Getting Hitched? Take This Advice About Your LGBTQ Wedding Registry

When you’re newly engaged, it can be overwhelming with so much to plan. Well, one simple, fun and easy thing to do is start thinking about where you’re going to register. Think about what you need and where you love to shop – both separately and together. Maybe you’re moving in together for the first time and don’t want to bring along the dishes and rugs you’ve had for years.

Or maybe you’ve been living together for a while and already have a complete complement of gadgets. If you don’t need a ton of household items, you might be better off focusing on a honeymoon fund or building the piggy bank for that beach house not too far on the horizon. If you have married friends and family, talk to them about what they registered for and loved or never used. And try to remember registries from when you’ve bought gifts. Which were unwieldy and which made it fun to pick a few items for the grooms (or brides) to enjoy.

Make It Work

If you’re outfitting a new home or revamping your current digs, consider the space room by room. Here’s one of the best opportunities you’ll have to imagine how you want your living room, kitchen, bedroom, and workspaces to look and work.

Although you should dream big for those interested in offering outsize expressions of affection, definitely consider having a wide range of price points for your guests. Yes, the Tiffany & Co. and Le Creuset items can be on your list, but your nephew might only be able to afford dish towels or the neighbors might appreciate an opportunity to provide you a simple Pyrex set for your new abode.

The Fun Factor

In the same way you’ll want to consider what your guests will enjoy about the wedding, think about what will make them feel excited (or overwhelmed) as you shape your registry. While your sister or parents might opt for an expensive piece of furniture, some wedding guests will really get a kick out of picking out three or four items at lower price points perhaps in the hopes that you will remember them fondly as you go about cooking with your new cutting board or making your bed with fresh sheets.

In that spirit, we’ve put together a list of one-stop shops that can be great for organizing registries – and a few specific stores where you may want to take a closer look.

The One-Stop Shops

• Amazon: Whatever you think of Mr. Bezos, Amazon does have everything you might want and it can be a helpful reference if you’re looking for a catch-all for your registry needs. The Registry section of the website features options including a Wedding Shop, shopping room by room, Priyanka Chopra’s picks, shopping by hobby, top brands and designers and other featured collections. Amazon offers a one-time, 20% discount on anything left on your Amazon wishlist. Plus there’s fast, free shopping, bonus gifts and other perks to sweeten the deal as you put together your list.
• The Knot: The Knot isn’t necessarily a registry, but it’s a great spot to organize and share your registries for specific stores. If you’re building a wedding website and listing your wedding through The Knot, it’s also a place to organize gift ideas from household items to cash funds so guests can get an overview of available options.
• Zola: We’re seeing more couples using this as a “Universal Wedding Registry” where you can register for gifts from over 500 brands —honeymoon experiences including travel, accommodations and experiences or the always-welcome cash funds. Want something not listed on Zola? Simply click the “Add to Zola” and voila! It’s on your list anyway. Zola also offers free shipping, and control over when your gifts come. If you prefer to exchange gifts or transfer them to credit, they also offer a 20 percent post-wedding discount – good for up to six months after your big day – whether you registered for something or not. Zola also offers a useful app with real-time alerts and “Blender” – a Tinder-like feature that helps you to discover new wedding gifts, and a free thank you note manager.
• Blueprint Registry: This website builder and universal registry platform helps users to organize and manage life’s biggest events. Part of the David’s Bridal family, Blueprint allows happy couples to register by room, import other registries, and choose from retailers including Crate & Barrel, Macy’s, Williams-Sonoma, West Elm, Bed Bath & Beyond and more. If you need help, Blueprint has a concierge team that can lend support building the registry that’s right for you.

Registry Go-To Stores:

• Bed, Bath, and
  Beyond
• Bloomingdales
• CB2
• Crate & Barrel
• Ethan Allen
• Etsy
• Honeyfund
• Jonathan Adler
• Macy’s
• Pottery Barn
• Restoration Hardware
• Sur La Table
• Target
• Tiffany & Co.
• Wayfair
• West Elm
• Williams-Sonoma

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