Is gift registry on the decline and cash registry on the upswing? That’s a suggestion the New York Times made in its article this past weekend titled Passing on Wedding Gifts, Millennials Prefer Cash, reporting that “young couples are opting instead to register for cash, home-repair gift cards and lavish honeymoon experiences.”
How do those statistics change for LGBTQ couples getting married though? Could the trend be slightly different?
“Since more couples are getting married after being an established couple, they are registering for honeymoons or home improvement projects,” says Chanda Eddens-Daniels, owner of A Monique Affair, a wedding planning company in Oakland, Calif., that focuses on LGBTQ couples, and an Equally Wed preferred wedding vendor. “A majority of my couples use Honeyfund for honeymoon registries. I also encourage them to do at least one traditional registry at Macy’s for more traditional guests, such as grandmothers.”
Couples are going online rather than hitting brick-and-mortar operations to create their wedding registries. One wedding registry company that offers an extensive array of choices, including cash funds and experiences is Zola.
“We have seen more couples register for these less traditional gifts to fit the needs of their lifestyles,” says Kate Barrows, a company representative for Zola. “For example, if they already live together, they might be thinking about a down payment on a future home instead of another blender.
“Moreover, Zola’s cash funds are completely customizable — couples can even leave notes to their guests about why they want certain gifts — so they are more meaningful to the couples and guests feel more comfortable purchasing them as gifts.”
That can certainly help ease the awkward question of “Is it tacky to ask for cash at my wedding?”
Regardless of what’s trending, don’t forget these golden rules from Emily Post’s Wedding Etiquette:
- Do not include any gift registry information in your wedding invitation.
- If asked, it’s OK to tell guests where you’re registered.
- Share unconventional gift requests diplomatically. Whenever possible, include a comment letting guests know that any gift will be appreciated so they will feel at ease choosing a more traditional gift if that’s more comfortable for them.
- Do include registry information on your wedding website.
- It’s OK to include registry information with shower invitations.
- It’s always up to the guests on what they want to give you, no matter what you’ve registered for.
- There is no minimum or maximum on what they should spend.
- A gift is, by definition, voluntary.
Despite the trend toward gifting of green, what do you think? Is it better to ask for the money you could use to build your future or a honeymoon in Mexico or a better microwave and an upgraded duvet?
