From registering for an unforgettable experience on your honeymoon to donations to a cause you care deeply about, these are 5 amazing wedding registry alternatives that go beyond the traditional.

Want to start doing things a little different for your wedding planning? Your wedding gift registry is the perfect place to start. Over the past decade or so, engaged couples have increasingly challenged the idea of the traditional wedding registry.

And it’s no surprise really, because not only are more people getting married later in life, but they are already co-habitating before their wedding day comes along. Which means that home goods like bed sheets, baking pans, bath towels, and beyond are not necessarily things that should be added to a wedding gift registry. And what does this look like? It's a registry that's more personalized, and oftentimes filled with options for wedding guests to gift everything from unique experiences to cash donations to causes that the couple cares deeply about.

The latest from The Knot's now annual Registry Survey states that, "In 2025, couples will want their wedding registries to reflect their goals and needs more than ever."

So, if you and your fiance have found yourselves wondering about gift ideas and thinking, "We don't really need another set of bath towels" then now's the time to explore some wedding registry alternatives.

What is a wedding gift registry?

Did you know that the tradition of a wedding registry dates back to 1924? It all started at Marshall Field's department store in Chicago, allowing a way for newly-affianced couples to specify to friends and family desired things like porcelain, silver, and crystal patterns.

That being said, a wedding registry is simply an outlet that informs guests what they can buy for the couple in question. The couple will "register" with a major retailer and select items available from said retailer for their guests to seamlessly pick their perfect gift. The registry list can vary in price, and many couples make a wedding gift registry available as an option for those guests who don't want to "just give cash."

The thing is, many couples create a basic wedding gift registry just because it's the thing to do. But we can do better than that, can't we? Exploring alternatives to go on your wedding registry leaves space to explore more unique ideas for things that your guests can gift you – and for it to be something that you truly want and need.

Pro wedding tip: Already loving the idea of an alternative wedding gift registry? Having a wedding website makes it easy link a bunch of different registries directly on your site, so your guests can choose which registry they’d like to give to! You can even make your website password protected if you wish, so that only your guest list can access your personal wedding info.

Wedding registry alternatives to try in 2025

One of the most fashionable things you can do for your wedding is to curate a wedding registry that’s filled with unique gift ideas, so your beloved guests can shower you with something special and that you and your fiance will cherish for years to come. Here's a look at 5 wedding registry alternatives that fit the bill.

Register for unique experiences

Start making memories with the love of your life and add some unique experiences to your alternative wedding registry. Fun excursions like a couples spa day or a weekend getaway at a glamp-y cabin in the woods are just some experiences that couples can register for as gifts for their wedding. And the list goes on – with more all-in-one online wedding registries available nowadays, more couples can get creative. Think gifts in the form of a cooking class, a photography lesson, and even tickets to see your favorite football team!

How to register: Non-retail wedding registry sites like Honeyfund and WithJoy make it easy to curate a gift registry that’s outside the box. They partner with third-party vendors where you can pick and choose experiences to add to your wedding registry, or have guests contribute cash funds towards a specific experience. WithJoy even has the option for “Group Gifting” where guests can all chip in for any higher-priced items.

If you do end up working with an all-in-one registry site, check if you can make your personal wedding registry private or public. Sometimes the settings will default to a completely public registry, where your wish list can be found by anyone using a simple Google search (and ask yourselves if you’re okay with that).

Contribution to your favorite charity

Got a cause that you hold near and dear to your heart as a couple? Requesting donations to a charity of your choice is another amazing alternative for your wedding registry, not to mention one of the best ways to truly spread the love on your wedding day.

If you don't have a particular organization in mind but are loving this unique wedding gift idea, then check out the website Charity Navigator. It’s like Consumer Reports but for charities. You can search for individual organizations based on topics you are passionate about, and you can see their authenticity rating based on everything from impact, accountability & finance, and leadership. Plus, it's a .org, so you know it's legit.

How to register: Adding a charity registry is possible with many all-in-one wedding registry sites, but make sure to check if the donor will be charged a commission if they pay by cash or credit card. Alternatively, try adding a link on your wedding website that takes users directly to your charity’s donation page.

Honeymoon fund

When couples started branching out from the more traditional wedding registry, honeymoon funds was one of the first alternatives.

If you're having a longer engagement where there's a larger block of time between your registry being set up and the big day, then it's more realistic for guests to contribute directly to your honeymoon. For shorter engagements and if the honeymoon's already been booked and paid for, couples opt to have experiences added to their honeymoon registry. This allows guests to gift things like a romantic dinner at the hotel, or even an adventure day ziplining through the rainforest!

How to register: Lots of the third party, all-in-one wedding registry sites have a honeymoon section. There's also honeymoon specific online registries like Traveler's Joy, which is the OG honeymoon registry. We did a little digging and discovered that there's a Disney Honeymoon registry through the site Honeymoon Wishes, and they don't charge any service fees! Which kinda makes sense, because all the funds you're being gifted will be used at Disney, so they cash in that way. If you and your fiance are Disney adults, then this honeymoon fund might be worth checking out.

Cash ($)

Nothing like cold, hard cash! Adding a cash-giving option to your wedding registry is a simple, stress-free way to ask your guests to contribute funds to this new and exciting stage of married life in lieu of a physical gift. Many wedding guests actually prefer this option, so it can be a win-win for everyone!

How to register: Check if your wedding registry site (if you have one) charges for cash donations. You can also add a little note on your wedding website that guests can give you physical cash in a card on the day of your wedding, which is totally analogue mode and wonderfully old school! That way, you'll bypass any processor fees.

Wine or beer subscription

Toast to your new life together! A wine or beer subscription is another way to add intentional experiences to your gift registry – and this trend is quickly becoming a fun and unique wedding registry alternative that everyone loves.

How to register: Your boozy registry can come in the form of a subscription, or guests can simply gift you bottles that you've hand-picked yourselves. You can do this through a wine club or wine stores that offer delivery services (just keep in mind about out-of-state laws and deliveries that may apply). Same goes for beer.

The truth is, the experience of creating a wedding registry that looks a little different is an amazing way for you and your fiance to gather and express your goals, needs, and wants to your most cherished family and friends. And who knows, it might even inspire some of your guests to discover new gift-giving habits that they love!

Hand-Me-Gowns Bridal Shop

We hope you were inspired by our take on how to challenge the traditional wedding gift registry! We’re so psyched to see what you come up with for your own.

Now, have you checked wedding dress shopping off of your to-do list yet? Hand-Me-Gowns Bridal is currently booking appointments for brides to find their dream wedding gown. With over 400 preowned designer gowns to choose from (in a myriad of styles, shapes, and sizes), we are certain you can meet your perfect match here at our stylish small-town boutique. Make your bridal appointment today and get ready for that magic to happen!

Sustainably Yours,

Hand-Me-Gowns Bridal
xoxo

5 Perfect Alternatives For Your Wedding Registry