Wedding registries used to be about setting the couple up for a successful life as they prepare to move in together for the first time. For many of these newlyweds, they hadn’t lived on their own, or at least not for very long. They didn’t have a nice toaster or a good set of pots and pans.
Fast forward to today where, according to Trip Savvy’s Honeymoon Facts and Figures, three out of four couples live together before they tie the knot. Additionally, the average age for brides is 29 years old and the average age for grooms is 31 years old. This means brides and grooms have been working and living on their own longer than in previous generations. They have most of the household items they need to make a comfortable home and are prioritizing different things when preparing to start their life together.
These modern couples want a modern registry, and many are opting for one that focuses on their honeymoon.
What Is a Honeymoon Registry?
A honeymoon registry, at its core, is designed to let couples register for their honeymoon experiences rather than items in a store. Family and friends can then go to an online registry and contribute to a number of honeymoon experiences.
Experiences could be anything from upgraded seats on the plane to dinner at a restaurant in the city they’ll be visiting. Some can be even more tailored. For example, if the honeymoon is in New York City, the couple can register for things specific to the city, like a visit to the Empire State Building or tickets to a show at Radio City Music Hall.
While the goal of all honeymoon registries is the same – to allow you to register for your honeymoon – there are different types of registries. The three main types are:
- Travel registry: With this option, all the items you register for are related to your honeymoon specifically.
- Hybrid Registry: This combines traditional registries, where you create a wish list of tangible items, with a travel registry, where you can request items and experiences specifically for your honeymoon.
- Cash Registry: A cash registry allows friends and family to contribute financially to your honeymoon without having to sponsor a specific activity, experience or item.
Why Would You Use a Honeymoon Registry?
If you have most of the home items you need, you may want to consider a honeymoon registry.
Courtnie Nichols from the boutique travel company TravelBash says, “Since more and more couples are getting married later in life, many couples have already lived together, thus, have already accumulated a pretty good stock of kitchen supplies, towels, household items, etc. Honeymoon registries give the gift of experience and are perfect for the modern couple.”
It’s a great option for the couple prioritizing experiences.
When Karen Akpan, content creator for The Mom Trotter, was getting married in 2011, she told her husband that home goods are great, but she’d much rather have memorable experiences on their honeymoon, and he agreed.
They decided to use a honeymoon registry, and even in 2011, guests were on board. “I was shocked that lots of people took it well,” Akpan explains. “We honeymooned in Paris and Rome. People paid for tours, wine tasting, room upgrades, gift cards to use abroad and much more. I was very appreciative of the experiences.”
How Does a Honeymoon Registry Save You Money?
The average cost of a honeymoon is $5,342 according to The Knot.
Sure, that varies on location, time of year and duration of your trip, but that’s still a huge added cost right after your wedding, which for the majority of people, will be the most expensive event they ever have. Registering for honeymoon experiences (especially if you already have most of the items you need for your home) can be a real money saving tool.
“I recommend using a honeymoon registry to all my couples, as it is a way to save a significant amount of money and it is a lot more common than people think as the times have changed,” adds Nichols.
Making the Most of Your Honeymoon Registry
While travel registries can be a useful, money-saving tool, you still want to be wise about how you’re using them. Nichols gives her clients three tips about using a honeymoon registry.
- Set a realistic plan – you may be saving money, but you shouldn’t expect your guests to cover the entire cost of your honeymoon. Budget to pay for your travel and lodging. That way, even if your guests’ contributions cover a portion of that, you’ll be prepared and can reallocate your money accordingly.
- Include your registry on your wedding website and any pre-wedding parties or showers.
- When choosing a registry option, consider …
- fees
- security
- style
- extras
Choosing the Right Honeymoon Registry for You
Each couple is different, and so is each registry. The following are our picks for the best registries depending on the couple.
For the Couples Who Want a Travel Registry
If you want a travel fund, Honeyfund is one of the leading honeymoon registries and accepts payments from WePay, Chase and PayPal. They’re also accredited by the Better Business Bureau and are a verified secure site, so they’ll keep your loved ones’ financial information safe and secure.
Couples have immediate access to the gifts sent by family and friends, and there are no fees for the guests to pay.
For the Couples Who Want Cash
Tendr is a cash fund registry. You register for your honeymoon and guests simply gift cash donations. You don’t pay anything to receive your money, so you’ll receive all of the funds gifted to you.
Gift givers will be charged a $3 service fee and 2.7% of the gift for processing. If you’re a little uncomfortable with guests having to pay a service fee, you can choose to cover that cost on their behalf.
You can also personalize your page by adding photos, logos or other images to your Tendr page.
For the Couples Who Want it All
If you’re having a hard time deciding between a traditional, travel or cash registry, Zola is the perfect solution.
Maybe you have most of the home items you both need, but you were really hoping for some updated bedding or one of those Instant Pots everyone has been raving about. Utilizing a hybrid kind of registration service, like Zola, allows you to register for tangible products from brands you love, while still requesting experiences for your honeymoon and cash if you want to keep it all in an account.
Honeymoon it Up
Now that you know what a honeymoon registry is, why it’s becoming so popular and how to save your money, it’s time to choose the one that’s right for you. Set up your personal registry and get ready to start this exciting new chapter of your life.
Did you use a honeymoon registry? Did you love it? Did you hate it? Share your experience in the comment section.
The post The 3 Best Honeymoon Registries to Save You Money appeared first on ZING Blog by Quicken Loans.
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