The best wedding gift registries to know
Photo: Frankie & Marilia
“Your presence is gift enough” - sound familiar? Gift registries often divide destination wedding couples as guests are already being asked to pay for travel, potentially accommodation and other expenses to jet out to Italy for your wedding. However, this is a tradition people do not want to give up, so we suggest to avoid ending up with 20 blenders (!) you need to give guests a little direction. With 99%* of couples still opting for a gift list on their invite, we are here to tell you our favs.
A tip from us if you are opting for a ‘hard no’ on gifts - it is always worth emphasising this again on other communication you send out, as people really don’t like to ‘arrive’ empty handed!
And if including a gift registry on your invites feels a little too presumptuous, we recommend including the link somewhere on your wedding website - it feels softer here, plus you’ll have more room to explain how guests shouldn’t feel obliged to give anything.
BEST FOR: A couple wanting options
With this UK based company (overseas delivery options available) you will be spoilt for choice from their stocked brands. Including Nkuku, Oka, Le Crusset but also offering art, furniture and honeymoon pots which guests can pay into. Trusted and with over 25 years experience, The Wedding Present Company offers a quality bespoke service. From your intial consultation, to handpicking from their vast selection of luxury brands (many not available on other gift registries), you are guaranteed to enjoy this part of wedding planning.
We LOVE how they even help you recycle your old electrical items if you are replacing with new.
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Photo: Nkuku from The Wedding Present Company
BEST FOR: Charity-focused couples
Register your date, choose one or several charities meaningful to you and you're on your way to having an incredible wedding whilst doing some good! If your chosen charity is not yet registered with The Good Beginning then simply highlight it and they will do the work to have it included. This is a US based registry.
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BEST FOR: UK couples
You really do have it all available to you with The Wedding Shop - charity contributions, honeymoon fund, home gifts and travel experiences. And if solid gifts are more your thing, then you'll find all the top brands to build your list from.
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BEST FOR: "It takes a village" couples
If you are all about building a little extra money for your honeymoon and want to direct guests down this route Patchwork is for you. An alternative option provided is for guests to 'donate' their time, so perhaps looking after your pet whilst you're away, a lift to the aiport etc.
We LOVE that the company gives 50% of their profits to charity. So you pay £50 for their service and £25 is donated.
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BEST FOR: Environmentally-aware couples
Thinking slightly outside the traditional honeymoon or gift contributions but why not ask guests to plant tress to off-set some of the carbon emissions from their flights. Alternatively if you receive cash for your wedding you could add a note informing guests that you will be giving a percentage to a conservation charity.
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Photo: MIKI Studios
BEST FOR: UK couples
A favourite UK registry and understandably so - with workshops, honeymoon funds, post honeymoon experiences, Airbnb vouchers and all the top brands for building your home together as Mr & Mrs. I mean, is a gift registry even complete without a Kitchen Aid included! Don't forget to include the Italian food hamper.
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We have saved the best piece of advice for last - join our private couple’s community on Facebook and ask others how they handled guest comms around gift lists and which ones they opted for in the end. This is a group you want to be part of!
