Honeymoon Registry

[misysu2]

Has anyone used a Honeymoon Registry, such as www.honeymoonwishes.com? We have lived together for years and already have most traditional registry items, and are low on honeymoon budget. Seems like a good option for us. I wanted to make sure that the site and process is legit-- don''t want to rip off our guests and not receive our gifts!!

 

[surfgirl]

If you do a search on this you should find a bunch of threads on this topic!

 

[Independent Gal]

I''d be careful to check what kind of commission each site takes. I saw one that takes 7% of your cash for themselves, all for nicely providing that website. That''s a FRAKK of a lot of money to be skimming off the top. I was disgusted. Not to mention teh interest they are earning off your money if you leave it for a bit before you take your honeymoon. WHAT A RACKET!

So maybe you could start a bank account called ''Mr. and Misyu2''s Honeymoon Account" and ask people if they''d care to contribute directly at the bank to that specifically named and intentioned acct? Because just think about it: if you end up with, say, $4000 on the honeymoon registry page. They take almost $300. That''s a lot of dough. Think of the multiple massages you could be getting for that....

I wonder if having a designated ''HM Acct'' at a bank would be seen as ''rude'' compared to a registry page? I don''t see why it would be. Especially if you explained on your webpage why you did it. But you know your guests best!

 

[misysu2]

That''s a great idea, Independent Gal~ I was worried about the excessive skimming and I read up on past posts on this topic and got a general feel for experiences with those websites.

There has to be a better way-- I think a bank account is a great idea!

 

[zoebartlett]

I posted on another thread regarding honeymoon registries, and in fact, I may have begun one. I can''t remember. Anyway, I like the idea of registering for a honeymoon but in actuality, I haven''t found a site that doesn''t charge an arm and a leg for their services. I did a lot of research on them when I was considering doing one and I couldn''t find one company that I loved, or even liked for that matter. I''m not sure how a honeymoon bank acct. would be received by your guests, but honestly, it''s essentially the same thing as a honeymoon registry...isn''t it? You''re basically asking for help paying for one aspect or another of your honeymoon.

 

[ladyciel]

I believe www.myregistry.com has a feature where you can have a cash registry. You would specify that the money would be used towards your honeymoon in your description of it. The website doesn''t charge you for the service, but their FAQ says something about paypal fees (the site uses paypal for all the cash gift transactions). You would have to look into it more to see if it would be a reasonable fit for you. One thing I like about their site is you could have "normal" registry items listed right alongside the cash gift option. Also, since you can list basically ANYTHING there, even items not sold online, you could maybe put in listings for gift certificates or check amounts that would go towards specific honeymoon treats. That way, more so than just using a checking account, your guests could feel more like their gifts were tagged/assigned to specific purposes (and not just going into lottery tickets or alcohol on the plane or something!). If guests chose those gifts, they could mark them as purchased on the website and then send you the GC/check on their own.

 

[zoebartlett]

Just a thought, but if you don''t put a lot on a registry, do you think guests would pick up on the fact that you don''t need a lot of stuff and give you $$ instead?

 

[ChargerGrrl]

Date: 8/6/2007 4:24:20 PM
Author: zoebartlett
Just a thought, but if you don''t put a lot on a registry, do you think guests would pick up on the fact that you don''t need a lot of stuff and give you $$ instead?

hehe- don''t bet on it! you could end up with a ton of frames and vases, unless you get someone (BM''s, mom''s) to spread the word about what you''d like.

OP- I''ve also heard about another honeymoon registry site called something like The Big Day (??)

 

[janinegirly]

i''ve thought about this (putting minimal on registry and hoping guests give $), but in the end people will give what they want to give, so it''s best to have options for everyone (to prevent the worst case scenario which is receiving something you have zero need for or want!).

i''m putting a few high, quality items on my registry along with some lower priced gifts for those who have lower budget, or like to combine gifts (or aren''t coming and want to give something small). majority of my registry is china and crystal (nice stuff but not crazy expensive). so it''s stuff we''d appreciate but don''t have and probably wouldn''t buy it for ourselves since we''re too practical. i''m not putting all that other stuff (towels, baking sheets) b/c we have it all. i figure the limited registry gives people options but not too many that we get silly things in lieu of gifts. but like i said, in the end, people will give what they want to give..registry or not!

 

[Jas12]

I used thebigday.com and was pleased with the service. My family and friends totally loved the idea and almost 100% of the items were purchased for my shower--which was a corny travel theme

It was easy to use and although they did take a percentage, if you book your travel through them it is omitted.
I wouldn''t expect the service to be free--they provide an efficient vehicle from which to display gift ideas etc. but if you can find another way to do it that doesn''t cost you anything that is great! Only thing is, I doubt people will be as receptive to just a back account where they can deposit money...there is something about the pictures, descriptions and activities on the website that people really love (at least my friends did)

 

[havernell]

One thing to consider with a honeymoon registry that I''ve heard from people who have used them is that it doesn''t help you that much if you are low on cash for a honeymoon because you have to pay for a lot of the trip up front (before you get a lot of the honeymoon registry gifts). So, if people wait until the week before your wedding to give to your honeymoon registry, its kind of too late to help you get a better trip that you could afford yourself. So, in reality, you have to pay for the trip yourself and then just get the "get back" the cash from the honeymoon registry after the fact.

Just wanted you to be aware of this downside to the honeymoon registry (that would be an equally big problem even if you just did the bank account idea). However, I have to say that this is just what I have heard (I''ve never done a hm registry), so if someone who has had a hm registry personally found a way around this dilemma, please share!