Alternative Registries: This is not your mother's wedding registry

by Andrew Wheeler
WeddingBells Magazine Fall/Winter 2003

Alternative is such a relative term nowadays. "Nontraditional" is equally vague -- after all, what is traditional anymore? But it's pretty safe to say that when most people think of wedding registries the first thing that comes to mind is china patterns. Then bath towels. Then kitchen gadgets. You know what we're getting at.

But this is hardly the case any longer. Sure, there are still plenty of registries for all the bed linen, tableware, and otehr home stuff you could ever need. But there is an increasing range of nontraditional registries that can be a great supplement.

After a couple has the side plates and candlesticks, they can then register for items like home-improvement equipment, honeymoons, and even donations to their nearest and dearest charities. This new breed of registries is, as Kendall Webb from charity registry JustGive.org puts it, "the perfect crossroads between the needs of the guests and the couple."

There are a few distinctions that you should be aware of before diving into the world of registires, alternative or otherwise. You have two main types of registries at your disposal: local and national. The former is run by stores that offer lists compiled and administered on-site. This type is fine if all of your guests live within driving distance. On the other hand, many large nationwide stores will allow you to put your registry together on-site or over the Internet and will then share it with their locations in-store or on the Web -- and handy option for guests who live at a distance.

Wedding megasite WeddingChannel.com combines both traditional and alternative registries. Aside from major retailers like Macy's, Williams Sonoma, Burdines, the site gives couples the opportunity to register for honeymoons at a Sandals resort or the chance to put kayaks and camping gear from REI on the list. "Alternative registries give couples a way to get teh gifts that fit their lifestyle and are catching on quickly," says Rosanna McCoullough, VP of marketing and business development for the site, which houses more than 1.5 million registries.

And what does McCoullough see as the next areas to crack for alternative registries? "We believe the future of registry will include other items couples use daily in the household," she says. "The top categories include home electronics -- televisions, DVD players, and stereo equipment -- as well as home appliances like washers, dryers, and refrigerators."

Couples who want to use their wedding as a chance to help meet the needs of others have several online registries at their disposal. JustGive.org is a charity on a mission to encourage philanthropy and offers more than 850,000 charities from which to choose. The site simplifies the selection process by sorting 1,000 of the most popular charities into the JustGive Guide, which encompasses 19 different categories ranging from Arts & Culture to Homelessness.

Webb encourages interested copules to look at what's going to be important to them over the next 10 years and then to find causes that address those issues. By registering for donations to charities that are close to their hearts, couples will receive gifts that are personal, relevant, and unique. "It's the most meaningful gift their guests can give them," she says.

For anyone who loves the kind of items that can only be found in intimate one-of-a-kind boutiques, another type of registry calls. Instead of going from one store to anotehr, innovative companies are doing the footwork and enabling couples to compile registries of products from numerous stores. Maxwell-Silver NY's registry is aprime example. For those who live both in and outside of Gotham, this registry makes items from some of New York's most chic boutiques available for purchase across the country -- everything from exclusive French wintes to chic home furnishings.

Long before fair-trade coffee was the cause celebre, organic products and sustainable living had become a way of life for many people. OrganicWeddings.com was created for those who want to incorporate that lifestyle into their wedding. Besides great tips for planning a socially conscious celebration, the site offers a registry full of organically minded products from allergen-busting air purifiers to hemp shower curtains.

Finally, remember one cardinal rule of wedding etiquette: No matter where or how you register, don't mention stores, registries, or gifts on the invites. It's just plain crass. Simply pass the word to those who are interested through your attendants and family members.