As the old adage goes, it’s the thought that counts. Still, not all couples want the same things from their wedding guests and, in this day and age, most newlyweds may already have most of what you’ve already thought of giving them since they’ve probably been living together for a while. Thankfully, honeymoon registries can help you give newlyweds something they are sure to appreciate.
What are honeymoon registries?
A honeymoon registry is an online tool that allows couples to receive gifts during their honeymoon. This gift can be either in the form of goods or experiences that they might enjoy during this very intimate time after their wedding.
For example, you can use the registry to have a bottle of wine delivered to their hotel room. You can either pay for it in full or you can partially foot the bill, so the couple doesn’t have to pay the full price.
The best part about the registry is that you’ll be giving something that the couple wants since the registry was built by the couple itself. Through registries, you’ll be able to gift newlyweds with candlelit dinners, massages, and vacation activities while they’re on their honeymoon. And while couples will always appreciate that new cutlery set they received at the wedding, you can bet they will love it just as much if you treated them to a ziplining experience on their honeymoon adventure.
How can we build a wedding registry?
As a newlywed couple, you can create a registry via one of the many digital cash registries online. You can start a fund for either the whole honeymoon experience or for certain parts of it, such as the travel, hotel accommodations, or parts of the itinerary like different tours and vacation experiences. You can also choose whether you want to set the exact costs of each fund or keep the total cost hidden (so that guests can give whatever amount they feel like giving).
From there, any amount given by guests will be deposited into your bank account, allowing you to do whatever you want with the money. Of course, ideally the money should go where you originally intended, but if plans change, why not use it elsewhere? After all, it is your honeymoon.
How can we tell people about the registry?
Your guests won’t be able to make donations unless they know about your wedding registry. The best way to let them know is to put up a link on your wedding’s website. After all, most weddings nowadays do have their own websites (especially since you’re setting up the registry online anyway). Just post a link to the registry on your website so they can directly access it from there.
Of course, it helps to give a description of what you want to do on your honeymoon. It’s a way for you to give the guests an idea of what you’re going for and how much you’ll need. From there, you’ll eventually start receiving donations from friends and family who want to help make your honeymoon the experience of a lifetime.
Some recommended honeymoon registries
There are different kinds of wedding registries online, but some of these sites specialize in providing honeymoon registries, so it’s better that you go for these instead of generic registries. Here are some good ones to look at first.
1. Wanderable
It’s important to personalize the registry, and Wanderable lets you do just that with lots of captivating visuals and other features. It has a space for you to put photographs, lets you use a feature that facilitates storytelling, and even allows for an itemized wish list. You also get to choose how you receive the gifts sent to you. Whether you prefer to get them through checks, gift cards, or cash deposits, it’s all up to you. The registry can also be accessed via a mobile app, making it easier for couples to make decisions while they’re on the go.
2. Tendr
Tendr actually lets you create registries for pretty much any kind of event, but they are also used for honeymoon registries. It’s easy to create a honeymoon fund by making an occasion page and putting up a description of what the plans are. Those who make a donation will be charged a convenience fee of $3, but the couple won’t be charged anything.
3. Honeymoon Wishes
This site has been around for quite some time, and they’ve served hundreds of thousands of customers, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that they’re well equipped for it. Honeymoon Wishes offers a wide selection of tools that not only help you with your honeymoon but assist with the wedding planning as well. You can download announcement cards as well as track those thank you cards.
Another thing that makes this online registry unique is the way it lets donors give you presents. Aside from being able to choose how you can receive your donations, guests themselves can opt to make payments directly to partnered establishments like hotels, so you don’t have to play the middleman anymore.
4. Honeyfund
This one was featured on Shark Tank and is known to function quite similar to a crowdfunding site, unlike most travel funding sites. The good thing is that you’ll be able to get contributions not only for your honeymoon but also for the wedding itself. If you’re interested, you can also put up a registry for charities and social causes you might want to support. Users don’t need to pay anything to be able to use the site, but they do offer additional features for elite members, who pay a small fee for the privilege.
So, if you feel like getting better gifts than the usual kitchenware, you might want to try getting people to fund your honeymoon adventure instead. Setting up a wedding registry is easy and fun!