This archive report was first published on 27 August 2019.
With wedding season in full swing, many couples are turning to wedding registries to help guide their guests in choosing the perfect gift. But, as we've learned, a wedding registry is not just about you – it's about creating a personal bond with the people who are celebrating your next chapter.
According to a 2018 NerdWallet Harris Poll survey, 64 percent of American gift-givers prefer traditional registry items over honeymoon contributions. So, instead of asking for one cash pool toward your honeymoon, break it down into a gift toward a dinner at a popular restaurant, a night's hotel stay, or a vineyard excursion.
Ms. Spector recommends registering for tangible objects that speak to various facets of your personality, so friends who share them will delight in giving you that gift. For example, if you're an ardent dessert lover, register for a cake stand that a friend who loves to bake has chosen.
Guests can't give you what you really want unless you give them access to it, so instead of one-stop shopping in a big-box store, consider visiting a few smaller shops that match your style. You can also sign up at a registry site like Zola, which incorporates items and services from a mix of popular home-good brands, boutiquey online finds, and gift cards from airlines and spas.
“Not everything needs to be 'click to buy,’” said Zoe Settle, a New York City interior design consultant. If you've had your eye on the perfect armchair from a local antique shop, “let a few close friends know and trust they might chip in for it,” she said.
That means registering for plenty of gifts in a range of prices (so everyone can find lots of choices with prices they can afford) and replenishing as the list gets depleted – so people don't resort to off-registry gifts, which may or may not lead to results that spark joy.
