Honeymoon Registry

I used Zola but just beware that all honeymoon funds have a transaction fee

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I did not know that! Thanks for the heads up!

Same here. You may get some flak for that question here (many people feel it’s rude to ask for money instead of gifts).

What we did is set up a “contribute what you wish” fund on Zola for our honeymoon. We are expecting people will gift us checks or cash and save the fees, but we wanted to direct people away from physical gifts since we are in a similar situation to you.

Unless you go through a travel agency, which we didn’t want to, the website/company you use will just set up a cash fund for anything you add. So for example, you might put a category for dinner or a balloon ride on your honeymoon registry, but it all goes to the same cash fund.

Also I personally feel like people were more inclined to purchase us the honeymoon activities we itemized out e.g dinner cruise, zip lining., etc than they were to just contribute what they wish.

View Quoted Comment That’s a good point, it’s more enticing to purchase an actual activity. But we just feel like we need to purchase most of the activities in advance, so it felt a little deceptive

Most people who object to these funds object to two things: the fact that most engage in deliberately deceptive marketing, and that that take a 5%to 8% cut of the total. Many services promise that people will be buying a specific experience. But in fact, the funds give a lump sum check to the couple to spend on anything they like. So all the pictures of a particular cruise or Zipline or wine tastings that they picture for people to select from, may exist, but you are not paying for those. And many couples sign up for the service to pay for their honeymoon, only to find later that the honeymoon fund may not pay them until 1-4 weeks after the wedding. So even if they have 10K from the fund, they may have to pay for everything first. Then get the money. Tough for those who nearly maxed out credit for their wedding, and now have to wait 3 weeks to go away. Or pay their credit card rate interest, maybe 12%, while covering things the fund will pay when you get it. And fees: if people can simply pay you with a check, and you will get the whole thing in a day, with your bank or credit union keeping track, why lose a percentage fee, plus pay an administrative fee? To see the event pictures? It has always been proper, when people as the couple what do you want, to say, we are saving up for a honeymoon, or car, house, furniture. It just isn't polite to ask people who have not asked you for a suggestion. So don't. Just say, we really do not need more household things. But are hoping to do lots of things for our honeymoon, and still put aside money for whatever. Don't get specific, or steer people to a company that takes a cut. People you know well enough to invite to your wedding, or accept a gift from, can ask you what you want, and pay you directly.
It is not rude as long as you avoid asking for money, until someone says, what do you want?

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Thank you Cortney! I totally get some people things its classless to ask for money but doing a gift registry is basically the same in my eyes. Luckily we have a good group of people that surround us and pretty much assume that cash is best!

I will definitely check out travel agencies to see if that might be the better way to go! thanks for the tips!

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GREAT point!!

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Thank you for the breakdown in clarification of this Judy! I never really thought of the whole picture so this helps immensely!

Bed Bath and Beyond has partnered with VEBO which specifically allows couples to register for adventures and experiences. It’s relatively new so the options are there but limited in location. I haven’t tried it myself but I will be forming my registry with VEBO. According to the website, the experiences don’t expire, anything over $100 can be partially purchased by guests, and anything that isn’t completely purchased can be paid off by the couple.

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Thank you! I did not know they did this, and will definitely look this up now!

The honeymoon registries made me uncomfortable so I just put this on our website. " Your presence at our wedding is all that we request. If you wish to give a gift to save you from looking, shopping and buying. Here's an idea we hope you like trying. A honeymoon adventure is what we are after. We would love to make new memories full of love and laughter. If you would like to participate a monetary gift would be just great!"