Planning a wedding is a full-time job: so many decisions to make, cakes to eat, dance classes to ace.
Get your wedding registry essentials right, and your shelves are stocked with just the right items in the perfect colors and patterns and in the quantity you need.
Get your wedding registry wrong, and you could be fighting over the one perfect coffee mug every morning for the rest of your lives. Well, maybe that’s a bit dramatic, but you get the point.
We are launching a three-part series titled Common Wedding Registry Questions, Answered.
Over the next three weeks, we will dive into how to create your registry, proper registry etiquette and how to share your registry.
This week we’ve answered the most common questions about wedding registry setup and creation.
You’re not alone; thousands of newly engaged couples have the same questions you do, and The Dowry is here to give you the answers.
Q: When should we start registering for wedding gifts? A: Start early.
According to WeddingWire, the average engagement is around 14-15 months. Most couples have four different events before their wedding (think: engagement party, bridal shower, bachelor/bachelorette party, rehearsal dinner) where guests typically bring gifts.
The Knot Worldwide published a study in 2019 that discovered 80% of couples start their registries seven to eight months before their wedding. This allows guests, as well as general well-wishers, to shop for the things you really want long before the big day.
Q: What items should be on our wedding registry? A: Take inventory.
Make a list of what you already have. Note what you plan to keep, what you want to replace, and what is missing altogether. Now you’re ready to start!
Do you have everything for the bar, bath, bed, kitchen and table?
Here is a glimpse at the most popular categories other couples are shopping for.
Registries are unique to each couple, so consider your lifestyle and how you entertain and celebrate together.
If you like to buy flowers, remember to select a vase or two.
If you do a lot of entertaining, add ceramic serving platters and wooden and slate charcuterie boards.
Q: Where can we go for wedding registry inspiration? A: Explore your style.
We love to look through photos on Houzz and Instagram for inspiration and save them to a mood board on Pinterest. You can usually start to see similarities in the dishes, glasses and textiles you pick out. You might see a color combination that pops, a texture that resonates or tabletop decor you want to copy. Use those similarities on your mood board to look for similar products from your wedding registry retailer and add them to your registry!
| Tip: If you have different design styles, don’t fret! We’ve got you covered. Read Five Steps To Blend Your Design Styles written by interior designer Danica Brown. |
Q: How many wedding registries should we have? A: More than one.
It’s very common to have more than one wedding registry. There are a lot of different types of registries that specialize in different items and experiences, so it makes sense to have two or three to cover your needs and wants.
| “The average couple creates more than three different registries. As the majority of couples are now living together before marriage, couples are using a mix of registry types to curate items and experiences that are most relevant to their current life stage.” - The Knot wedding insights report |
Here is an option on how to cover your registry bases:
1) Create a traditional store registry (like Target) that includes kitchen appliances.
2) Create an experience or cash registry like Honeyfund or VEBO.
3) Create one with more unique or handcrafted items like The Dowry.
Q: How do we create a registry on The Dowry? A: In three simple steps.
- Step 1: Set up your account.
- Step 2: Add your registry details.
- Step 3: Add unique gifts to your registry and share!
After you set up your account with your name, email and a password, fill in the four sections as seen below.
Registry Profile: Give your registry a fun title. Add your event date, a message to your guests and a cover image for your registry.
Co-Registrant Information: Add your significant other’s information. Yours should already be populated!
Contact Information: Add your current address, phone and email. We would also love to know how you found out about us!
Shipping Information: Let us know where to ship gifts before and after your wedding day.
Now you are ready to add unique gifts to your registry! From your registry homepage, click 'here' to begin browsing products, and click 'add to registry' from specific product pages.
If you have a registry at The Dowry, remember we are regularly adding new artists and handcrafted home goods for you to shop. Come back often and see what’s new.
Make sure to follow us on social media, and sign up for our newsletter to stay in the loop of new artists and product launches.
