How many gifts should be on your wedding registry? When should you begin registering for gifts? What types of gifts are acceptable to add to your registry?
Wedding registries may seem pretty straightforward, but once it's time to create yours, you may find yourself with a lot of questions. We've included all of our answers to the most common questions below to help make this process easy for you.
What is a wedding registry?
A wedding registry is a list of items pre-selected by the couple that guests are encouraged to choose from when picking out gifts. This registry can be used for the wedding gift, as well as any pre-wedding events like the bridal shower, engagement party, etc. A registry helps ensure that guests are getting the couple things that they definitely want and need, while also making sure that they’re not getting duplicate gifts from anyone.
When should We Create A wedding registry?
It can be helpful to set up your wedding registry soon after getting engaged in case people want to celebrate the occasion! If you’re in no rush, just make sure that you have it up a few weeks before any pre-wedding parties so that guests are able to reference it while shopping.
How do We set up a wedding registry?
Traditionally, registries were set up at a few department stores like Macy’s or Bed Bath and Beyond, but most people are now opting for a “universal registry” which is where all of your registered items across all stores are kept in one place. You can still create individual registries at stores in person or online, they’ll all be linked to one location with a universal registry. This is much more convenient for guests and it’s also much easier for you to keep track of everything this way! There are tons of sites to choose from, for example, Zola, Simply Registry, Wedding Wire, and the Knot all offer universal registry options.
What Items Should We Include?
Your wedding registry is meant to be made up of things that will help you and your new spouse build a home together! Common items include cookware, dishware, linens (sheets, comforters, towels, etc.), and décor. Realistically it can include anything you want!
For couples that have already lived together for a while, they may find that they already own many of the traditional registry items, in that case, a good alternative can be to register for experiences. You can register for things like a gift card to your favorite restaurant, dancing lessons, movie tickets, and anything else that would be a fun date night for the two of you. You can also include honeymoon activities! Registering for honeymoon excursions or activities like scuba diving or a couple’s massage is a fun way for people to send you non-physical gifts.
How Many Items Should We Include?
The number of items you should include on your registry depends on the number of guests you’re inviting! The rule of thumb is to include a little more than 2 gifts per number of guests invited. So if you’re inviting 100 people to your wedding, you should include about 225-250 items on your registry. Although this may seem high, it ensures that guests will have ample options when it comes time to pick out your gift. It’s also important to continue adding to the registry as needed. If almost all of your items under a certain price point are scooped up right away, you’ll want to add more so that guests don’t feel forced into more expensive gifts because they’re the only ones left!
How Much Should Items Cost?
It’s important that you offer a range of price points for your registry. This way, people will be able to contribute as much as they’re comfortable with. You’ll want to include items under $25, under $50, under $100, $200, and so on. It’s totally fine to register for some more expensive items as long as your guests have other options. Sites like Zola offer the option to assign multiple people to a gift. For example, if you register for a super nice $400 blender, you can set it up as a group gift. This way, multiple people can make contributions to it if they can’t afford the entire gift on their own! This makes it much easier on your guests’ wallets and it increases the chances of you getting that item.
Can We ask For Money?
Asking for money instead of gifts used to be considered taboo, however, it’s become much more common and socially acceptable in recent years! Many couples would prefer money gifts for the honeymoon or to help save for a house, and that’s totally okay. There are even registry sites specifically geared towards cash gifts, such as Honeyfund. Additionally, universal registry sites like Zola and the Knot allow you to include a “cash” option among the rest of your registered gifts. You can label them “house down payment” or “honeymoon fund” so people know exactly what you’re wanting the money for! This makes it super easy for guests to make cash contributions. Labeling what you plan on doing with the funds is also a good way to get older guests on board who may be reluctant to give cash gifts because of tradition. It’s best to lean on digital features like this rather than explicitly saying that you prefer cash on your website or invitations.
We hope this helps! Remember, anyone who sends you a wedding present should receive a thank you note. This goes for both physical and cash gifts. Check out our 5 Tips When Writing Thank You Notes blog post for advice on making your thank you note writing process as smooth as possible.
FAQs
The number of items you should include on your registry depends on the number of guests you're inviting! The rule of thumb is to include a little more than 2 gifts per number of guests invited. So if you're inviting 100 people to your wedding, you should include about 225-250 items on your registry.
How do you tell people about your wedding registry? ›
There are a few ways to announce your wedding registry to friends and family. You can include registry information in your wedding invitations, spread the word through word of mouth, or post registry details on your wedding website.
Does Amazon wedding registry tell you who bought what? ›
You can view Group Gift contributions by selecting the items in your Wedding Registry or by opening your Thank You List. You'll see the names and addresses of people who have contributed or bought items from your registry, if your guests have opted into sharing their information.
How much should you ask for on wedding registry? ›
Include plenty of options grouped at within price points including under $50, over $100, and a solid selection between $50 to $100, as it's a great range for guests who would like to purchase more than one item to reach their desired spend amount.
How many gifts should I add to my registry? ›
There actually is a magic number for how many gifts you should have on your registry: Multiply your guest list by two, then add a few extras and voila!
What is the etiquette for wedding registry? ›
Information about registries is traditionally spread by word of mouth: The couple lets their close family and friends (usually the wedding party) know where they are registered, so that they can help answer questions from guests. As a guest, it's okay to ask, even of the couple themselves.
How do you politely share your wedding registry? ›
Word of mouth remains a terrific way to inform guests about your registry. Go-to etiquette sources say that it's perfectly fine for the host of your wedding shower to include the registry information in your shower invitations.
Does Amazon tell you who viewed your registry? ›
You can see who has visited your registry and signed your Guestbook when you login to your account and hover over Settings located at the top of the page. From there select the Guestbook option from the drop down menu.
Can you see who has viewed your Wedding Registry? ›
No. Short of those who have signed the guest book, there's no way of personally identifying any anonymous visitor to your website. No, and that would be creepy if you could.
Does my registry tell you who bought what? ›
To find out who purchased an item for you, log in to your account, locate the item, and click the VIEW INFO link for the item marked PURCHASED.
Overly Expensive Gifts
A few pricey household items may be appropriate, but a long list of expensive gifts is a no no. Rule of thumb: if it is something you don't need, or something you could never afford, it does not belong on your registry.
What is the appropriate wedding gift amount for 2024? ›
The average wedding gift amount is $100, which is a solid place to start when thinking about how much to spend on a wedding gift. From there, add or subtract depending on how close you are with the couple, and how far you may be traveling to attend their wedding.
How expensive is too expensive for a wedding registry? ›
Categorize by price point.
You want to register at least one item per person, meaning if you're inviting 150 guests, be sure there's a minimum of 150 gifts on your registry. Try to divide your registry into price points, including under $50, under $100, and under $150. Of course, there's room for items over $150.
Is it rude to get a gift not on the registry? ›
There is no rule that you have to buy a gift the couple has selected for themselves, but there are times to stray from the registry that are better than others. If you know the couple well and are familiar with their tastes and preferences, feel free to pick out something for them.
How many towels to put on a wedding registry? ›
We suggest between 14-24 total towels per two-person household.
What is the average amount of items on a wedding registry? ›
The rule of thumb is to include a little more than 2 gifts per number of guests invited. So if you're inviting 100 people to your wedding, you should include about 225-250 items on your registry. Although this may seem high, it ensures that guests will have ample options when it comes time to pick out your gift.
How do you introduce a wedding registry? ›
How to Inform Guests of Registry. Let guests know by word of mouth and on your wedding website. Be sure to tell your close family and wedding party where you are registered, as they will likely be asked. Don't include any registry or gift information on the wedding invitation or any of the enclosures.
When should you announce your wedding registry? ›
There are prototypical timelines based on wedding etiquette regarding when you make your registry available to friends, guests, and family. For example, between one year and nine months before your wedding, and at least two weeks ahead of your first wedding shower.
How do I inform people about my wedding? ›
"We are delighted to announce that our wedding will take place on [date] at [location]. We hope you can join us to celebrate this special day with us." "We are honoured to invite you to our wedding on [date] at [location]. We would be delighted to have you with us to share this unforgettable event."
How do you invite people to your wedding registry? ›
Fast forward to today and the best ways to notify guests about registry information are on a wedding website, by word of mouth and on a wedding shower invitation.
