Unwrapped!

Wedding registry trends and gift picks

New nearly-weds, it’s time to grab that registry scanner and download those gift-getting apps. Now that you have officially said yes, your parents will soon be urging you to register for gifts. Why? Because your friends and families will want to send you congratulatory presents for your engagement, shower and wedding day – and take it from us, you want to ensure those gifts will be things you actually need.

Enter the “wedding registry": the traditional wedding gift pre-selection process. Once limited to china, linens and house- wares, couples have since widened their bridal registries by far and the technology has followed suit. There are now helpful group-gifting functions and crowd-funding capabilities; you can register for everything from electronics to experiences in the store or from your couch via your tablet.

Building a registry can be fun, as couples can act like kids in a candy store and add items they might otherwise not be able to afford. We’ve done the homework for you on where you should register and what you should register for.

National Department Stores

Department stores like Hudson’s Bay and Home Outfitters are the gold standards of the registry process – and parents love them too because they are the ones who often want to go into the store and touch what they are buying! Because of their multiple store locations, these store registries offer convenience to guests who live afar, and many of these stores have rewards programs that give you promotional credits for gifts purchased. Plus, both Home Outfitters and the Bay offer great selections to turn your house into a home! From great national brands to their own private labels they offer an amazing selection. Gift registry associates will guide you through every step of the way. Can’t make it to the store? No problem! You can also view, edit and manage your registry 24/7 online from the comfort of your home. The Bay also launched a mobile app for tablets and smartphones allowing brides and grooms to manage their Gift Registry easily and at anytime! With years of experience no one knows gift registries like these two, you can feel confident that your registry will be top notch and, most importantly, just right for you! Your guests can shop online, in store, or in the case of the Bay using the app.

Wine Registry

Those who can’t get enough of pinot and cabernet can now celebrate their nuptials by giving guests the opportunity to contribute vintages to their very own wine cellar at Everything wine. Register for cases, bottles and all necessary accessories for your own wine bar, from personalized wine glasses and decanters to hi-tech cork screws and aerators. Many wedding couples these days already have fully-equipped homes, but all wine lovers will always appreciate a gift of wine to enjoy at a later date, and/or other wine accessories for their home.

Everything Wine’s new Gift Registry is free, and makes it simple for the wedding couples to share your wine wish list with friends and family. It’s the perfect way to build a fabulous collection of favourite wine to enjoy now, and in the future. It’s also a unique and fun alternative to traditional gift registries at other retailers. Visit everythingwine.ca

Crowd-Funding Registries

Not into traditional wedding gifts? Well, etiquette still says that you can’t ask for cash. But you can use your registry to crowd-fund high-ticket items like your downpayment on your home at homeforhtehoneymoon.ca, where you can register for cash towards the downpayment on your home.

Charity Registry

Want your gifts to give back? Choose up to four organizations of your choice – or – attach your gift registry to the charity of your choice to receive a donation derived from your guests’ gift purchases.

So get to it! You’ll thank us when you have stacks of wrapped boxes waiting at your doorstep between now and the wedding. Building a registry can be a fun activity for couples about to tie the knot. But there are some guidelines to follow to make the process go smoothly for couples and guests alike.