Hope you didn’t think we forgot about the all-important honeymoon! Last week we gave you some info on non-traditional registry alternatives. We had some interest in the honeymoon registry, so it’s about to have its own blog!

Most honeymoon registries are listed on a couple’s wedding website, with pictures and information about the upcoming getaway. Locally, our own Carmel Travel Company was able to shed some light on the questions surrounding your honeymoon registry. Owner Melisa Keiser says, “I explain to our clients that a honeymoon registry is just like the registry you set up at Macy’s or Target.” The only downside is the percent that goes to the registry service. “Couples have the opportunity to decide if they will be the ones paying the percent or if the gift givers will pay it.” Check out more about Melisa and the Carmel Travel Company at: http://www.carmeltravelcompany.com

Some of the more modern approaches to the honeymoon registry have allowed guests to purchase services or activities for the couple to enjoy while they are away. For example, a couple may list their destination, resort, and a few things they are interested in participating in while honeymooning. A guest can browse the page and purchase any of the listed activities or give a general monetary gift of any amount towards the honeymoon.

Common services and activities to consider including in your honeymoon registry are:
    > Couples massages 
    > Scuba diving 
    > Elegant dining 
    > Private boat, safari, mountain, or city tours 
    > Wine tasting 
    > Spa packages 
    > Extreme sporting adventures 
    > Anything you can think of that the two of you will enjoy!

A great advantage of using an online registry is the ability to keep track of gifts to personalize those Thank-You’s. Be sure to thank your family and friends for allowing you two to partake in activities you may have otherwise gone without during your honeymoon. Those experiences will be with you forever!

Couples may see a honeymoon registry as asking for money, but a few years ago the new sensation of honeymoon registries was reviewed in The Wall Street Journal. "A honeymoon is a perfectly appropriate gift to request," says Peter Post, president of the Emily Post Institute, in Burlington, VT., a well-known etiquette think tank. "There's no objection to it from an etiquette point of view." This actually makes the gift giving process easier, more simplified for wedding guests.

Always,
Amy