5 Alternatives to a Traditional Wedding Registry
Many modern couples live together and complete their homes long before tying the knot—which means they don't have a need for traditional registries. But just because their home is complete, doesn't mean other aspects of their lives are. Whether you need help funding your honeymoon, want to donate to charity, or simply want cash, there's a registry out there for you.
HONEYFUND Weddings are expensive, and couples often forget to leave room in their budget for a honeymoon. It's also becoming much more common for brides and grooms to wait a few months before jetting off into honeymoon bliss. For those couples, a site like Honeyfund is a great option. Create a profile with all the information you have about your trip and "register" for things like a couple's massage, upgraded seats on the flight, or a larger suite. When guests gift you one of these, it automatically goes into your account and keeps track of what you've received just as a traditional registry does. CHARITY REGISTRY For the couples who want to make their wedding a charitable event, there are tons of options for gifting to charity. You can select a specific charity and have your guests write out checks to them or you can use sites like Simple Registry or Blueprint Registry that let you add "fundraising" to your registry, in addition to more traditional items.
Steve Steinhardt PhotographyZOLA If you want to give your guests options, Zola is the best way to do it. The site is tailored for modern couples and lets you create a registry that incorporates home items, honeymoon funds, experiences, jewelry and even cash all in one place. Plus, the site offers free shipping on all tangible items and only charges a credit card processing fee for cash gifts. The bride and groom can even exchange gifts they receive before they reach their door or convert items they don't want into Zola credit to shop for themselves. GIFT CARD REGISTRY Do you know what stores you love, but don't have the time to pick out specific items? Opt for a gift card registry. Card Avenue is a great option, allowing guests to purchase gift cards from your stores of choice. The site has cards from over 250 stores and even offers discounts on certain ones. And the best part? It only takes about five minutes to set up so you can move on to other things, like picking out your invites!
Kelsey Combe PhotographyNO REGISTRY This one may seem a bit too alternative to many, but if you're just hoping for checks or cash, the best way to do so is by not having a registry at all. Guests won't show up to a wedding empty handed (at least we hope so!), and if they have no registry to guide them, they will just resort to checks. It's the simplest way to do this and allows you to cross something else off your to-do list!
Coco Tran No matter which registry type you choose, just make sure your guests are aware of your option and understand how to use it. While these methods are becoming more common, they are still confusing to many older guests. Post on your website with detailed instructions and be prepared to answer questions about your alternative choice. Happy registering! Style Me Pretty Contributor - Jessica Tzikas is a freelance writer, editor, and content manager from South Florida, who recently moved back to the sunshine state after living in Philadelphia for the past few years. When she isn't writing, you can find her reading by the beach, practicing yoga, and exploring nearby towns with her new husband.
