You probably came across this article because you’re a bride or groom in the classic newly engaged conundrum: which wedding registry website to choose. If not, you’re probably almost there, or you’re just curious about the world of online weddings and registries, because what could be more fun than creating a long list of your favorite accessories, tech, and gadgets?
Between the happiness and natural stress of an engagement is the need to complete tasks, the necessary practicalities that need to be addressed before the big day, like choosing a registry site. Read on to learn the top 10 registry sites and how to choose the best one for you and your partner.
High-end Items and Great Service
For a registry that goes one step beyond plates, glasses, knives and spoons, Bloomingdale’s is the one to go for. As a Macy’s-owned department store that sells designer clothing, bags, shoes, and home goods, Bloomingdale’s is known for being expensive and offering top-notch customer service. In addition to carrying stylish, timeless items not typically found in other stores, Bloomingdale’s Registry offers a little more than the rest.
If you’re a frequent Bloomingdale’s shopper, you’ll enjoy their special offer that gives you 20% off a selection of clothing, jewelry and intimates from the time you register until your wedding day. Another great benefit of using Bloomingdale’s is that you get a 10% discount when you purchase items that remain in your registry for 6 months after the event. Thus, if your grandmother’s friend gives you only 3 of the 4 containers you want, you can buy the 4th at a discounted price.
Like Bloomingdale’s high-style items, Williams-Sonoma is known for its “luxe simplicity.” Unlike other sites that offer a variety of home goods, clothing, and accessories, Williams-Sonoma only offers kitchenware and home furnishings. While this may seem like a disadvantage since you will have to register with more than one company, you know that every product you get is quality products from a trusted name in the industry. Both Bloomingdale’s and Williams-Sonoma offer excellent customer service and allow you to schedule in-person appointments.
All Around Practical
Since not everyone is looking for a $30 license plate or other high-end products, there are many other registration options you can use. One of the most popular registration sites is Bed, Bath & Beyond. Yes, Bed Bath offers items for the bedroom and bathroom, but they also offer items for the kitchen and outdoor space.
It really
has it all, but the reason so many people choose to sign up for Bed, Bath & Beyond is because of the return policy. If you have your original receipt, you can return any product to any of their stores (including online purchases) and get a full exchange or refund at any time. Don’t have your coupon? No problem.
Just as convenient in terms of products available and just as good in terms of returns are Target and Macy’s. Target is a popular choice for many because it offers affordable household, cleaning and pet products, stylish clothing and accessories, and much more.
Their registration
website is extremely simple and straightforward, and offers no extra frills. Macy’s is known to be more exclusive than Target, so if you want to sign up for slightly better merchandise, it’s a good option. Macy’s also hosts occasional in-store events that offer couples a fun night out with good food and a chance to hear expert wedding and registry tips.
One of the most practical, easy-to-use and organized registration sites is Amazon. Like most, it offers registration owners additional benefits to thank them for choosing their site to register. But Amazon offers much more than those benefits. They have a 30-day return policy on all of their products and a couple of extra freebies. But the most incredible advantage that only Amazon has is its Universal Registration button. Being an e-commerce giant, Amazon has created a browser extension that allows you to find and track everything you see on any other website. So, let’s say you are browsing another online store and you just need those nestable mugs, you can easily click on the product using the universal registry button and add it to your Amazon registry.
Classic and Timeless Pieces
If you’re looking for a wedding registry website that has it all, Crate & Barrel won’t disappoint. It has the white mugs you see in magazine ads, the plush mugs that hang over your couch, and the salad tongs that are too cute to use. Their registration site offers many additional benefits as a thank you for using it. From exclusive Crate & Barrel furniture and home goods to personalized gift wine glasses and embroidered tote bags, and even a great tool to help you keep track of who gave you what, the site goes the extra mile to take advantage a stressful moment at its best. Breeze. Plus, Crate & Barrel offers free shipping on all registry orders over $99.
Pottery Barn is similar in style to Crate & Barrel, but has a much wider selection of items ranging from pillows and decor to lighting and tablecloths. The site features your overall tone and seasonal inspiration, and also offers a section for your wedding day and decor inspiration.
For the Alternative
For couples who prefer experiences, there are Zola and Honeyfund. Offering a free suite of wedding tools, from wedding website creation to guest checklists, Zola’s most popular tool is its registry site. This registry is a common option for couples who prefer to receive money from guests instead of physical gifts because it offers a low cash rate. So if a guest wants to give you $100, they pay $110 and you get $100. That way, all the money you receive from guests can go toward your honeymoon instead of paying credit card fees.
Like Zola, Honeyfund is a monetary wedding gift registry as well as a honeymoon registry. All you have to do is create your registry, which means writing down the details of your honeymoon and the amount you need to spend it, and share it with your guests. They will then be able to make payments through the website or app to help you see the honeymoon of your dreams.
Choose the “Right One”
While some signup sites are on the higher end in terms of products offered and others on the lower end of the scale, they are all free. High-end services usually promise better customer service than the rest, but they all do more or less the same thing. Let your guests shower you with gifts. From the best sites to the practical and even alternative sites, we hope this ranking has given you the information you need to make the right registration selection decision.