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Stacy
Beginner September 2018

Best Sites for Honeymoon Registry?

Stacy, on March 4, 2018 at 12:10 PM Posted in Registry 0 23

Greetings fellow brides/couples!

We are hoping to create a honeymoon registry rather than a traditional registry. We have lived together for years and have plenty of housewares. We may make a small traditional registry for newer/nicer items like pots/pans, silverware, etc. but we have so much already, so it's mainly for our older guests that want to buy that style of gift. What we really want to assistance for our honeymoon or a house fund. We are ready to start out life together and that takes money, not blenders and waffle machines (already have a great blender anyway haha). I saw the Knot has a cash/honeymoon registry on their site. Also looking at Wanderable. Anyone have any experience with these?

Just looking for other gals exploring the same route's opinions. So please no comments on disagreement/etiquette! This is our plan and I just want to know the best site to use to put it all together.

23 Comments

Latest activity by Catherine, on August 21, 2018 at 8:54 AM
  • Going to the chapel
    Master July 2017
    Going to the chapel ·
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    You can't tell people how to reply to your post. You'll get those that agree and those that don't.

    There is no best site. They are all rip offs that charge fees. Why pay a fee when guests will give you money/checks for free?

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  • Ashley
    VIP December 2018
    Ashley ·
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    My wedding website is through The Knot, so I linked up our registries and added The Knot’s Newlywed Fund registry. I think a good number of our guests will be using that!
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  • fallinthegarden
    Master October 2017
    fallinthegarden ·
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    Don't do one. If you have a small registry, guests will get the hint. All of those websites take a cut of what people gift, so you're losing money on people's gifts. Would you rather have 100% of the amount of cash or check in a card, or 98% of an online transaction? Plus, Aunt Linda isn't actually buying you dinner on the beach, she's just giving the estimated amount of that in cash, minus the fee.

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  • Stacy
    Beginner September 2018
    Stacy ·
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    Hi Ashley,

    Yes our wedding website is on the Knot as well. I have been looking using that "Newlywed Fund" registry as well. A positive experience with that so far?

    Thank you for your input!

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  • Stacy
    Beginner September 2018
    Stacy ·
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    Thank you for the advice! We weren't sure if a small registry was enough of a "hint" or not. The fear is guests not seeing a registry and seeing that as a open field to get us items we do not want/need (however any gift is of course appreciated and we will be grateful). We just want to get what we need as a couple.

    So a small registry and then nothing else will yield cash/checks most likely?

    Thank you again.

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  • Stacy
    Beginner September 2018
    Stacy ·
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    Thanks for your input. Our only fear was having a small/no registry and that seeming like an open field for guests to get all manner of gifts that we don't need (items we already have, repeats, etc.). Of course we are grateful for any gift by guests, but we just want to get what we need as a couple. So with a small registry, guests will typically give cash/check?

    Thank you again.

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  • fallinthegarden
    Master October 2017
    fallinthegarden ·
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    Yep. We had a pretty decent-size registry and still got mostly cash/checks. Most people prefer giving cash/checks at the wedding because it's easier. That's what H and I normally do.

    And unfortunately, a registry doesn't absolutely guarantee that you won't get random off-registry gifts. Like I said, we had a decent-size registry and still received off-registry gifts. If it's really something you don't need or want, you can always return or exchange it.

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  • Going to the chapel
    Master July 2017
    Going to the chapel ·
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    Yes, a small registry is a great way to get cash/checks. You'll still get the odd gift not on the registry, but you'd get that even if you had the dreaded honeymoon registry.

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  • Mrsbdg
    Champion August 2017
    Mrsbdg ·
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    My input is don't do them.

    My friend did one and lost a large percentage of her "gifts". Her family was confused when she couldn't do the excursions or experiences they "paid" for because of the percent of money taken out. I signed up for one when I first started wedding planning. I found out they sold my DH and I's information and since then have been spammed with robo-callers, spam marketing, and a flood of nonsense emails.

    Not worth it. People know how to gift cash and it sucks when they find out the couple doesn't keep 100% of their gift.
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  • Mrsbdg
    Champion August 2017
    Mrsbdg ·
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    Yuppppp! I had someone gift my DH and I a hotdog roller and said "This isn't on anyone's registry but everyone needs one!!" You'll get crazy gifts regardless of registry 🙄
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  • Stacy
    Beginner September 2018
    Stacy ·
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    Great! Thank you so much for the advice!

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  • Victorian Bride
    Master April 2023
    Victorian Bride ·
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    100% ZOLA!! They have the best cash fund registries. They are easy to work with, I promise. They all know me. Ha! Ha! Especially Matt & Sapphire. Feel free to drop my name. ❤
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  • Stacy
    Beginner September 2018
    Stacy ·
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    Yikes! Great to know! I'm sorry you had that experience. Thank you for the advice!

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  • Victorian Bride
    Master April 2023
    Victorian Bride ·
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    P.S. We have a regular registry with ZOLA for those who want to actually purchase a gift, but we have our honeymoon fund fairly close to the top. We still have our registry closed ( will make public when STDs are mailed), but it's going to be so easy for anyone that wishes to contribute. I hope this helps.
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  • S
    Expert July 2017
    SaraBear ·
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    Regarding, “it takes money to start a life together” - If you've lived together for multiple years and are already in the swing of the things, you’ve already “started out a life together.” There are no additional expenses for being married and living together at the same time. You don’t need to be married to start a life and buy a house. A luxury vacation, like a honeymoon, does not mean you’re starting your life together. It means you’re going on vacation once. I’ve seen some silly excuses for doing a cash registry but that is just the silliest. It’s highly unlikely cash gifts from a wedding will have any sizeable impact on a down payment for a house. If you can’t afford a honeymoon, don’t take one. Don’t register and you’ll get checks and cash. Put it towards your honeymoon or house fund, whatever, but don’t ask your guests to give you money.
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  • Victorian Bride
    Master April 2023
    Victorian Bride ·
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    Please don't get upset with me. I made sure that it is ZOLA's policy NOT to sell any bride or grooms info nor any of their guests. Can you tell I love that company? Again, just trying to help. I did the research before choosing them.
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  • Jamie
    Devoted August 2018
    Jamie ·
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    Keep in mind we are disinterested party. What you decide to do at your wedding is your own thing. We neither benefit or lose anything. We simply give warnings to your benefit.

    So far, I've never seen a anyone post about a successful honeyfund. However, there have been posts (mainly angry) about no one giving money, or getting very little.

    There have been many posters that have done small registries or none at all and received gifts mainly of checks and cash. I myself tend to give cash more generously when not asked. This is my own opinion again as a disinterested party.

    Those who say nothing tend to get the most.

    Neither way will deter Aunt Sue from gifting her handmade macrame pot holders though.
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  • MOB So Cal
    January 2019
    MOB So Cal ·
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    My experience is most people will bring a card with their "gift" (most often cash or a check, in the card) to the wedding or possibly send it in the mail before or after the ceremony. As the frequent posts about the pros & cons of "honeyfund" type registries often point out, many find "honeyfund" vendors, who take a cut of the intended gift, to be a less desirable way to give a gift than just writing a check. When I write a check I know you'll receive 100% of what I wanted to give you.

    Whether people will tell the B&G directly or not, many find honeyfund-type registries less desirable and/or rude. (I'm not saying you're rude; I'm just pointing out that it may not be an appealing choice for your guests. Those with more "conventional" views on etiquette may be inclined to think it's rude because it is "asking for money," which, traditionally, has been viewed as inappropriate.)

    Another reason, as a guest, I would not give a gift through a honeyfund site (or really any online vendor I don't feel super confident about) is because of concerns I have about identity theft. How do I know the vendor won't steal or sell my credit card and/or personal information (like they did for MrsBdeG)? For the same reason, I never give online to GoFundMe or other crowd funding sites. If I want to give a gift or make a donation, I always write a check directly to the person rather than give my credit card info to a website I don't really know anything about. Just another reason to consider not doing a "honeyfund."

    If you don't register for gifts, or have a small registry, most guests will likely give you cash which you can then use for anything, including a honeymoon. Will some guests buy you "random" gifts -- hotdog rollers or garden gnomes? Yes, but they will do that regardless of whether your register for a "honeyfund" or not. You know your guest list best, but if you scroll for "honeyfund" posts, you'll see LOTS of people think they are inappropriate (and unnecessary). If even a small portion of your guests share that opinion, why bother? Good luck!

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  • Calio
    Dedicated March 2019
    Calio ·
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    We are using wanderable. I love the layouts and we are absorbing the fees. My family thinks its an awesome idea. You do you. Smiley smile
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  • Stacy
    Beginner September 2018
    Stacy ·
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    Your input is really helpful. Thank you for the advice!

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