Planning for your wedding can be a stressful time. There are so many things to think about and plan for, from the dress to the venue. And one of the most important things to think about is your wedding registry.
Your wedding registry is a list of gifts that you would like to receive from your guests. It can be anything from household items to more items like jewelry or clothing. It’s like the godfather of shopping experiences. Name it and you can have it. Some of the stuff you’ve even added because people told you to do so, but you’re not even sure why it’s on there.
But do you really need to fill your house with new fine china, linens, blenders, pots and pans? Or are they just going to sit around collecting dust? Maybe you’re just asking for things for the sake of filling the list. These days with climate change looming and the ever-growing waste issues, could there be a better option?
Traditional Wedding Registries Are a Thing of the Past in 2022!
The traditional wedding registry is quickly becoming a thing of the past. In their place, honeymoon and experience-based registries are on the rise. And for good reason! This type of wedding registry allows you to do something more than cluttering your house with potentially unwanted wedding gifts.
There’s a New Kid on The Block
Millennials are known for shaking up the status quo and the wedding industry is no exception. We’re seeing a shift away from traditional weddings and towards the more modern and unique, honeymoon experience route when it comes to their big day.
Experience-Based Wedding Registry You Say?
An experience-based registry is exactly what it sounds like – a wedding registry full of experiences rather than physical gifts. You can craft the perfect honeymoon, then have your wedding guests pay for individual aspects of it.
For example, you could register for items like airfare or whatever else you may think of and allow people to contribute towards them. You could then add a host of different experiences in which friends and family can purchase off this list. This service is known as a honeymoon wedding registry.
Traditional Wedding Registries vs. Honeymoon Registries
Traditional wedding registries are so outdated. Here’s why you should avoid traditional wedding registries:
You really don’t need all that stuff
Let’s face it, you probably don’t need more stuff in your house. How many more towels or app trays can one couple own? At some point, you’re destined to run out of space.
Maybe there are a few things you would like to have purchased, but may be an item from every guest is a bit excessive. The payment as a group could easily go towards something larger.
It’s less fun and rememberable
When you are old and grey, are you going to remember swimming with dolphins off the Hawaiian coast or that bone china tea set auntie Mourine bought you? In the end, gifts don’t matter. When you’re married, it becomes about the experiences with one another.
You can’t take them with you when you move
Physical items are big and bulky. Most of the time when people decide to live together they throw lots of things away. Many couples end up throwing away wedding presents after they have collected dust in the basement for a long time.
You may not even use half of what people buy you
Do you really need 12 champagne flutes or will four do? Traditional registry items are often things that people think you should have. In reality, you might use them once and hide them away in the back of a cupboard for the remainder of your life. Eventually, you’ll run out of room.
Lots of waste
Often physical items come in packaging that creates a lot of waste. This is something you might not have thought about. This is important to consider especially when you add up the amount from all the gifts you would get.
Guests may not know what to buy you
Guests can search every store out there trying to think of the perfect gift for couples. That’s the last thing couples want to put onto their friends and family. Allow your wedding guests to forgo hitting the stores and instead check out online registries for a gift you and your partner will truly enjoy.
You could get duplicate items
With a traditional registry, you run the risk of getting duplicate items. Why would anyone but a baker need more than one bread maker?
Why Honeymoon Registries Reign Supreme
With the rise of technology, there’s a new kid on the block. Here’s why honeymoon registries are taking over the wedding gift-giving process:
You get experiences rather than physical things
With a honeymoon registry, you can ask for help to fund your dream experience-based honeymoon plus activities to do while away.
You can do fun things on your honeymoon that you may not have otherwise been able to do
You wouldn’t usually splurge $300 on a 45-minute helicopter ride. Honeymoon registries allow you to afford these things. And you won’t feel guilty for feeling like you’ve wasted money you couldn’t afford.
Guests can buy their gifts on the go as it’s all online
Your registry will be completely online so wedding goers can purchase their items while out and about using their smartphones.
Guests prefer this route to giving cash
It’s more personal to them than just giving you cash. Plus they get to see directly where their money is going and for what experience.
You’ll get your own personal wedding website
A honeymoon registry gives you a personalized wedding website to help keep track of your gifts and thank your guests. Plus there is added functionality including wedding information and RSVP capabilities.
It supports eco-friendly and sustainable travel
You have control over the money. So you can make sure to keep your travel eco-friendly and include only sustainable activities on your list.
So, How Do You Set Up a Honeymoon Registry?
There are a few different ways to go about it. The first is to create a registry through an online registry provider. Hitchd is a great option but there are others to choose from.
To Get Started You’ll Need to:
- Create your account and password
- Set up your website with photos and wedding information
- Add your gifts to the registry and send out your link so people can start to send through the gifts
In a Nutshell
Wedding registries are out and experience-based honeymoon registries are in. If you’re looking for something unique and memorable, ditch the china and go for an adventure!
With Hitchd you’ll be able to do just that. Sign up today and make your fairytale honeymoon unfold before your eyes.
Fund memories, not things.
The modern registry where guests fund your dream honeymoon. It's simple and beautiful. Start your registry