They grew up in the same Canadian town.
Updated May 05, 2025Here's Why You Should Always Buy Wedding Gifts From the Couple's Registry
When it comes to buying wedding gifts, don't go rogue, just stick to the registry—here's why.
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Purchasing a wedding gift for a couple straight from their registry doesn't make you unoriginal or lazy. What you're actually doing is buying the couple something they love, want and need for their next chapter together. While there could be rare exceptions, most of the time it's safest and easiest to stick to their registry—especially these days when there's so much more to register for than china and flatware. (It can actually be a lot of work for the couple, which is why our All-In-One Wedding Planner app offers a registry tool to help.) Here are a few more good reasons not to stray from it.
It's so much less work for you.
We totally get it—maybe for you, half the fun of finding a gift is brainstorming ideas, but we're telling you it's okay to leave that creative process to birthday and anniversary presents. Why make more work for yourself, right? Instead of agonizing over whether or not they'll like and use something, skip the stress and check out their registry.
You'll get something you know they want.
Think of it this way: If the couple didn't want you choosing an item off their registry, why would they spend the time and energy curating their own, specific wishlist? You may think your gift idea is way better than something they'd ever think to ask for (and yes, you'd still be getting them a wedding present, which is a lovely gesture no matter what), but wouldn't you rather get them something you know would make them ecstatic? No one wants to receive a gift that's fated to gather dust in the basement—that's a lose-lose situation all around.
You're doing what they asked for.
In a similar vein, not only will you be offering the couple a gift they've specifically asked for, you'll also avoid making their day about you. That sounds a bit odd, we know, but if the couple asks you to wear formal attire, you wouldn't show up in cargo shorts. And if they provide a menu selection of chicken, fish or steak, you'd never say, "No thanks, I'm all set," and show up with your own personal pizza. Straying from the registry suggests you'd rather get them what you want—not what they want.
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You have so many different gift options.
If you pride yourself on your visionary gift-giving skills—and the thought of buying the newlyweds a set of white sheets or monogrammed towels makes you queasy—we have amazing news for you. First of all, you're always at liberty to search their traditional registry to select one of the more fun, unique or luxury gifts they've listed, like a cappuccino machine or a wireless speaker system. Beyond that, giving the couple cash through services like The Knot Newlywed Fund is no longer taboo—in fact, it's back in vogue, since today's couples seem to value big, milestone buys and once-in-a-lifetime experiences over appliances and home décor. So, if the couple has set up a cash gift fund, you could help finance their first home or those kitchen renovations they've been wanting to do for years.
