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A honeymoon registry (also known as a travel registry) is an online wedding registry service that allows engaged couples to receive monetary contributions from guests toward their honeymoon trip, experiences, or travel expenses instead of traditional household gifts. [1] [2]
Honeymoon registries originated in the 1990s as services offered by travel agents, allowing couples to register for portions of their honeymoon, such as airfare, accommodations, or excursions. [3] With the growth of internet-based wedding planning, online platforms later began offering digital honeymoon registries independent of travel agencies. Couples can personalize their registry with descriptions, images, and funding options for individual honeymoon experiences. [4]
As "non-traditional" registries gained popularity in the early 2000s, many mainstream registry platforms integrated travel options alongside conventional household gift lists. [5]
Most honeymoon registries allow couples to create a personalized web page displaying their honeymoon plans and enable guests to contribute toward specific experiences or general travel funds. Payment is typically collected via credit card or online transfer, and funds are later redeemed by the couple or applied directly to travel bookings. [6]
Common features include:
According to The Wall Street Journal, honeymoon registries are increasingly viewed as an acceptable form of wedding gift-giving. Peter Post of the Emily Post Institute stated that "a honeymoon is a perfectly appropriate gift to request" and that there is "no objection to it from an etiquette point of view." [7]
Supporters argue that honeymoon registries allow couples to prioritize shared experiences and memories rather than material goods. Critics note that the concept may carry a social stigma associated with directly requesting money and that many services charge transaction fees that reduce the total received. [8]