“Where are you registered!?” It seems like after you get engaged (besides the typical when-is-your-wedding question) the registry question comes up. But if you’re like me and value experiences over material things, you may not have a desire to register. Given the current state of the economy and the new generation who are tying the knot, registries aren’t necessarily the only option! I’ve put together my top 5 wedding registry alternatives to help you put the questions at bay. 

5 Wedding Registry Alternatives

Honeymoon Fund

If you’re planning an epic honeymoon, odds are the expenses are adding up quickly. But if you plan to prioritize your honeymoon over receiving gifts, I highly recommend checking out Honeyfund. Honeyfund is a free registry dedicated to your honeymoon! One of my favorite parts of Honeyfund is that those that wish to give a gift can actually select what their money goes towards. My fiancé and I decided to go with Honeyfund – so we have options for people to gift money towards lodging, dining, and excursions. 

Cash Fund

This one has always seemed so controversial, especially if you’ve asked the opinion of your relatives. There’s so much pressure to get a wedding registry to “upgrade” the items you already have. But what if you could actually allocate funds towards buying your dream home? Paying for your wedding? Or even getting a puppy? Cash may seem impersonal but it is such a welcome gift that won’t end up in a landfill (or Goodwill) anytime soon.

Gift Cards

Just like cash, this is such a controversial gift for whatever reason. I’m a sucker for gift cards! Perhaps you and your person plan to move into a house together after your wedding. Why worry about packing and hauling everything when you could just buy everything together – as an experience? Or maybe you two are planning to embark on some renovations. Lowe’s or Home Depot gift cards help immensely to offset some of the costs of home projects.

Donate to a Cause

I absolutely love the idea of donating to a nonprofit or organization in lieu of registering for gifts. We are 100% in a time of overconsumption. Why not allocate funds towards helping the environment or addressing humanitarian issues? (Also, who could even grumble about this option?!)

Experiences

Similarly to Honeyfund, you can register for experiences with The Knot. They have an option to search by country, state, category, and price. So maybe you’re planning a trip throughout Europe. Register for a Gondola ride in Venice, a tour of the Colosseum in Rome, etc. You could also register for something closer to home. I love this option!

There is nothing wrong with a traditional wedding registry. But just know that that isn’t the only option out there. I can’t wait to hear how these 5 wedding registry alternatives help you in your wedding or elopement planning process. Have any questions!? Head over to my IG (@sydenybreannphoto) and send me a DM! I’d love to chat. And as always, you can binge some more wedding and elopement content ON THE BLOG. Are you ready to wander?