Planning a wedding can be stressful, but one thing that shouldn’t be is doing your wedding registry. Because who doesn’t like shopping and gifts? And even if the thought of creating a registry seems daunting, using a site like Zola, which helps with both wedding planning and shopping, can help you speed up the process (and maybe have a little fun along the way).
“Zola was created to be a true all-in-one place for wedding planning, where our interconnected tools all sync together,” says Emily Forrest, Director of Communications at Zola. That means you have one seamless experience throughout the wedding planning process and beyond, from creating your wedding website and your guest list to integrating your wedding registry to sending out thank you notes with guest addresses already printed on the envelopes (which is free).
In addition, Zola registries let couples decide exactly when they want their gifts to arrive. Whenever a gift is purchased, the couple gets a notification so they can thank the guest, but they also choose if they want it to ship right away, to exchange it before it ships, or to ship it later. “This is a really handy feature for couples who might live in a small space (such as in a small SF apartment!) and who might not be ready to receive all of their gifts right away. This is also handy for couples who are planning to take their honeymoon soon after their wedding, and they don’t want to arrive home to a huge pile of gifts that have just been waiting, unattended, on their doorstep,” says Forrest.
It’s truly never too early to start building your registry — in fact, Forrest says it’s smart to add gifts a few days after you get engaged and then continue building the registry until you get to the wedding. Here’s how to set up a Zola wedding registry, and some tips and products to give you some inspiration.
How to set up a Zola wedding registry
You can use Zola to add gifts to your wedding registry, create a wedding website, and so much more.
ZolaSetting up a Zola wedding registry takes just a few steps.
- Enter your name and your future spouse’s name
- Enter your wedding date (if you haven’t confirmed a date yet, there’s also a “we’re still deciding” option)
- Enter the ballpark number of guests
- Pick how you’re feeling about your registry: Excited; Eh, nothing really; Stressed
- Say whether you’re registering at other stores (Zola lets you add gifts from other stores to your Zola registry)
- Say which benefit are you looking forward to the most: free shipping and returns, easy, worry-free exchanges, or 20% off post-wedding
- Say what you’re most excited to register for: gifts, gifts & cash funds, or mainly cash funds
- Say if you live together
- Pick a few interests that you and your partner have together: cooking, having friends, over, etc.
- Say how much would you spend on a friend’s wedding gift: $50, $75, $100, $150, or $150+
- Fill out the standard “How did you hear about us?” questions
- Enter your email to set up an account
And you’re done! Now you’re ready to add gifts.
How to find a couple’s Zola wedding registry
Zola registries let couples decide exactly when they want their gifts to arrive.
ZolaThis one is simple. All you need to do is go to the wedding registry search and you can look up a couple by first or last name.
Does Zola tell you who bought off your registry?
Zola has a Gift Tracker function, which lists all of the gifts guests buy you on this page and on your app.
ZolaYes, Zola sends real-time notifications every time you get a gift, either through email or the app. You can see your registry and who has purchased what in the gift tracker, and you can also download a list of guests who sent you gifts to help you write your thank-you notes.
If a guest chooses to keep their gift a surprise, they can pick a future delivery time to reveal the gift giver. The gift will still be marked as purchased on your registry but you won’t know who bought it until the selected reveal date.
Tips for setting up a wedding registry
Zola has to tools for making wedding registry creation simple, like a checklist of items to add.
ZolaWhen you have practically endless options in the gift selection process, it can be hard to know where to start. Here are a few tips:
Pick what you really want. “The number one rule when it comes to curating a gift registry is to register for the gifts that you as a couple truly want, and will love in your home or in your life. That’s it. Gone are the days when couples had to tiptoe around registry rules,” says Forrest
Register for gifts that both of you will enjoy. The registry shouldn’t be one-sided, and there should be a balance of gifts that each person will use as well as ones the couple will use together. A marriage is a partnership, after all.
Add a variety of price points to the registry. Make sure you have gifts at the $25 price point, $75-$150, and above. “The average wedding guest wants to spend around $100 on a wedding gift, but some guests want to spend more and some less. It often depends on the closeness of the relationship, and if the wedding guest is invited with a +1 or even with their children,” says Forrest. If you are going to have an engagement party or shower, add gifts below $100 because guests will also likely shop the registry for pre-wedding celebrations.
Add lots of gifts. “Often couples are timid about adding too much, but there’s no reason to be. Guests love variety and they love to shop. Many guests will even buy a gift late, after the wedding has already happened,” says Forrest.
If you want to ask for cash, add specific cash funds. You can register cash funds toward a honeymoon, airplane tickets, hotel stay, or activities, and that way guests feel like they’re contributing to an experience and not handing over plain cash.
Don’t be afraid to add common household items. “It’s a misconception that items like trash cans or vacuums don’t belong on a registry. They do! I actually love to give the most ‘unsexy gift’ on the registry because I know that this is something the couple will definitely use. A new trash can is a beautiful thing,” says Forest.
Make building a registry an event. Forest says she suggests scheduling a registry date night and spending time with your partner thinking about the items you want now, in a few years, and forever. Also use this opportunity to register for upgrades, for example, new matching flatware set to replace the one you’ve cobbled together over the years.
Top 10 products on Zola wedding registry
Zola has a team that’s dedicated to curating gift selections and sells over 1,000 brands and you can register for everything from a honeymoon fund to a new dinnerware set to an Airbnb gift card. Here are 10 products to jumpstart your list.
Brooklinen Super-Plush 4-Piece Bath Towel Set
Toss out those old towels that have seen better days, and replace them with this super plush set of Brooklinen towels. It’ll make everyday showers feel more luxurious. It’s also the most popular wedding registry gift in four different states this year (IL, ME, NY, WY).
De’Longhi Stilosa Espresso Machine
Enjoy barista-quality coffee drinks from the comfort of your home with this espresso machine. You can pull a single or double espresso shot and froth milk for your beverage of choice.
Cash Funds
Have your guests help contribute to your honeymoon, a dinner for two, a couples massage, a CLEAR couple’s membership, and more — they’ll give you a memorable experience you’re bound to enjoy.
Simplehuman Dual Compartment Sensor Can
Every household needs a trash can, so you might as well get one that’s sleek and not an eyesore in your kitchen. This simplehuman trash can has dual compartments for recycling and trash, and you can open it with a wave of your hand or voice control so you never have to touch the lid.
OXO Good Grips POP Container Set, 5-Piece
A well-organized pantry is a wonderful thing to see. These air-tight, stackable, clear containers will not only keep your kitchen organized, but they’ll also prevent your snacks and dry goods from going stale before you get a chance to eat them.
Le Creuset Signature Round Dutch Oven
A Dutch oven is a classic kitchen essential that looks good on the stove or on the table. And if you take care of it, a good Dutch oven can last you years or even decades, so it’s worth the investment.
Stasher Reusable Silicone Sandwich Bag
Single-use plastic is so untrendy. These silicone bags will keep your food fresh or your other small valuables protected, and they’re dishwasher- and microwave-safe, too.
Airbnb Gift Card
For your next couple’s adventure, book a stay (or a staycation) in an Airbnb anywhere in the world, courtesy of your wedding guests.
Estelle Stemware Wine Glass
Drinking wine will always feel like a special occasion when you use these colorful glasses. Register for a few different colors and add some brightness to your table.
Hello Basics Waffle Bathrobe
Create your own spa day or just lounge around in matching bathrobes. These waffle robes are so cozy (and they have pockets), that you’ll have a hard time wearing anything else.