (traditional registry option)
• Amazon  
  (traditional registry and cash fund option)
• Etsy  
  (traditional registry option)
• MyRegistry
  (universal registry / all-in-one option)
• Joy
  (formerly WithJoy; universal registry / all-in-one option)
• Honeyfund
  (cash fund and experience registry)
• Traveler’s Joy
  (cash fund and experience registry)
• And countless others!

 

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Wedding Gift Ideas & Planning Inspiration from AMM

 

• What to do After Getting Engaged in 20 Simple Steps
   
• 10 Questions to Help You Choose a Unique Wedding Gift
   
• Toilet Paper is the Latest Wedding Gift Trend (Really)
   
• What to Write in a Wedding Card (Based on How Well You Know the Couple)
   

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The Most Meaningful Wedding Gift of All? Have a Friend or Relative Officiate Your Wedding! 

 

Officiating a wedding for loved ones is one of the most meaningful gifts around. It’s a gift to the officiant to be trusted with the honor of leading a wedding – and it’s an incredible gift to the newlyweds to perform their wedding. Everyone leaves feeling the love! 

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Have a friend officiate your wedding with free online ordination through American Marriage Ministries. Then, use our free wedding officiant training resources to write a personalized wedding ceremony script, learn about the marriage license process, and prepare for the wedding day. 

 

 

Become an ordained minister with free online ordination from AMM to officiate weddings for friends and family! (Photo: Tash Jones - Love Luella Photography / iStock)

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