Q & A

The answer to every question we've been asked in 10 years...
Step 1 - THE BASICS
Step 2 - THE ETIQUETTE
Step 3 - SETTING UP YOUR REGISTRY
Step 4 - MANAGING YOUR REGISTRY
Step 5 - MAKING IT EASY FOR YOUR GUESTS
  • THE ETIQUETTE
WHEN SHOULD WE SET UP OUR REGISTRY?

It’s a good idea to set up your wedding list about three months before your wedding or at the latest two weeks before your invitations go out.

You can set up your list yourself online, or arrange a phone consult with our concierge. Either way, your own personal consultant will be on hand to guide you through the process.

HOW DO WE SET UP ONLINE?

This is your wedding, your show. That’s why our ultra cool website has been designed to put you in the driving seat. Set up and make changes to your list whenever you want. Wherever you want. Add new gifts. Change your mind (even after the big day). It’s up to you.

Choose from over 5,000 gifts and the option of a combined Contribution and Gift registry. In fact, if you’re running late with your gift list, Wedding List Co is the perfect solution. You can set up, choose gifts, and have guests buying immediately. Set up online now.

WHAT IS THE MOST POPULAR ITEM ON REGISTRIES?

Despite couples often saying they ‘have everything’, once our store or over the phone consultants chat to them about their lifestyles and entertaining habits, we generally find they have a lot of the basics, but maybe not so many ‘special’ pieces.

A wedding list is the one time in your life you could upgrade to a better quality dinner set or some great wine glasses. Better quality doesn’t have to equal patterned or precious;

It can be great quality white dinnerware that goes in the dishwasher by Jasper Conran for Wedgwood, Contemporary crystal glasses by Riedel or Fantastic cookware by Swiss Diamond Dinnerware, glassware and cookware continue to be the biggest sellers on wedding lists, primarily because that’s what guests like to buy. Recently there is a growing trend towards couples registering for more fun and unique items such as Nintendo Wiis, ipods, and Plasma TVs but they are rarely the most popular choice by guests.

IS THERE A PARTICULAR ITEM YOU THINK ALL NEWLY WEDS SHOULD HAVE?

If you like to cook you will really appreciate the difference a good set of knives make. All our knife blocks are anywhere up to 50% off recommended retail so you can get a great set for as little as $199. Every couple should register one large photo frame for their favourite wedding photo – it’s always the first thing to get bought off a list. 

HOW DO SHARED GIFTS WORKED?

If you have your heart set on a larger gift like a KitchenAid Stand Mixer or Cultiver bed linen set, but doubt there are any guests who would buy this, then splitting that gift into shares is ideal. You can manage this yourself via your personal log in. Only gifts over $349 can be split into shares (as gifts under this amount will usually be bought in full). This means different guests can just put a $50 or $100 share towards the gift, and if not all shares are bought you can either; swap something at the end to complete it; pay the difference yourself; or if very few shares were bought, you can put that money into another gift instead.

HOW DO WE TELL GUESTS ABOUT OUR LIST?

We recommend that you send our complimentary Wedding List Co insert cards with your wedding invitations. These elegant cards feature our website address, store addresses, phone number and guarantee that your guests know where your wedding list is, making life so much easier for them. They will appreciate not having to ring around to find out where your list is or make pot-luck guesses at what you want.

WHAT DO THE COMPLIMENTARY INSERT CARDS LOOK LIKE?

Cards are classic and discrete 300gsm white stock with black printing. Cards can be shipped for free Australia wide. View notification card.

WHAT WILL OUR REGISTRY LOOK LIKE?

Your list has all the information your guests will need from a gift description, price and a colour image that can be enlarged. You can even add you own personalised message and image. The checkout process is quick and easy to use for your guests. There’s even a currency converter for international guests. View the sample list.

WHAT TYPE OF GIFTS SHOULD WE HAVE SO ALL OUR GUESTS ARE SATISFIED?

Rule #1 – a big choice of prices. Guests generally spend between $100 to $200, but some people, especially relatives, will spend much more. So go on and put some expensive gifts on your list. You may think it’s a bit cheeky but couples are usually pleasantly surprised by people’s generosity. By the same token, is it important to ensure there are gifts under $100 for friends coming without a partner.

Rule #2 – include unique gifts. Guests naturally want to buy you something special and some guests are determined to buy you something unique that will always make you think of them. These guests aren’t interested in dinner plates and may go off-list to get you that unique gift which you’ll only take out when they come over… To prevent you being lumbered with eight vases that aren’t your taste and you can’t take back, make sure that your list includes as many special stand-alone gifts as possible. And use your Personal Message to make an impassioned plea for those dessert plates or contribution towards the Coco Republic furniture vouchers if that’s what you really want.

HOW MANY GIFTS SHOULD WE INCLUDE FOR 100 GUESTS?

There is no exact science – have fun with your list and add what you love. Make sure you have plenty of gifts in different price ranges to suit all guest’s budgets. It's better to start with a selection of the gifts you really want and need. Check your list about once a week to see what has been purchased and add more gifts as purchases occur closer to your wedding date.

WE ARE WORRIED THAT IF WE PUT EXPENSIVE ITEMS ON OUR REGISTRY, GUESTS WILL THINK WE ARE ASKING TOO MUCH. WHAT IS THE ETIQUETTE?

Providing a wide choice of prices is very important. Ensure there is always plenty of choice under $100, but equally that there is a selection over $200. You may be surprised how generous your guests will be. Having the ability to manage it online as with Wedding List Co means you can be adding and changing gifts right up to the wedding date. With a department store, you would have to go into the store and wait a few days for them to be added.

What’s more, with Wedding List Co, if you do put a gift over $349 on your list such as a KitchenAid Stand Mixer or some Cultiver bed linen – you can choose to split it into ‘shares’ so guests can buy just a portion of the gift. This is a great way to ensure you are more likely to get the one large gift you have your heart set on, and ensure your guests don’t feel they have to spend more than they would like.

As always though, make sure you balance the more expensive gift out with some smaller options for guests who won’t want to buy a share of something.