Is the cost of your wedding putting the honeymoon of your dreams out of reach? Not to worry; if you already have all the kitchenware and bedding you need, and if you have generous friends and family, your problem might be solved by setting up a honeymoon registry.
A honeymoon registry is much like a wedding registry. Just as a wedding registry allows you to create a list of gifts you would prefer to receive at your wedding, a honeymoon registry allows you to create a list of places you would like to go and things you would like to do on your honeymoon. The honeymoon registry enables your wedding guests to purchase portions of your honeymoon. Yes, your guests could just contribute cash toward your honeymoon, but somehow giving a particular portion of the honeymoon-dinner at a fancy restaurant, or a carriage ride, for example-is more meaningful.
Type the phrase "honeymoon registry" into your favorite search engine, and you'll get thousands of results. There are three basic kinds of honeymoon registries:
1. Choosing the honeymoon registry
Search for the term "honeymoon registry" on your favorite search engine, and you'll come up with plenty of results. How do you choose the one that's best for you? Here are a few basic tips:
What can you list on your registry? If you can buy it, you can list it. Typical registries list transportation, lodging, activities, special amenities, and meals. Expensive items are usually broken down so guests can choose to pay only a portion of the item. For example, a honeymoon registry might list 10 gifts of $100 each toward your $1000 airfare expense.
Some honeymoon registries allow you to personalize your registry with a message to your guests and descriptions of the different parts of your honeymoon, perhaps even allowing you to upload pictures to the registry.
3. Announcing the honeymoon registry
Once your registry is set up, you need to let your wedding guests know that it exists. Many registries will provide you with printed cards announcing the registry and its web address; you can either mail them with the wedding invitation or separately. Some registries will e-mail your wedding guests if you provide their addresses.
The more tactful approach is to let your guests know about your registry indirectly. Let your parents, close friends, or wedding party members know that you have a honeymoon registry; they can pass the word along to guests. Or create a wedding web page with up-to-date information for guests, and include a link to your registry on that page. You can then list the address of your wedding web page in your invitation without directly bringing up the issue of gifts.
4. Buying gifts from the honeymoon registry
Guests look up your registry by typing your last name(s) into a search box on the registry website. After reading what you want, they click on the item(s) they want to buy and pay for the items over the website. Most registries also allow guests to purchase items by phone.
The gift-giver usually receives a certificate that is either sent to the wedding couple or to the giver (to hand on to the couple in person); some registries charge a fee to mail this certificate. Other registries notify the couple of the gift by e-mail. On any registry, you can track how many gifts you have received simply by logging into the registry.
It's important to note that most registries require guests to pay a service charge for the privilege of contributing to your honeymoon. The service charge is a percentage of the cost of the gift; the registries we surveyed had service charges ranging from 3.5% to 15%. So if a guest wants to pay $100 toward your airfare and the honeymoon registry website imposes a 10% service charge, she will end up spending $110.
5. Paying for the honeymoon
The wedding couple are ultimately responsible for paying for their honeymoon expenses. That means that any portion of the honeymoon that must be paid prior to the wedding (airfare, room deposits and so on) comes out of your pocket. Some or all of those expenses might be picked up by your guests, although most couples' honeymoon expenses are not completely covered by their registry. It's wise not to plan a more extravagant honeymoon than you can pay for yourselves.
Whatever money wedding guests contribute toward the honeymoon is placed in a holding account. The registry sends the couple a check (or electronically deposits the funds into their account) on a predetermined date, usually a week before the wedding. Even though the wedding guests paid for certain parts of the honeymoon, the couple is really free to use the money for anything they want.
6. Thanking guests
It's important to write thank-you notes to guests who bought part of the honeymoon (just as you would write thank-you notes for any wedding gift). It might actually be fun to thank guests for the honeymoon, though, because you can describe your experience in the note-you might even include a picture.
Jerry Windley-Daoust runs the Creative Honeymoon Ideas website, where you can learn more about honeymoon registries, including a side-by-side comparison of six popular honeymoon registries.
Now that you are planning your wedding, you've got to... Read More
The wearing of a man wedding ring is a relatively... Read More
"Extreme age differences between husband and wife may lead to... Read More
Effective communication between you and your wedding guests is essential... Read More
Rounding up the guys to devour some barbecued red meat... Read More
The big day is fast approaching, and the energy of... Read More
India is a diverse, multi-cultural country with people of various... Read More
Perhaps the biggest worry of a bride-to-be, is picking out... Read More
For some couples, jetting off to their dream location would... Read More
If you're looking to the internet for help with your... Read More
Have you ever been irritated because your spouse does things... Read More
In the next six months, my... Read More
Your lovely fiancée has chosen her 'maids, and now you're... Read More
"What am I supposed to have in my invitation?" This... Read More
You've had friends to your home for dinner. Maybe you've... Read More
A couple should trust each other in many ways. When... Read More
Remember the frenzy of the paparazzi when they caught Sarah... Read More
One of the most elegant rituals you can choose for... Read More
Her dreams of marriage and collected marriage values disintegrate when... Read More
Marriage has to be the greatest opportunity for mindfulness on... Read More
He ? or she ? asked, and you answered in... Read More
1. Start with a nice clean piece of paper (lavender... Read More
With the cost of today's weddings spiraling to astronomical levels,... Read More
Many people believe that weddings have to be costly. But... Read More
The enchanting Belize honeymoon resorts captivate every visitor through the... Read More
A little strategizing can go a long way when trying... Read More
Time was when you'd open a wedding invitation you'd find... Read More
Even though it's a great tradition with a long history,... Read More
How do you handle arguments that lead to heated exchanges... Read More
In the last article, we concluded by saying that keeping... Read More
Diamonds may be a woman's best friend, but modern man... Read More
As most of you know the evening festivities for a... Read More
Vital tips on making your own wedding invitations - by... Read More
White is traditionally a symbol of purity and as it... Read More
Your wedding vows are the words that will forever remain... Read More
THE sunshine had come out to ensure the wedding of... Read More
Personalized wedding favors are among the most popular of gift... Read More
Australia honeymoon vacations are more than just being the pleasure... Read More
In case you've been living on another planet for the... Read More
You're well into planning your wedding and have finally decided... Read More
Wedding centerpieces help tie together the look of your entire... Read More
Planning a second wedding? Prevent favorite guests comparing your second... Read More
People are looking for life-long relationships in the most peculiar... Read More
Nestled in the beautiful Smoky Mountains, Gatlinburg's romantic and beautiful... Read More
Your true love got down on his knees and asked... Read More
When we want to be successful at something in life,... Read More
You've been engaged for months, you've made it through planning... Read More
A woman once visited a counselor to ask a question... Read More
Computer printed labels are a time-saver, but they make the... Read More
Wedding ceremonies are the stuff fairy tales are made of.... Read More
So you're toying with the idea of getting married? Maybe... Read More
Now that you are planning your wedding, you've got to... Read More
There are two major events that you have to plan... Read More
As a Personal Trainer for brides-to-be, I often get asked... Read More
When you think about couples who renew their wedding vows,... Read More
So your not one of those fabulous actresses or models... Read More
I am a woman, 42, who three years ago married... Read More
The exact origin of the wedding ring is uncertain and... Read More
For better or worse, in people's minds weddings and wedding... Read More
Fashion Trends and Popular Styles and ColorsThe Wedding Dress ?... Read More
The possibilities are endless when it comes to creating (or... Read More
Your wedding flowers usually tie to your wedding theme. When... Read More
It's your day! The most special day of your life,... Read More
In the last article, we concluded by saying that keeping... Read More
A person's wedding can be one of the most important... Read More
Rounding up the guys to devour some barbecued red meat... Read More
Marriage & Wedding |