Every new household can surely use a set of pots and
pans as well as silver, glassware, and china
(although we're not convinced of the utter necessity
of possessing pickle forks or a silver tea service).
So the existence of a wedding gifts registry is
useful to soon-to-marry couples and their guests.
But what if you already have most of the necessities
to feather a nest, or neither of you have much
interest in domestic acquisitions, or you're simply
hoping that wedding gifts pay off in something you
really want to do -- like travel? In that case, and
for couples who might not otherwise be able to
afford a great trip, signing up for a honeymoon
bridal gift registry could ensure you get wedding
gifts you really want.
HoneyLuna
was the first dedicated honeymoon travel bridal gift
registry and has sent more than a thousand couples
on dream vacations.
It works by allowing a couple to select elements of
their honeymoon (airfare, hotel nights, meals,
tours, sports, spa treatments, admissions, spending
cash) that friends and family may buy for you in
increments as wedding gifts.
Registered couples get a secure, separate Web page
that they and their guests can access by password.
In addition to maintaining a registry for you,
HoneyLuna can also act as a travel agent to book
your trip. Gift choices range from DisneyWorld to
African safaris, European capitals to romantic
cruises. HoneyLuna can also design a trip to a
destination of your choice.
The company provides up to 100 registry-notification
postcards. These cards, designed to be mailed to a
couple's family and friends, explain what a
honeymoon registry is, how to give such wedding
gifts, and provide HoneyLuna's Web site address and
toll-free number.
Couples can register online for HoneyLuna, or by
calling 800-809-5862. HoneyLuna charges a $100
registration fee to use both the company's gift
registry and travel services. If you simply want
HoneyLuna as a travel registry and intend to book
the trip elsewhere or on your own, the fee is $150.
There is also a 15 percent service fee for purchased
gifts .
The Big Day,
accessible online or by calling 800-304-1141, is a
bit less expensive. There's no signup fee, no setup
fee, and couples needn't make travel arrangements
through the site. The site deducts a nine percent
service charge from the total contributed by your
guests. So, at honeymoon time, you receive a check
for the total gift cash contributions minus 9
percent. You can create gift registry items for any
part of your honeymoon. Registry "wizards" help you
to build a complete honeymoon registry in about 5
minutes. The Big Day also provides information on
registry etiquette and a honeymoon checklist.
In addition to these major services, you may also
find that others, such as
After I Do,
Giftpile,
The Honeymoon,
Your Honeymoon
Registry, or
France Honeymoon
suit your honeymoon bridal gift registry needs. In
addition, many travel agencies also will provide
honeymoon gift registry services.
