Why Adding a Gift Card (or Several) to Your Wedding Registry Is an Excellent Idea

If you've ever wondered whether you can add a gift card to your wedding registry, we have good news: You absolutely can. Nowadays, a gift card on a registry is a popular sight and is the right choice of present for many couples. Maybe you and your other half have been living together for years, so the last thing you need is one more set of wine glasses. Or you might be more interested in experiential gifts than tangible objects. Whatever your reason is for wanting gift cards for your wedding, we're totally on board. But are you wondering how to add gift cards to your registry? And what's the etiquette behind asking for gift cards instead of traditional presents? Don't stress. We've outlined the most common questions about putting gift cards on your wedding registry. Use this guide to learn everything there is to know. Then, start your registry with gift cards on The Knot Registry Store. They can also eliminate any confusion over where to register.

In this article: Can You Put Gift Cards on Your Wedding Registry? | Best Gift Cards for Your Wedding Registry | How to Add Gift Cards to Your Wedding Registry | Difference Between Cash Funds and Gift Cards

Can You Put Gift Cards on Your Wedding Registry?

The short answer: Yes, you can register for gift cards (you can make a full-on gift card registry, if you want). In the past, asking for a gift card for your wedding might have been considered to be on the list of wedding registry etiquette mistakes, but that's not the case today. Guests want to purchase items you'll actually use. Plus, you can register for both gift cards and traditional wedding gifts to give guests a bit more autonomy as to what they buy you. It's convenient for you and it makes using your registry easier for guests, since with only one registry link to keep track of, they're more likely to purchase the items you've preselected. Plus, a wedding gift card registry section is a great option if there's a big-ticket item you'd like to buy, but it's too expensive to add to your wish list. With gift cards, guests can help contribute to the overall purchase.

Best Gift Cards for Your Wedding Registry

Now that we've got wedding registry gift card etiquette down, it's time to start creating your dream wish list with some of the best wedding registry items. And yes, The Knot registry is for gift cards as well as traditional registry items. The gift card options cover nearly every interest, from buzzy brands like Airbnb, Delta Air Lines and HomeGoods to niche retailers like Pressed Floral. Can't decide which gift cards to go for? We're sharing some of the best gift cards for your wedding wish list below.

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1. Crate & Barrel Gift Card

Photo: The Knot Registry Store

Whether you're saving up for your dream sofa or simply want some encouragement to treat yourself to some chic homewares postwedding, cash for Crate & Barrel is a great move when it comes to making a gift card registry for your wedding. Score everything from kitchen tools to patio furniture. (Bonus: it can also be used at the oh-so-sleek CB2.)

2. Home Depot Gift Card

Photo: The Knot Registry Store

A Home Depot gift card is truly unmatched when it comes to helping you finish projects in your newlywed nest. Even if you aren't doing a full home remodel, this registry pick will come in handy for smaller items you might need for routine maintenance down the line (looking at you, lightbulbs and tools). Rest assured, this is one of the most useful wedding presents.

3. Southwest Airlines Gift Card

Photo: The Knot Registry Store

Airline vouchers are such a good gift card for wedding registries, we had two winners in the category this year. Southwest can help you travel nationally to 42 states as well as Puerto Rico, Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean. And thanks to their free checked bag policy, your gift card will be used just for the flight and your seats—we recommend splurging on first-class seats to live it up at the start of your newlywed life.

4. HomeGoods Gift Card

Photo: The Knot Registry Store

It's easy to get carried away in HomeGoods. From furniture, home decor, kitchenware, bedding and bath products, they have nearly everything you need to complete your newlywed nest—and it's all at your fingertips with a HomeGoods gift card of $50 to $250 on your wedding registry. Better still, it also works at T.J.Maxx, Marshalls, HomeSense and Sierra.

5. Delta Air Lines Gift Card

Photo: The Knot Registry Store

There's a lot you can do with a Delta Air Lines gift card. From funding your honeymoon flights to future vacations to trips to visit loved ones, it's a valuable addition to your wish list. Serving over 275 destinations in more than 60 countries, Delta offers up a world of exploration.

6. Airbnb Gift Card

Photo: The Knot Registry Store

Who says your newlywed travels have to end with the honeymoon? An Airbnb gift card will help fund your next great adventure (or quiet retreat—whatever you're into). Another reason why it's one of our fave good wedding gift cards: You can use it to visit the loved one who gifted it to you.

7. Lowe's Gift Card

Photo: The Knot Registry Store

Another great option for your home improvement needs, a Lowe's gift card for your wedding registry will be something guests will be excited to give. They know you'll use it! Put this toward any functional items you feel would be anti-climactic on your official wish list.

8. Pressed Floral Gift Card

Photo: The Knot Registry Store

This is one of the sweetest gift cards in our selection. A gift card to Pressed Floral will go toward preserving your wedding flowers into a sweet keepsake that's sure to be an heirloom. We love how this gift card strikes the perfect balance between practicality and sentimentality—it's among the best wedding gift ideas.

How to Add Gift Cards to Your Wedding Registry

So, how do you register for gift cards using The Knot Registry? The process is actually just like adding a physical gift to your registry (and as simple as the process of how to make a wedding registry). All gift cards live within their own category on The Knot Registry Store and they're broken out into smaller groups based on niche interests that you and your S.O. can browse. Once you find one you want, select the red, plus button next to the product. From there, you'll be prompted to select a dollar amount and quantity before you can click "Add to Registry." And boom—you've mastered how to add gift cards to a wedding registry.

1. Ensure you're logged into your The Knot registry.
2. Go to the Shop By Category section on The Knot Registry Store.
3. Head to the Gift Cards & Experiences section.
4. You'll see a Category menu on the left side of the page—click on Gift Cards within that menu.
5. Peruse the selection of gift cards and, once you find the first one you'd like to add to your registry, click on it.
6. Click the hot-pink Add to Registry button and you'll see it on your wish list.

Difference Between Cash Funds and Gift Cards

The Knot Cash Funds (aka the best cash wedding registry) the best allow guests to give any amount of money to your registry. These funds can be used for anything—the sky's the limit. Gift cards, on the other hand, are more tangible items. You'll choose the store and amount, then that is how it has to be used. As such, they can feel a bit more personal than cash gifts. (Plus, you won't need to fuss with wedding registry wording explaining your cash funds' purposes.)

You can make a general wedding cash fund or designate your cash funds to a specific use, like a honeymoon or house. You can also put these monetary gifts toward shared experiences, like cooking classes, concert tickets or postwedding date nights—there's no limit to worthy cash fund ideas. However you phrase the ask, at the end of the day, any contributions guests make to a cash fund will be deposited into your bank account for you to spend as you see fit.

You don't need to choose to make a full wedding registry for gift cards or go fully into asking for money over physical gifts. In addition to registering for tangible items, you can also register for gift cards, cash funds, honeymoon funds and charity funds on The Knot. You can include all of the above on your registry.

Additional reporting by Cathryn Haight.