Honeymoon Registries?

[singingpixie]

So the whole idea of planning a wedding might be overwhelming, but I'm sure excited about the chance to plan our honeymoon! Not sure yet where it'll be, but I was doing some very preliminary research and stumbled upon the idea of a Honeymoon Registry. Since we've been living together for 2 years, we have pretty much all the "home stuff" taken care of, so a traditional bridal registry/shower seems like overkill. A Honeymoon Registry/shower seems like a great idea to me, since we're not in a place to take an extravagent trip but I was the kid who daydreamed about the honeymoon way more than the wedding itself!

Anyone have any experience either giving or registering at one of these places? The one that looks good to me right now is www.libertytravelregistry.com

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

No experience, but I have heard of it and don't see anything wrong with it.

It would follow the same protocol as a regular registry though and spread via word of mouth only or at maximum in a shower invite.

I've also seen registries for home purchase..not quite sure how those work.

I would consider registering for a few items though through a traditional registry as some of your guests may not be comfortable with these alternative registries.

 

[ZPT1022]

I think it's neat but I would do a small traditional registry too. We were in the same position, already living together and so had most of the house stuff set. I'm not a fancy china kind of girl either. We did do a small registry- wine glasses, frames, smoothie maker, etc.... but mostly had my mom spread the word that we would LOVE Disney Dollars to use on our honeymoon. A lot of people gave DD and some gave cash. Some people will not pay attention to anything and will do what they want anyhow. Sometimes that works out for the good. My uncle and his wife bought us this mirror that's in a frame and at the bottom are small cubbies and on the front of the cubbies are hooks. I am so not explaining this well. Anyhoo, we got it and I was like Ummmmmm......... but it is THE most useful thing. It's hung near our front door and we use it to hold keys. No more lost keys. So you may get some pleasant surprises as well.

 

[luvfigment]

I saw in your siggie that you are thinking about a Disneymoon and just wanted to let you know that Disney is working on a registry itself for honeymoons in case you didn't see.

 

[disykat]

I think the number of responses on this thread may give you an indication of the response you'd get to a honeymoon registry. I think you'd be better off limiting the number of things you register for and hoping for cash as gifts. Then you can use it however you choose.

 

[TurboKitty]

Apparently I am "old school" on some things. I don't care for destination wedding invitations (just elope like our ancestors did!) and I care even less for honeymoon registries. It's like an open hand thrust in my face for a donation...

 

[ZPT1022]

Apparently I am "old school" on some things. I don't care for destination wedding invitations (just elope like our ancestors did!) and I care even less for honeymoon registries. It's like an open hand thrust in my face for a donation...

How is it any more than registering at say, Macy's? If the bride and groom follow proper etiquette they shouldn't mention gifts AT ALL. What's the difference if their parents or the shower hostess mentions Macy's or Target or whatever store or mentions a honeymoon registry?

 

[disneyfreakk]

Sorry, I really think that is tacky. A wedding is (or atleast should be) a celebration of the two married people and the start of a wonderful life together. If you already have all of the essentials for your home then just dont do a Registry. Honestly, I would imagine you would get a better response if you said something to the effect of " your presence is gift enough, there will be no registry." If someone offers you money, then politly accept it.

BTW, congrats!

 

[Maggi May]

How is it any more than registering at say, Macy's? If the bride and groom follow proper etiquette they shouldn't mention gifts AT ALL. What's the difference if their parents or the shower hostess mentions Macy's or Target or whatever store or mentions a honeymoon registry?

That's a good question. To me it just seems like the honeymoon is something that the bride and groom (or their families if they choose to) should pay for on their own. To use the same logic, why not invite guests to sponsor/pay for the floral decorations or the DJ?

Registries seem to be more of a suggestion of what the couple might need and are intended to help the gift giver find something that they could use.

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

i've never heard of it, but don't expect all to follow! haha! guests always tend to do their own things!! i think we got like 2 things off our registry!

 

[dreamcometrue]

I have never heard of it! I wouldn't be opposed to it, however, if it were me, I would have a traditional registry aswell! Not all your guests may feel comfortable to contributing to your honeymoon and may want to give you a "traditional" wedding gift!

 

[RachelEllen]

How is it any more than registering at say, Macy's? If the bride and groom follow proper etiquette they shouldn't mention gifts AT ALL. What's the difference if their parents or the shower hostess mentions Macy's or Target or whatever store or mentions a honeymoon registry?

I've never been a fan of 'cash equivilent' registries. (honeymoons, mortgages, etc.)

The difference is that the point of a regular registry is to allow people who want to buy you sheets or towels or kitchen wares to know what color or type you want. It also avoids duplications. It's purely about the guest's conveinance.

If you want to give a couple cash for their honeymoon, what good does the registry do you, as a guest? You don't have to worry about giving the same cash that someone else did. You can't give the wrong type of cash. Having a honeymoon registry is just asking for money.

I realize this distinction is pretty darn subtle. I also realize that people can be tacky about traditional registries as well. However, like much of etiquette, this is about a polite fiction. I'd not go so far as to call people who use 'cash' registries tacky, but, personally, they rub me the wrong way.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Apparently I am "old school" on some things. I don't care for destination wedding invitations (just elope like our ancestors did!) and I care even less for honeymoon registries. It's like an open hand thrust in my face for a donation...

I agree with this...sorry OP. If you have everything you "need" then I suggest you don't mention a thing and I will bet you get cash, which is better anyway.

 

[safetymom]

http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/honeymoon.htm Here is information on the one that Disney is starting.

 

[wendy46001]

I actually like the idea and don’t see the difference between asking for a towel or a bottle of champagne. Most honeymoon registries are set up with events the couple will do during there trip.... So its not like someone is giving you cash they are giving you a snorkeling trip or a romantic beach side picnic....

Weddings have changed so much over the years that this is just a new way of doing things....couples can either go traditional and pick out china or go modern and pick out a hiking trip

 

[cleo]

I've always been of the opinion that if you're old enough to have a honeymoon you're old enough to pay for it.

Giving a new couple things for their home is how a community supports the new marriage, in helping to set up a household. Asking friends and family to give you a vacation is just....well....greedy, in my opinion.

Besides, what could you register for? Would you ask Aunt Molly to pay for the first night, Cousin Jenny to pay for dinner on the beach, Mom and Dad could pop for the flight? Or would you ask for luggage, a travel pillow, maybe a camera or video recorder? In that case, I'd register for a Wedding and ask for those things.

But asking people to spring for your honeymoon...that's just creepy! (In my opinion only, of course).

 

[cleo]

Actually, I guess it's not just my opinion! I just mentioned this to my husband and he said he got an invite to a wedding once, with a Honeymoon registry requested. They wanted people to send cash to a travel agency. His response? 'Bugger that!' (He's British)

He would have been happy to buy the couple a lovely gift for their home, to the tune of around $30 or $40 (the groom was a friend, but not a close, close friend) but he sure as shootin' wasn't going to drop his cash just so they could go visit some exotic locale. Thanks, but no thanks!

 

[lulu71]

Honeymoon registries bug me too. I think registries have gone from convenience for the guests to entitlement for the couple. Of course mosts guests are going to send a gift, but it doesn't need to be so blatant.

Which brings me to another thought, when I see registry information incuded on an invitation, it just gives me a bad taste in my mouth. Everything is now online and it takes just a few minutes to find someone's registry. And if one if not inclined to search, a phone call to a family member of the bride- or groom-to-be will yield the same info.

 

[mom2rb]

I registered for my honeymoon 10 years ago. My dad's good friend owns a travel agency. I don't think she told us the amount people sent, just if people sent anything. That way I could get out thank you notes. We also registered for china and crystal. It worked out well for us.

 

[goodeats]

I would never buy someone something off of a Honeymoon registry. Just my personal feelings on the matter. I would buy luggage or maybe even a restaurant giftcard that I knew was in there destination.

I also don't feel comfortable giving people in my same generation cash.