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What is a Honeymoon Registry?

Everybody is familiar with the concept of a baby or bridal registry - it's an easy and effective way to coordinate the giving of gifts, ensuring that guests don't give the same gift and actually give something that is needed. A honeymoon registry works in much the same way - couples provide a wish list for their honeymoon including airline tickets, accommodation, meals, excursions and other extras. Wedding guests can then purchase one or more components of the honeymoon package, or simply contribute to the overall cost.

Honeymoon registries were devised in the early 1990s as an additional service offered by travel agents - today many cruise lines, hotel chains and resorts have their own registries, as does Disney. The easiest way to compare options is to check on-line - most registries can be created and accessed on-line and most sites also allow a couple to create a web page with details of their proposed honeymoon. Some couples pay for the basic honeymoon themselves and use the registry for extras such as a massage, an expensive meal, helicopter flights, etc.

Most wedding registries offer several options featuring the most popular honeymoon destinations - Hawaii, (the most popular destination) the Caribbean, South Pacific and a selection of cruises at different prices. Couples can also choose from more exotic and unusual options such as an African safari or a trip to such countries as New Zealand, Nepal, Cambodia and Vietnam.

A honeymoon registry is an excellent way for guests to give a gift that the couple will actually use - many established couples already have the traditional gift items such as kitchen utensils and towels and simply don't need more. It's also a great way for the couple to experience the honeymoon they might not otherwise afford - the average cost of a honeymoon at a luxury resort is now between $7,000 and $10,000. Any travel planning is usually taken care of by the registry company.

There are some disadvantages to a honeymoon registry. There may be a charge to create the registry web site; and the agency may take a commission - anything from 5% to 15%, often called a gift delivery fee. Its also impossible to predict just how much of your wish list will be paid for by guests - you may end up having to pay for a large part of the honeymoon yourselves, if everything on your itinerary isn't paid for.

Whereas most wedding guests approve of a honeymoon registry, some older and more traditional family members may not appreciate the concept, arguing that their gift will be short-lived and won't really be a lasting reminder. You may want to offer guests a choice between the honeymoon registry and more traditional gift options.

So if you are planning to tie the knot, consider a honeymoon registry. It's an excellent way to enjoy that trip of a lifetime - with a little help from family and friends.