Where to Register for Your Wedding

MAY 2015

Creating a wedding registry is one of the oh-so-fun parts of being engaged. Walking through aisles and aisles of your favorite store, picking out your favorite bowls, wine glasses and cutlery, knowing that someday soon those pieces will fill your new house as a married couple, help make it into a home. (Not to mention the pure thrill of knowing people are just going to give it all to you at no cost to you! ;)

But starting? That can be the hardest part. There are so many places out there that offer registries, how is one to know where to create, how many stores to divide your registry between, and how to even make sure you register for everything you need! Well, stop worrying, because we’ve got you covered. Check out some of our favorite registry destinations below. (And don’t worry, we’re not talking about the typical Target and Bed, Bath & Beyond registries…)

1. West Elm :: For the modern couple who loves a classic style that will carry them through the years, West Elm is just the place to go. It offers all of the essentials—kitchen and tableware, bed and bath, storage and organization—as well as big-ticket items like furniture. (And boy, do they have some stellar options there!) Modern offerings with a timeless air? We love it.

2. Anthropologie :: For the couple who likes something a little different, who gravitates toward whimsy, artisan, and very unique pieces, this is the place to go. While many pieces are simply classics with a twist, they have a sprinkling of products you won’t find anywhere else—pieces inspired by ocean creatures, juice glasses with whales and swimmers diving off the sides, plates with ladybugs and gold trim. And in their home section, you’ll feel like a world traveler, with colors and patterns reminiscent of India, Morocco, Mexico, and more—many of them embellished with fun tassels and bells. When you register at Anthropologie, you’ll be creating a home completely unique to you as a couple! We love their eclectic offerings. {P.S. Check out BHLDN, Anthro’s sister site, just for brides. It. Is. Beautiful.}

3. Zola :: For the couple who likes a little bit of this and a little bit of that, Zola is just the place to go. Created with modern couples in mind, Zola is a one-stop shop for everything you need, conveniently online only, so you can register from the comfort of your home. They carry classic brands like KitchenAid, Le Creuset, Nordicware, and Lenox, as well as brands you don’t typically see on inclusive registry sites, like canvas home, kate spade new york, and Jonathan Adler. From classic crystal glassware to unexpected decorative objects, Zola has something for traditionalists and eccentrics alike! This is the perfect registry for the couple whose family lives far away or those having a destination wedding, as gifts can all be directly shipped to your home, so guests need not worry about travelling with them and you don’t have to lug home a trailer of gifts after the wedding. Win-win! We love the breadth of products Zola offers. There’s something for everyone!

4. Something Non-Traditional :: Some couples get married later in life, and some simply already have everything they need or want to set up their new home. As such, the traditional registry becomes obsolete. But that doesn’t mean you have to forego gifts! Consider something non-traditional. We love the idea of a Honeymoon Registry, which allows couples to have their guests sponsor parts of their honeymoon, weather it’s a nice bottle of champagne at your hotel, a romantic candlelit dinner at a restaurant while you’re away, or even something really fun, like a moped ride for two through the city you’re staying at! This let’s you plan a bit more extravagantly than perhaps you would if the whole trip was on your own dime and lets your guests give you something more personal that cash. Foodies might want to set up a restaurant registry. And for those who love outdoor adventures, REI let’s you register for everything you need for a simple afternoon hike or a week-long backpacking trip. And for those who really just want cash? Zola has fixed the “Is it tacky to just ask for money?” conundrum by setting up differentcash funds that you can register for on their site to help you show your guests what their monetary gifts will go toward, which makes writing a check much more personal. Perfect! Tendr is also a sweet option.

What do you think? If you’re already married, where did you register? If you’re newly engaged, what are your thoughts? Will you go the traditional route, split your registry between several shops, or go for something out of the box? And if you don’t know what to register for, check out this awesome, comprehensive checklist!