We’ve all seen the movies where couples or brides and their friends are seen running around the department store with price guns trying to decide what to put on a wedding registry. Some of those movies can be pretty dramatic, but is coming up with wedding registry ideas all that difficult?
Wedding registry items can be pretty daunting for the average engaged couple. After all, the wedding planning process can be both exciting AND overwhelming.
What exactly should you put on a wedding registry checklist anyway?
Wedding Registry Ideas
It can be hard for the betrothed couple to come up with wedding registry items to put on their wedding registry. Some people have reservations about what kind of items to put, what price range to stay in, or even having a wedding registry to begin with.
If you’re getting married, you can have a wedding registry. That’s the basic rule. If you are having a celebration of eternal love with your partner, you can create a wedding registry. People assume they’re only allowed to have wedding registries if they’re throwing a big wedding. That’s not necessarily true.
Cash Funds and Gift Cards
Not every engaged couple starting a life together needs all the entertaining essentials and kitchen appliances. In fact, many couples choose not to have in-store or online registries. Instead of wedding registry ideas for items, they ask for monetary donations to a cash fund or gift cards.
Honeymoon Fund
Not every couple can afford a honeymoon, so some may ask for donations instead of physical wedding presents. This is an excellent wedding gift idea for the couple who might have a preference for experiences together rather than the counter space for household items.
House Fund
Wedding planning can be hard but buying a new house is much harder (and usually more expensive.) Consider opting out of wedding presents and ask for donations to a house fund for the future home of your dreams.
Airbnb Gift Card
An Airbnb gift card can be an excellent gift for newlyweds. Even if you can’t afford a honeymoon out of town, a local Airbnb can be a fun alternative to a hotel room. There’s a wide range of rates for 1-2 days. Even a getaway from home with the two of you can be nice.
Car Fund
Just like the honeymoon fund and house fund, some couples may need a new car. This is an appropriate wedding gift to put on your wish list.
Wedding Registry Items
The most popular wedding registry ideas come from things you’ll think the couple will use in their life together. They may not be the most unique wedding registry ideas, but they call them classics for a reason. Many of these items are some of the top wedding registry items in most wedding registry lists.
Here’s our ultimate wedding registry checklist for items you may get use out of in married life.
- Stand mixer
- Dinner plates/ fine china
- Dining table
- Coffee maker
- Pressure cooker
- Cocktail shaker
- Dutch oven
- Cast iron pan
- Bath towels
- Champagne flutes /wine glasses
- Bed in a bag
They may not be the most interesting ideas, but sometimes the best wedding registry ideas are the items that the couple will use. Of course, make sure it’s somewhat personal. Don’t get the betrothed a coffee maker if you know for a fact they don’t drink coffee. Keep your couple in mind and purchase a gift you know they will use lovingly.
Your Guide to Wedding Gifts for the Wedding Party
Not everyone can afford to purchase gifts for their wedding or bridal party. And that’s okay. The wedding party is there to support you and your future spouse on what should be one of the happiest days of your life. That being said, if you want to give the wedding party gifts, we’ve got a few ideas for you.
Wedding Gifts for the Bride, Maid of Honor, and Mothers of the Bride & Groom
Some of these may seem more geared toward the bride as opposed to the maid of honor or mother of the bride and groom. Some of these ideas may have higher or lower price points than what might fit your budget.
Full-Length Mirror
Everyone needs a full-length mirror to use as they get dressed. This would most likely be a better gift for the bride or as a gift for their registry list.
Diamond Stud Earrings
Diamond stud earrings may seem high with the price points for a gift, but they don’t have to be big. A pair of diamond studs isn’t necessarily a gift for your whole wedding party, but it can be a thoughtful gift for the maid of honor or mother of the bride/groom.
At Clean Origin, our diamond stud earrings are crafted in lab created diamonds. They can be 20-40% less expensive than natural diamonds of the same quality. Our half-carat total-weight diamond studs may be just the special gift you’re looking for.
Perfume
Perfume is a gift of luxury, much like jewelry. Although it doesn’t usually cost as much, perfume gift-giving can be more of a gamble. The person receiving it may not wear perfume, or they may not agree with your sense of smell.
But if the bride has a specific perfume as one of her wedding registry ideas, make sure you get exactly what she’s put down on the wedding registry.
Charm Bracelet
Charm bracelets can be a great gift for your maid of honor or even your bridesmaids. Some sterling silver charm bracelets are very affordable. After all, it’s not like you have to fill them up. Gift your maid of honor or bridesmaid a starter charm bracelet with a single charm that represents them in your wedding day.
Diamond Tennis Bracelet
Just like our ethically sourced diamond studs, our diamond tennis bracelets also come at a more affordable price than a natural diamond tennis bracelet. This gift may be geared more toward a bride as a wedding gift from a groom, or as a gift to the mother of the bride/groom.
If you want to give a gift of something elegant, luxurious, and classic, check out our diamond tennis bracelets.
Wine Glasses
Wine glasses are not only one of the top wedding registry must-have items on the list, but they also make great gifts for your wedding party. If your cash funds are able to be stretched, you could take the extra mile and have it personalized for them. Just make sure to let them know if it’s dishwasher-safe or not.
Bonus tip, some people even get shot glasses or champagne flutes as gifts for their wedding guests, which can also be bought in bulk online.
Finally, special wine glasses will make celebrating your wedding anniversary extra special every year–from your first wedding anniversary to your 60th and beyond!
Wedding Gifts for the Groom/Best Man
Sometimes the parents of the groom like to give a gift. Many grooms give their best man a gift. Here are a few ideas for gifts for the groom and their best man.
Watches
Watches have been a long-time favorite gift for men. Not only as a wedding gift, but for any special occasion. Graduations, promotions, birthdays, and other significant accomplishments have been appropriate times to receive a watch. Pocket watch or wristwatch, you decide.
Chains
A solid gold chain would be an expensive wedding gift. However, it could be a perfect gift from the parents of the groom. It can also be a great gift for the best man. Gold chains don’t necessarily have to be solid, but they won’t last nearly as long.
Diamond Bands/Gold Rings
The majority of couples won’t be able to afford diamond bands for their wedding party. However, signet rings, diamond rings, and gold nugget rings have been popular gifts for men.
We carry a selection of high-quality men’s gold bands and diamond bands as well. Choose from high-quality recycled gold or platinum.
In-Store Wedding Registries
Each retailer or department store has its own rules and procedures for registering for in-store wedding gifts.
Some of the most popular wedding registry stores include:
- Walmart
- Target
- Bed Bath and Beyond
- Macy’s
- JCPenney
To learn about creating an in-store registry, it’d be best to either look up the store policy on their website or go in to see customer service.
Online Wedding Registry
Many retailers allow you to build wedding and gift registry items on their sites. Some websites only allow you to list and purchase gifts from their site.
Wedding sites are considered one of the best places to build your registry. Many people swear by The Knot registry. Others opt for places like MyRegistry or Zola. These sites aren’t geared toward specific stores, but they allow you to put the best wedding registry items on your list from different retailers.
Make sure you update your address when creating an online registry list. Some stores require your list to be closed after your wedding date, so you may need to adjust to keep the period open if needed.
Where to Share Your Wedding Registry
Many people wonder how they’re supposed to get their registry information to their wedding guests about their wedding registry items. You have a few options.
If you built your wedding registry online, you can share the website link directly. Different websites allow you to share direct links to registry items on your registry list.
Some couples create a wedding website to let all of their family members and close friends of any wedding updates. This can be a great place to also post your wedding registry list, whether it be an online or in-store wish list.
Other people put all their wedding registry must-haves on their wedding invitations. They will list where they are registered, whether it be online or in-store.
