Cross-store wedding gift registry alternatives

Traditional wedding registries allow an engaged couple to discreetly inform family and friends about their preferences in towel colors, china patterns, and flatware designs. While classic registries are valuable for young, never-before-married couples, many brides and grooms aren’t planning a wedding until later in their lives. By then, many couples already possess the toasters, glasses, and cookware that make up the bulk of traditional registries. For more and more couples, cross-store and alternative registries allow them to select useful gifts they will enjoy throughout their marriage.

Cross-Store Gift Registry Alternatives: Types

There are several different types of alternative registries. The most common is the universal or centralized registry, which incorporates gift choices from multiple stores into a single list. This type of registry is easy to create on the internet, and large metropolitan areas often have specialized registry companies to coordinate this service for local boutiques. Selected gifts may be linked to a specific store, or guests may purchase the exact item from different stores, whichever is most convenient.

Another alternative registry is the big-ticket registry, where the couple can register for large, nontraditional items such as furniture sets or expensive electronics. Guests contribute to the purchase price without needing to pay for the entire item, and dozens of guests can coordinate to complete the purchase. Registries can also be arranged for a car or home down payment through banks or mortgage lenders. If a couple already owns a home, a landscaping registry may be useful, allowing guests to purchase plants, patio equipment, garden lighting, or water effects.

Investment registries allow a couple to plan for their future right from their wedding day. Couples can register for different stocks, either creating a new portfolio or expanding on one they already manage. Stocks can be chosen with a personal connection, such as stock in the company where the couple works. Sentimental stocks, such as flower companies or travel agencies associated with the courtship and wedding, are also favored. Charitable registries are also on the rise, where a couple registers for donations to their favorite charities in lieu of more traditional gifts.

An increasingly common type of gift registry is the honeymoon registry. Typically arranged through a travel agent, this registry allows the couple to have guests pay for portions of their honeymoon, from contributing to the cost of airfare to arranging special extras like spa treatments or vintage wine and chocolates. Like the big-ticket registry, guests can pool their resources to purchase more expensive items, and couples are often able to upgrade to more luxurious honeymoons than originally planned.

Cross-Store Gift Registry Alternatives: Benefits

Cross-store registries have several benefits over traditional registries. By using centralized registries, a couple avoids registering for duplicate items at different stores, and the registry list can be easily updated. Via the internet, guests are able to select items unavailable at local stores. Online registries also allow couples to request more unusual gifts, such as artwork or antiques.

The best advantage of big-ticket registries is that guests are able to pool their resources toward a single gift. If not enough money is collected for that item, the bride and groom may have the option of selecting a similar but less expensive piece, giving them greater flexibility with their registry. Honeymoon registries collect all the gifts and send a lump sum check to the couple just before their wedding date, allowing them to rearrange the gifts if their itinerary changes.

Cross-Store Gift Registry Alternatives: Problems

While cross-store and alternative registries may seem like the perfect choice for an established or older couple, there are several problems. Registries involving several stores often charge a processing fee, increasing the cost for the guests. Honeymoon and big-ticket registries may charge a commission based on the total amount of money collected, decreasing the amount the couple actually receives.

Most cross-store registries are located online, which presents a problem for guests without computer access. Furthermore, some people may be offended at the notion of contributing to such expensive, nontraditional items, especially if a couple is already well established. It is best if a couple also completes a small traditional registry, allowing guests different options. Regardless of the type of registry a couple uses, no mention of gifts or registries should be included with invitations or announcements, which could make a gift seem like the cost of admission to the wedding celebration. Registry information is best spread by word-of-mouth alone.

By using cross-store gift registry alternatives, every bride and groom can easily select meaningful gifts for their lifestyle. While gifts are never mandatory, guests will be grateful for the opportunity to purchase items that will be welcomed rather than returned, and alternative registries allow guests to contribute whatever amount they are comfortable with. The thoughtfulness of both the giver and the recipient will lead to treasured wedding gifts that are long remembered and appreciated.