The Do's and Don'ts of Building A Wedding Registry

"When should we start our wedding registry? How do we decide what to put on it? What if we would prefer cash gifts?"

Creating your wedding registry is an exciting part of wedding planning, so try not to let it stress you out! It’s gifts! In celebration of your love! Your wedding registry is a chance for you and your partner to curate a wish list of items that will help you start this next chapter of your life together.

With so many options available, a thoughtful approach will help control the chaos. Luckily, Riley & Grey offers a seamless way to add physical and cash gifts to your registry, directly on your wedding website. In this blog post, we'll explore the do's and don'ts of building your wedding registry to help you kick off this fun, but sometimes overwhelming, process.

Photo by Mizuno K

The Do's

Communicate with Your Partner: Before diving into the registry process, have an open and honest conversation with your partner about your preferences and needs. This will help you create a well-rounded list that reflects both of your tastes and lifestyle.

Register Early: Don't wait until the last minute to build your registry. Start early, ideally as soon as you announce your engagement. This allows your guests to plan ahead and gives you enough time to make any necessary adjustments. Know that what you initially build does not need to be the final result. The registry can evolve as your wedding approaches.

Create a Diverse List: Your wedding registry should encompass a wide range of items and price points. Include both practical and fun items, such as kitchen gadgets, home decor, experiences, and charitable donations. This gives your guests flexibility in choosing a gift that suits their budget.

Register Online and In-Store: You can register as many places as you’d like, and ideally your wedding website has a way to link to all of them seamlessly (hint: Riley & Grey lets you directly add any gift on the Internet, including all major retailers). If that’s the case, consider choosing a retailer or two that offers both online and in-store registry options. This way, guests who prefer to shop online can easily access your list, while others who prefer to visit a physical store can do so.

Be Mindful of Your Guests: Consider the preferences and budgets of your guests. Register for items that align with their tastes and affordability. It's essential to make everyone feel comfortable with their gift choices.

Update Your List Regularly: Keep track of your registry and update it frequently. Items may get purchased, or you might change your mind about certain products. Riley & Grey's registry keeps track of all of your gifts and lets you register for the cash equivalent of a gift, making it easy to change your mind or control the shipping date. Maintain a diverse list to give guests plenty of options.

Photo by Ketut Subiyanto

The Don'ts

Don't Focus Solely on Material Things: While household items are traditional registry choices, don't limit yourself to material possessions. Experiences, like a cooking class or a weekend getaway, can create lasting memories and be a way to extend the festivities.

Don’t Be Afraid to Ask for Cash: With the above in mind, if you’re in a place where you already have a pretty established home, or really just have some larger goals in mind, creating cash funds for specific experiences and goals is a completely appropriate approach to take for your registry. Accompany the registry with a note where you can share what your vision for your life is and why this makes the most sense for you.

Avoid Overloading on High-End Items: While it's great to include a few higher-priced items, avoid adding too many luxury products. Remember that your guests have different financial circumstances, and they may not feel comfortable splurging on expensive gifts. Another alternative is to allow them to be group gifts, or have guests contribute towards the big-ticket items.

Don't Forget Thank You Notes: It's crucial to show gratitude for the gifts you receive. Don't overlook the importance of sending personalized thank-you notes to your guests promptly. You have some wiggle room ahead of your wedding, but having them completed within two to three months of your wedding weekend is ideal.

Don't Hesitate to Seek Advice: If you're feeling uncertain about your choices, don't hesitate to seek advice from friends, family or a registry consultant. Youtube and TikTok are also great places to get inspiration. They can all offer valuable insights and suggestions.

The bottom line - your guests are going to gift the way they want to gift. So, by providing direction and options, you are setting yourselves up to be happy with the end results (your presents). These tips will help you create a well-rounded registry that pleases everyone and gives an opportunity for guests to celebrate your love, share in the joy and support you in the journey to this next stage in life.