Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Honeymoon Registries - Tacky or Terrific?!


Lately, there has been a lot of debate on whether or not honeymoon registries are tacky, or do they fall well within acceptable wedding etiquette. So, what is a honeymoon registry, you ask? Well, it's identical to a regular gift registry, however, instead of traditional gifts that couples usually request, such as household items, etc., the couple requests donations for certain aspects of, or toward the total cost of their honeymoon. Sounds like a simple enough concept, but who would have thought that this growing trend would spark so much of a debate? The naysayers argue that honeymoon registries are tasteless because you are essentially asking your guests for money without coming straight out and well, asking for money. They feel that the marrying couple's main focus should be their family and friends coming out to celebrate and support them as they start a new life together. Gifts are simply a welcome "extra", and anything you receive you shoud be appreciative and grateful for. While that may be true, those that have jumped on the honeymoon registry bandwagon look at it from a completely different perspective. They argue that most couples who are getting married already live together, so really there is no need for the usual blenders, coffee makers, dishes, etc., that are a staple on wedding gift tables around the world. So, why not ask for something that they can really use? After all, with more and more couples ponying up the cash for their own weddings, with little or no help from parents or anyone else, what is the harm in saving money on the honeymoon by getting a little creative with the "donation" request? After all, it is not mandatory for guests to make a contribution, and you will always have those guests that will skip the registry altogether and purchase what they think you will want or need. In addition, most honeymoon registries allow you to add traditional gift requests, or link to another gift registry that you have already created. I personally can agree with the arguments on both sides of the spectrum, but my advice is that it all depends on the couple and their own personal taste. In most cases, the couple knows their friends and family well enough to judge whether or not requesting contributions to their honeymoon registry will be a good idea or not. After all, a wedding is your own once in a lifetime special day. The best suggestion would be to make the decision that will ultimately please you and your partner at the end of the day.

If you are interested in creating a honeymoon registry, check out http://www.honeyfund.com/. There are no set up fees, no transaction fees, and best of all, your money comes directly to you (via paypal) from your gift givers. Another bonus: there is no travel purchase required, meaning you do not have to book your honeymoon through their company. You are free to use your own travel agent or search around for the best deals to fit your wishes!

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