The etiquette around registries is so confusing. Youâre âsupposedâ to have one, but donât get too carried away with it or you might be accused of being âgift grabby.â Is there any way to win? Thatâs why Kathy Cheng created Thankful Registry: to make wedding registries more about people, not stuff. This mission is at the core of everything the business does (including its name) and is carried out in small but significant ways throughout your registry, from the âgentle toneâ of the design, to gift prices that donât reveal themselves until you hover over an item (though guests can sort gifts by price to make finding something within their budget that much easier), and the ability to seamlessly integrate cash options and donation gifts without designating a dollar amount to them. You can add gifts from anywhere on the Internet, and even include descriptions of why you want particular items, so your guests feel more connected to the purchases they are making. Combined, all these features add up to one idea: that your registry should be flexible for you and your partner and considerate of the people buying you gifts.
Kathy explains:
I was a bridesmaid in a wedding in 2007 and I was late to the registry, so I got my friend a $200 blender because there was nothing left. A few months later, she told me it was in storage because she didnât have room in her kitchen. She felt embarrassed and I was upset. I created Thankful with the idea of maximizing the registry experience. Our number one priority is customization, so that itâs your registry and not Crate & Barrelâs.
Thankful Registry also believes privacyâyours and that of your friends and familyâmatters. You can opt to password-protect your registry, and all registries are kept off Google search results. And they believe traditions evolve. For example, while some guests firmly believe in paper thank you notes sent via post, other people believe in going paperless. To cater to both, Thankful gives guests the option to request âpaperless thank yousâ exactly for this reason.
Setting up your account with Thankful Registry is wondrously straightforward: After registering, you pay a one-time flat fee of $30 for twelve months of use. Why $30? Well, itâs not just about the pretty designs. Unlike big-box retailers you can visit at the mall, Thankful Registry doesnât sell stuff. They donât have a vested interest in how much your registry adds up to, and they donât get paid every time you buy twelve matching silverware sets. So you can be free to create your registry without a bunch of pressure to turn it into something that doesnât jibe with your values. You can read more about why Thankful Registry isnât free right here.
Obviously you donât have to have a registry at all, but if youâre in the market and looking for an option you can feel good about, it doesnât get much better than Thankful. And if youâre just getting started, Kathy has rounded up some of her best tips for creating a registry that is considerate of both you and your guests. Because while your registry is obviously about you and your partner, itâs also a little bit about the people shopping it too. Hereâs Kathy in her own words:
1. Set Aside the registry checklist. If you listen to the retailers, your registry will take hours for your guests to scroll through (driving them crazy) and youâll end up with a lot of things you probably wonât use. Ever. Instead, think practical, but also consider what your guests would like to give you. There was a story recently about a bride who put toilet paper and paper towels on her registry. Thatâs definitely practical, but unless youâre preparing for some massive kitchen or bathroom disaster, you can probably stay out of the cleaning aisle.
2. Consider all types of guests. Add classic wedding gift items (homewares, etc.) for your more traditional guests and family members, but also include fun and easy options for those who are strapped for time. Donât make your last-minute gift buyers choose from all the weird, random items that are available on the registry two days before the wedding. (Weâve all been there.) Gift cards and group gifts are great choices, and Thankful lets you keep the dollar denomination open-ended, so your guests can decide the value of their own gift.
3. Give guests flexibility and control. Registries generally lock guests with a specific retailer, which means theyâre locked paying a specific price and any shipping costs. But keep it open and your guests can shop around for a better price and take advantage of sales or special offers elsewhere. We all want to be savvy with our money when it comes to wedding costs, and the same goes for our guests. (Editorâs note: With Thankful Registry, your guests can buy gifts from a different website from the one youâve designated, or even purchase in store, and they can still come back and mark the item as completed on your registry so thereâs no confusion about whatâs been bought.)
4. Add a charity that you care about. While I know some folks have mixed feelings about the charity gift, thereâs something lovely and balanced about sharing the joy and generosity you experience during your wedding. Incorporating a charity component to your registry is a thoughtful way to do that. While not every guest will make a donation, itâs more about raising awareness for the things you care about. Weâve also seen some couples request donations to their alma mater or nonprofits they volunteer with, which makes it extra personal.
Thankful Registry offers a free SEVEN-day trial period to figure out if itâs the right registry for you. Click HERE to create your account today.
