Our Wedding Registry with The Wedding Shop
Happy Wednesday friends! And happy May! I am so excited about today’s post as I will be telling you all about our wedding registry.
In March, Andrew and I had the pleasure to visit The Wedding Gallery, an absolute gem in the heart of London and little Heaven for engaged couples looking for wedding vendors and inspiration.
We were introduced to the lovely products and services offered by The Wedding Shop, an award-winning service designed for couples who want unrivaled choice as they collaborate with over 350 brand partners – just a few reasons why we decided to create our own wedding registry through their website: www.weddingshop.co.uk
I am no expert in weddings. As a matter of fact, I am just immersing myself into the universe of brides, bridal makeup and wedding planning. But, I do my research and as the control freak that I am, firmly believe that getting things done on time is the key when it comes to well… everything.
I was very glad when one of my girlfriends introduced me to The Wedding Shop’s website, it really is so easy to use, without you having to go physically to a store (let’s be honest, nobody has the time these days) and having everything on your phone with the app. It will help you check one thing off your long bride-to-be list!
Before showing you a little bit of our own wedding registry, which currently is “private” as we haven’t set our wedding date yet (you can use this feature in the setting as well and make it public when you’re ready). I thought I would list some tips that were important to us when selecting our gifts, I hope they can also help you on this beautiful but sometimes overwhelming journey.
Out with the old and in with the new!
You know those old kitchen towels in different tones and designs you have been carrying around since your roommate days? Or that Starbucks mug that doesn’t really match anything else? Well, starting your new life as a married couple should be exactly that…NEW! So, take the time to de-clutter your home before your new, beautiful wedding presents arrive. This way you will be able to really enjoy them and have the room to display them around your home without the old stuff around.
One of the things that I love about our registry is the wide range of products and price ranges that it provides. Of course, you want to make all your invitees happy, but while some will be delighted to get you that gorgeous India Jane Faubourg Stool, others will maybe be more comfortable gifting you a candle. It’s great to have options for all budgets. Also, if there is a product you really love but it’s a little bit more expensive you have the option of making it a “group gift”, a great option for colleagues or family that want to gift you something as together. So while you need to register for a range of price points, don’t feel guilty! People love doing joint gifts and want to get you something you’ll always treasure. So, go for that Crystal girlfriend!
Help your future husband so he can help you.
I have said this to Andrew and I’ll keep saying it for every guy that wants to hear it: “putting the dirty dishes in the dishwasher, goes a long way!” Either you have already lived with your partner or are about to live together, you will want to involve him in the house chores, so keep this in mind when you’re registering, make his life easier, choose a nice, easy to use vacuum cleaner that he is happy to regularly put into use. helpful husband, clean house, happy wife!
Don’t Forget Baskets! Your husband can toss his shoes in it at the front door or his excess stuff. It keeps everything organized and out of the way, and doesn’t take a lot of time or effort.
Invest in memories.
Not sure if I mentioned this before but for Andrew’s 30’th birthday I wanted to give him something with a little bit more meaning. But you know how difficult men can be to choose a gift for! Particularly him, as he is not into the “expensive” stuff. I remember getting him a beer tour for one of his past birthdays and he still talks about it.
Anyway, I thought I would start a tradition, I bought him a Crosley Vinyl record player and I told him that every year on his birthday I will give him (besides his present) a Vinyl, so he can build his collection.
This is what I mean when I talk about investing in memories, when I think about getting that gorgeous Kitchen Aid mixer or that lovely cheese platter, I picture myself making chocolate chip cookies for my husband on cold winter days or hosting our friends over for wine, chats and laughs. I think about the experiences and all the memories we’ll make with these generous gifts. The meals you have with your husband, your children, your family and your friends are such welcomed breaks from whatever other stressful things are going on in your life.
Choose your presents by picturing how happy you will feel while putting them into use and the great moments this new chapter will bring for the both of you.
The Wedding…and then what?!
Do you remember that episode of Friends, the day after Monica and Chandler got married? How sad she was because she was not a bride anymore. I can’t help but thinking I’ll be the same after our wedding is over! Because of that, Andrew and I have agreed to have our honeymoon one month after the wedding. That way we can spend time with my side of the family as they are coming from overseas and I don’t get to see them often, and also it gives us something to look forward to once the party is over.
With the registry at The Wedding Shop you can also select “experiences” as gifts and I absolutely love that, as again, it gives you something to look forward to with your partner after the wedding – a weekend away together, learning a new skill or enjoying an adventure – these are all things you can add to your list. Personally, I can’t wait to try the cooking course at Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons and the Macarons and Champagne for two at Ladurée. Don’t forget to write your thank you notes!
Unlimited options all in one place
Last year we were invited to a few weddings and I couldn’t help noticing some people approaching the groom at some point during the party and giving him an envelope. I just found the whole “giving cash” situation quiet uncomfortable, it may just be a personal thing, but if I can avoid it, I would. It’s not only a little awkward, but let’s be honest, the groom will be distracted enjoying the party and later on he might even lost some of that needed extra presents (cash). The Wedding Shop gives you options for these type of situations, for instance, guests can give you a monetary gift in the form of a gift card, or they can add funds toward your honeymoon, if you prefer it. This way you can have a clear history of all of your gifts and can keep your list in order, using those gift cards to buy things you may need later on.
Another aspect that was very important to us was the storage, as we are getting a new place before our wedding, but we don’t have a specific date yet. The Wedding Shop offers free storage and complimentary delivery within the UK so you don’t have to worry about your products being delivered when you’re not ready.
Couples have the flexibility and choice over all the products/experiences and you’re assigned your own personal adviser, financial guarantee and an offer of 10% lifetime discount on all their branded products and the best part of all is there are no hidden charges or fees to use the service, yay!!
I definitely recommend visiting one of their five showrooms, but as I said at the beginning, you can create your wedding registry, make changes, add or remove items all from the comfort of your home.
Please see below some samples of our registry, you can personalize it according to your taste, that is the way the products are displayed and how your guests will see it. I hope you liked this post, if you’ve created your wedding registry and have some ideas or comments you would like to add, please let me know in the comments below.
Thank you to The Wedding Gallery for their lovely hospitality and for sponsoring this post.
Photography by the lovely: White Chateau
xoxo