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There’s no denying that planning a wedding involves a bit of sticker shock. From venue rates to floral costs to catering fees, it’s easy to rack up quite the bill to host your family and friends to witness and celebrate your upcoming marriage. One tradition to help offset that investment in your big day? The wedding registry.
Essentially, the wedding registry is a shoppable wish list of all the things you and your partner need (and want) as you begin your married life together—as well as a helpful tool for your guests to find a wedding gift that you’ll actually appreciate writing a thank-you note for. Purchasing a gift is an expected courtesy in exchange for hosting them at your wedding, so registering for items makes the gifting process seamless and easy on both ends.
Ready to start building out that wish list? Ahead, learn more about how to dive into creating a registry and curating the best selection for post-wedded bliss.
What to Include in a Registry
While registries of yesteryear often were based on a list based at one store, today, they can encompass everything from niche designer goods to honeymoon funds to relationship counseling gift cards. “Your registry is a really personal thing, and should be tailored to whatever is important to you as a couple, and where you are in your life together. Don’t be afraid to make your registry your own, and don’t feel pressured to add things that you don’t have interest in,” says Allison Cullman, Vice President of Brand Marketing Strategy at wedding website and registry company Zola.
Items to build your home together are some of the most common items found on a registry. Traditionally, many couples would move in together after marriage and needed items to fill their new space. As more couples cohabitate before marriage, registries allow them to enhance their existing interiors. “Cookware is a staple for all registries—whether couples are starting their kitchen basics with Le Creuset or foodies upgrading to chef favorite pieces from Hestan,” shares Diana Clontz, director of The Registry at Bloomingdale’s. “For entertaining, whether couples aspire to more formal dining or prefer something more casual and trend-driven, our concierges love helping couples mix and match to add versatility to tablescapes for any occasion. Adding color, personality, and craftsmanship to the dining table is becoming increasingly popular with colored glassware from brands like Estelle Glass and bold patterns from brands like Ginori and Le Double J.” Other home essentials frequently found on registry lists include bedding, espresso machines, and a few “luxury splurge items,” she notes.
“My one piece of advice is: Knowing what I know now, if I could go back in time, I would register for more settings,” advises Vogue contributing editor and Over The Moon founder Alexandra Macon. “When you’re younger, it feels like you’ll never be in a situation where you might have 14 people over for dinner, but then suddenly, years later, you have three kids, and having 14 people over for dinner isn’t out of the realm of possibility.”
While most registry platforms provide you the opportunity to add more well-known brands to your selection, those who lean towards shopping from smaller businesses might appreciate the curation at sites like Over The Moon and spennie. “Our goal is to help you source items to not only build your home, but finish your home and make your life better,” says spennie founder Elizabeth Wexler. “I always compare it to that feeling of walking into that beautiful home store in Sag Harbor and being like, ‘Wow, I want my apartment to look like this. I love everything here.’ Well, why shouldn t you be able to register for those items?”
“The most important thing is to have fun with your registry and allow yourself enough time to build it out,” says Macon. “Unlike other sterile sites that feel transactional, the Over The Moon registry is emotionally driven and aesthetically appealing while also being incredibly utilitarian. Couples are able to add gifts from hundreds of thoughtfully curated brands on Over The Moon and can choose to have them shipped a la carte or all at once. Over The Moon registry users even have the ability to include items that aren’t on Over The Moon to their registry via a custom Bookmarklet that goes in their browser toolbar.”
Registries don’t have to translate to physical items, either. “Just like you can use your registry for upgrades and gifts you wouldn’t necessarily buy yourself—you can use it for more practical purposes,” says Cullman. “If you and your partner already share a home, you might want to create a no-fee cash fund for home improvements. If you and your partner love to travel, you could register for your honeymoon fund, airline gift cards, and new luggage. We always recommend that couples add a variety of types of gifts—from physical items, to gift cards, to experiences, and no-fee cash funds. This not only helps you register for things you actually want, but ensures guests have options.”
Speaking of guests, you should be thoughtful of who is attending your wedding and what they can afford. Wedding guests are typically expected to give a gift ranging from $50 to $150. While some close relatives might be able to purchase big ticket items around $500, your younger cousin in college might not be able to shell out more than $30. Making sure you have registry items at a variety of price points is key. “We recommend that you register for inexpensive items that can be bundled or purchased individually in the $25-50 range, and at least one cash fund or group gift,” recommends Cullman. “Group gifts tend to be higher price items (like, your honeymoon), which gives guests the option to contribute however much they are comfortable with, towards something that you really want.”
How to Share Your Registry With Guests
So, how can your guests find your registry? The easiest way to go about it is to provide the information on your wedding website. Carve out a section in the Q&A or include an entire section dedicated to the registry. If you decide to register at multiple stores or platforms, be sure to indicate that and provide all appropriate links to your guests.
You may also want to provide the option of shopping a registry the old-fashioned way by registering at retailers like Bloomingdales that offer an in-store experience. “Since the most immersive experience is in our stores, many couples and their loved ones will turn this first moment into a fun afternoon to touch and feel the product,” says Clontz.
It’s important to think of your less tech-savvy guests as well. To ensure they can find your registry (and avoid a barrage of phone calls with follow-up questions), include a note on or insert with your wedding invitation directing guests to the website or the store you are registered at. As Cullman says, “You can even add a QR code for easy access!”
