A friend of mine recently signed up for a HoneyFund. Not familiar? It’s an online registry for monetary gifts to be used toward your honeymoon. Neat concept, huh?
Photo Credit: Honeyfund.com
Checks received in the mail cost you nothing, and credit card payments are handled through PayPal (standard rates apply).
Honeymoon gift registry
SmartHoneymoon.com is a similar option, charging 7.5% on gifts received.
Photo Credit: SmartHoneymoon.com
It got me thinking there must be other wedding registry options. And I was right!
Redoing your home, or moving into your first? Check out My Dream Home Registry. For a small fee, you select the rooms in your home you want to design, select your design elements, describe your mission, and voilà. There is a 9% transaction fee to process credit cards used by your guests, but 1% goes directly to The Fuller Center for Housing, which was started by Habitat for Humanity founders Millard and Linda Fuller.
Photo Credit: MyDreamHomeRegistry.com
Similarly, Upon Our Star allows the couple to register for “wishes,” like a trip around the world or materials to redecorate your home. Guests contribute money to your wishes, and you receive a cash payment. Various fees apply.
Photo Credit: UponOurStar.com
Photo Credit: UponOurStar.com
Photo Credit: UponOurStar.com
OurWishingWell.com is a very similar option, also with various fees.
Then there’s The Man Registry, a specialized registry featuring hundreds of gifts tailored toward grooms, like electronics, grills, bar supplies, tools, sports gear and more.
Photo Credit: TheManRegistry.com
MyRegistry.com is similar to a traditional registry, but it allows you to register for various gifts, from as many stores as you like, all in one place. You can also “tastefully” ask for monetary gifts.
Photo Credit: MyRegistry.com
Feeling generous? JustGive.org allows you to set-up a charity registry! JustGive’s database contains nearly 1.5 million charities. There is a tax-deductible $5 fee for donations to support the program services, as well as a 3% processing fee deducted from the donation.
Photo Credit: JustGive.org
ChangingthePresent.org is another charity registry, allowing the couple to register for specific nonprofits. There is a 3% transaction fee. Each individual who purchases a donation gift will receive an email confirmation as proof of donation for tax purposes.
Photo Credit: ChangingthePresent.org
If there is a charity near and dear to your heart that is not available via a charity registry site, announce it on your WeddingWindow.com wedding website and direct guests where to send their donations! Ask them to notify you so they can be properly thanked.
Here’s something new! This couple chose to register through ActBlue, a political fundraising site, allowing guests to contribute to their favorite candidate.
Photo Credit: ActBlue.com
Similarly, you can raise money for MercyCorps through their fundraising pages.
No matter what type of gift registry you choose, do your research before signing up!
Wedding Website: caronandgreg.weddingwindow.com
Not only is Caron Cooper Weller a self-employed writer/graphic designer/jack of all trades, but she is also a newlywed! She was born in Michigan, raised in Florida and “followed” her high school sweetheart to Texas, where she was educated in life and love (and academics on the side). After earning her degree from SMU and realizing “happily every after” wasn’t in the cards just yet, she followed her heart to Los Angeles, back to Dallas, then to Raleigh, before returning to her home in Florida—home is where the heart is, after all. It was at home where Caron finally found her true love. After four years of dating, she tied the knot with her Mr. Right on May 30, 2009. Caron and her husband reside in the Orlando area with their dog, Abbey Road.