Do I need a wedding registry? (Yes — here's why)

Just as every couple is unique, so is every wedding. That's because the wedding planning process requires you to make dozens (if not hundreds!) of decisions about everything from the dress to the guests. So it's no surprise that during this busy process people start considering what they can drop from their to-do list. Some start to wonder, do you need a wedding registry at all? Especially if you're already living together?

The answer is yes — you do need a wedding registry (also called a wedding gift list btw). And not just because we're literally in the gift list biz. Just hear us out — there are a lot of advantages to having a wedding registry. In the long run, they save you time, effort and hassle. Not convinced? Here are 9 reasons why you should create a wedding registry before your big day.

1. It avoids annoying questions

It's tradition to buy a wedding gift, so 99% of your guests are going to want to purchase you something. And 99% of those guests will probably ask you constantly what you want if you haven't volunteered this info. You'll be fielding questions from family, friends, colleagues, and, trust us when we say, this is not what you need the fortnight before the big day!

2. It prevents duplicates (and awkward returns conversations)

On top of the constant gift queries you'll get without a registry, you'll then likely end up with a bunch of duplicate items, or things that just aren't your style. A wedding registry service removes all this hassle for you and your guests. They'll know exactly what you want, and, you'll not have to deal with any awkward returns conversations after the event.

3. It makes the process more accessible for guests

Believe it or not, having a wedding registry can make life easier for guests who have smaller budgets. Just make sure you add a range of gifts with different price points so there's something for everyone, and they won't feel the pressure to overstretch themselves. With over 50,000 items to choose from on Prezola, it’s easy to add wedding gift values both high and low. But don’t be too shy to add those high-ticket items — you can always add group gifting so multiple guests can split the cost of the gifts you really want.

4. It'll help you upgrade your home

Wedding gift lists are a great way to upgrade any old or outdated furnishings from your student days and really go for the items that you’ve always wanted. KitchenAid, Dyson and Sonos are all popular on gift registries because they're premium purchases that are hard to prioritise for yourself during the cozzie livs. (And with Prezola you can activate group gifting on any items on your list, making it quick and easy for your guests to chip in for your dream gifts).

5. It makes it easy to ask for money

Asking for money is no longer taboo, but it can still feel a little cringe (if you're wondering how to do this politely, read our guide to how to ask for money for a wedding gift for tips). A wedding registry makes it much easier to request cash gifts. That's because with Prezola, cash gifts can be listed as exciting experiences or items within a cash fund. For example, you can set up a honeymoon fund and add things like ‘romantic dinner on the beach’ or ‘New York city pass’. That way, guests feel they’re contributing or buying you something specific, and you get the cash. Once you've closed your registry, you can request two free cash fund transfers and then you can do whatever you want with the money!

6. You can use it to fund your dreams

We just mentioned honeymoons, but you can set up cash funds for anything. Home deposits, renovations, for furniture, art, you name it! The only limit is your imagination...

6. Gift lists have been brought into the 21st century

Gone are the days of entering a department store with a barcode scanner, like in the movies! Also, gone are the days of being limited to what that stores stocks. At Prezola you can add items to your wedding list from anywhere. So as well as our 450+ amazing brands, and our incredible experiences, honeymoon funds and charity donations, you can also add your favourite items from any other website. We'll combine it all into one single easy-to-use online list. So you can mix traditional brands such as Wedgwood and Le Creuset with modern brands like Sofa.com and Graham & Green, and then throw in something from your fave artisanal potter, just because.

7. It saves you from wedding night horror!

Let us paint you a picture: you've had the best day of your life! You've married your soulmate, eaten, chatted, danced with the most important people in the world. You're feeling high from the whole wonderful experience. And then, just as you're about to leave the wedding venue, you see a table of towering gifts and cards that you have to some how transport with you.... OR, have Prezola deal with this for you! We'll store all your wedding gifts for free for three months, and we'll deliver them directly to you on a date of your choosing (including Saturdays). Pick your date, and then plan the ultimate unboxing experience with your new spouse. It'll be like Christmas come early. Sounds much better, right?

9. It saves you from thank you note horror!

Thank you notes won't seem so daunting with Prezola. You won’t have to worry about a thing, thanks to our nifty tech. It can be tough for even the most organised person to keep track of who sent which present, and it just makes it impossible when gift tags fall off presents during the big day. We create a list of all the presents in your delivery along with the names of people who sent them, so there’s no more guess work while trying to match up handwriting!

Convinced that having a wedding gift list is now a good idea? Good! Next check out our guides to when to start your wedding registry, and how to create a wedding registry.