A wedding registry is a curated selection of gifts the couple has requested in advance of the big day. Guests typically shop the registry to bring gifts to pre-wedding events like bridal showers as well as the day of your wedding. It’s an age-old tradition and one we LOVE because, above all, it’s a tangible way for your nearest and dearest to celebrate the beginning of your marriage.
There are several options when it comes to choosing a registry. The key is finding that perfect intersection of what works for you and what works for your guests. We’re taking a deep dive into all things registry and the BEST wedding registries out there to fill your home and beyond. {top photo courtesy of Anthropologie}
How does a wedding registry work?
Stores and websites offer free registry services to help the engaged couple select items they need and want. Registries used to be filled with things like toasters, tea towels, and fine china, but nowadays they’ve expanded beyond housewares. You can even register for a honeymoon fund or experiences to celebrate your nuptials!
Why should you register?
You might be wondering if it’s tacky or old-fashioned to ask for gifts. We hear this, especially from couples who already have a home setup together. But we’re here to tell you this: your people are excited to celebrate you! Guests will be happy to buy you gifts and we certainly don’t see it as tacky or old-fashioned. But if you still feel funny about it, we’ve got several ideas below to give guests an opportunity to celebrate you in a different way.
When to start a wedding registry:
Once you’re engaged, it’s never too early to start registering. However, you should have a complete registry at least four months before the wedding day. It can take time to set up a registry and choose your preferred gifts, so give yourself time and make it fun! The longer you wait (as is true with most wedding to-dos), the more stressful it can become. It’s also important to complete your registry before all the bridal showers and gift-giving events.
How many wedding registries should you have?
There is no hard and fast rule for how many wedding registries you should have. The more important thing to consider is how each registry serves you and your guests, then select an amount from there. If registries begin to overlap (aka, you have 5 registries just for housewares), you might want to consolidate and choose one per category. It’s also worth taking the time to consider where and how your guests like to shop. Are they online shoppers? Do they prefer to print out a registry in a familiar store? Finally, how many registries do you actually feel like managing?
Where to Put Your Wedding Registry
You can put your wedding registry on your wedding website, so it’s easy for guests to find and shop from. If you’re having a bridal shower, your hosts will share your registry details on the shower invitations. Finally, you can add your registry to your save-the-dates — but leave it off the actual invitation.
Where to Do a Wedding Registry
How do you choose a wedding registry? THAT is the big question, so let’s get into it! We’ve categorized wedding registries into 7 categories: traditional, modern heirloom, honeymoons + cash funds, charitable, small business, fun, and universal. Scroll on to find the best wedding registries for you!
Best Registries for Housewares + Traditional Items
Amazon
Amazon makes it easy to curate, maintain, and shop. You can even add items for other websites to your registry with their handy browser plugin. If you need help getting started, check out our favorite picks. Completion discount: 20% off remaining items on your registry (or 10% for non-members)
Target
You love Target. Your guests love Target. It’s a wedding registry no-brainer. Completion discount: 15% off remaining items
Bed Bath & Beyond
It’s all in the name: everything for your bed, your bath, and — you get it. Start your registry with our favorite picks! Completion discount: 20% off remaining items
CB2
Boasting everything from chic dinnerware to small-scale furniture, CB2 is the place for unique pieces that will last.
West Elm
West Elm’s wedding registry comes with partner perks – like 20% off Minted and 15% of The Bouqs Co. Fill up your registry with everything you need to build a home and grab some florals while you’re at it!
Crate & Barrel
One of our favorite spots for day-to-day kitchen classics. Get bold style paired with high-quality pieces that are easy to love. Start with our kitchen picks! Completion discount: 15% off remaining items for three months
Williams Sonoma
Get that fancy toaster AND the espresso machine. Williams Sonoma has curated everything you need to cook, bake, prep, and clean. Completion discount: 10% off remaining items for six months
Anthropologie
The day Anthropologie announced their wedding registry was a game-changer! If you’re a fan of the brand, you know. Make sure you register here for kitschy kitchen items and perfect home accents — don’t forget the candles! Completion discount: 15% off remaining items
Pottery Barn
A forever fave and no-brainer in our book. Home to clean lines and bright pieces, Pottery Barn will deliver a lifetime of quality pieces for the entire home. They’ve curated 100 top items to get you started! Completion discount: 10% off remaining items
Macy’s
Macy’s is a true one-stop-shop for all your home needs, but don’t forget luggage and travel accessories! Completion Discount: 20% off remaining items for 6 months
Design Within Reach
Why not add a few stunning furniture pieces to your wish list?! Design Within Reach partners with MyRegistry so you can add as many items as you like to one universal registry.
Restoration Hardware
Add items to your registry from the company’s selection of timeless, updated classics for the living room, dining room, bedroom, bathroom, and even the outdoors. RH partners with MyRegistry so you can add as many items as you like to one universal registry.
The Wedding Shop at AMARA
Featuring only the very best in high-quality home essentials and one-of-a-kind pieces to put a personal stamp on your home, designed by AMARA brands embody everything for a great interior — and an even better gift list. Completion Discount: 10% off any orders placed for two years
Brooklinen
Beautiful and ridiculously comfortable sheets that didn’t cost an arm and a leg. Quality is Brooklinen’s top priority and their beautiful yet simple designs ensure products are versatile enough for any home. Brooklinen partners with Zola so you can add as many items as you like to one universal registry.
Parachute
Designed in Venice Beach and responsibly manufactured by the world’s best artisans. Parachute’s unfussy style and natural color palette appeal to various design aesthetics. Plus their home textiles are 100% natural – meaning no harmful chemicals or synthetics. Parachute partners with Zola so you can add as many items as you like to one universal registry.
Bloomingdales
Bath, dining, travel, kitchen, entertaining — Bloomingdales has gift guides for them ALL. When you register, you’ll also get 20% off dresses, suiting, and more before the big day! Completion Discount: 20% off remaining items for six months
Best Registries for Honeymoons, Experiences, and Cash Funds
Honeyfund
With a Honeyfund page, wedding guests’ contributions become cash in your hand to travel the world together.
photo of the Natural Pools of Millpu in Peru by @sofiapozuelo
REI
Need gear for an upcoming adventure? REI partners with MyRegistry so you can add as many items as you like to one universal registry.
Sur La Table
You know you can stock your kitchen at Sur La Table — but did you know you can also register for cooking lessons?
New Home or Adoption Funds
Maybe you’re saving for a down payment or starting an adoption fund — it’s totally acceptable to fold those big life moments into your registry! Several universal registries allow you to fund savings goals, including Honeyfund.
photo: Remodelista
Best Registries for Charitable Donations
The Good Beginning
If you’d like contributions to go toward your favorite charity, The Good Beginning makes it easy. Simply select up to 3 charities, share a custom link with guests, and funds will be dispersed following the wedding day!
Your Local Charity of Choice
You can also simply add a link to your charity of choice on your wedding website. photo: Joel Muniz
SoKind
SoKind is a registry and wishlist service that encourages the giving of homemade gifts, charitable donations, secondhand
goods, experiences, time, day-of-event help, and more.
Wish Upon a Wedding
What do you get for the couple who has everything? Wish Upon a Wedding is on a mission to grant weddings and vow renewals to couples facing serious illness or life-altering health circumstances. If you’re opting out of a registry, consider asking guests to donate on your behalf.
Small Business Wedding Registries
The Little Market
Artisan goods that empower makers all over the world. If you want to add unique, ethically made pieces to your home, The Little Market is it.
Made Trade
All products on Made Trade are intentionally crafted, produced in small batches, and sustainably sourced with fair labor practices. Your registry on Made Trade will celebrate artisans, independent makers, local businesses, and small companies that are creating amazing products with a story.
East Fork Pottery
East Fork designs, manufactures, and sells thoughtful, durable ceramic dishware in Asheville, North Carolina. Fun fact: we featured the co-founders’ wedding here on GWS!
Farmhouse Pottery
Look no further if you’re looking for modern heirlooms that you’ll pass on for generations.
Heath Ceramics
Add unique and handmade items from the Bay Area to your table! From dinnerware, flatware, and glassware.
Etsy
If shopping small and handmade is your thing, you simply cannot go wrong with Etsy. Fill your home with pieces made with love from all over the world!
pieces from the Prabal Gurung Creator Collab
Don’t forget to check in with small local shops in your area. Many of your favorite spots might have an in-house registry that you can curate for guests! And if you’re planning on opening a universal registry, it’s still easy to shop small. Check out these Black-owned businesses you can add to any registry!
Best Registries for Fun
Dominos
WE’RE NOT KIDDING. Dominos Pizza has a wedding registry and it’s just the greatest thing ever.
Museum Membership
One of our favorite wedding registry gifts is an annual museum membership! Request information from your museum(s) of choice and add it to your wedding website.
Have it All: Best Universal Wedding Registries
Finally, we arrive at the universal wedding registry! These are one-stop-shops for almost everything you see above: gifts, charities, experiences, and more. Here are the ones we recommend:
Zola
With Zola, you curate your online store by choosing from all your favorites across brands and websites. One store with gifts, experiences, and cash funds. The website is easy to use and can even integrate with a wedding website to make a simple one-stop shop for guests. Completion Discount: 20% off remaining item for six months
MyRegistry
MyRegistry makes it easy to sync registries from other websites all into one. You can curate from anywhere on the internet — or IRL. With the app, you can scan an item in-store and it’ll add to your registry!
Which wedding registry is best?
Now that we’ve done the deep dive, which registry is best for you? While we’re partial to a few (this one for easy guest shopping and this one for a cozy home makeover), it’s essentially a question only you can answer. And it might even be a little bit like choosing The One — when you know, you know! Have fun with it, start early, and enjoy being celebrated by friends and family cheering you on. Happy registering!