Gift registry guides and gift etiquette

Wedding gifts

How much to give for a wedding gift: amounts by relationship

A clear guide to wedding gift amounts by relationship, with the averages from recent guest surveys and the situations that change the number.

6 min read

Wedding etiquette

How to ask for money instead of wedding gifts (with wording examples)

Asking for cash is normal now — the trick is saying it warmly and giving guests an easy way to do it. Here is how, with wording you can copy.

5 min read

Registry comparisons

Best cash registry sites compared: fees, payouts and who they suit

An honest comparison of the most popular cash registries: what each charges on cash gifts, how the money reaches you, and where each one is the better choice.

6 min read

Honeymoon

Honeymoon fund ideas, wording and etiquette

Over 20 honeymoon fund gift ideas with prices, wording you can copy, and the etiquette that keeps it feeling like a gift instead of a bill.

6 min read

Wedding planning

How to create a wedding registry: a step-by-step guide

Everything you need to build a registry guests will actually use — timing, price mix, how many items, and the checklist to get it done in an afternoon.

5 min read

Wedding gifts

Venmo for wedding gifts: is it safe, and how to do it right

Venmo and Zelle are a fast, fee-free way to receive wedding gifts, as long as you protect your handle, tighten privacy and give guests one clear place to find the right account.

6 min read

Wedding planning

Wedding RSVP guide: deadline, wording and how to track replies

When to set the deadline, what to write on the RSVP, how to handle plus-ones and kids, and a simple system to track every reply.

5 min read

Baby registry

Baby registry checklist: what to put on your baby registry

Everything worth putting on a baby registry, sorted by category, plus what most parents say they could have skipped and how to add cash funds for the expensive stuff.

6 min read

Baby registry

How many diapers do I need? Estimates by size for the first year

Daily diaper estimates by size and weight range, how many to stock before the baby arrives, and why a diaper fund often beats a pile of boxes.

6 min read

Baby shower

How much to spend on a baby shower gift, by relationship

Simple spending ranges by relationship, when a cash gift is the better choice, and how to give together when the item on the registry is expensive.

6 min read

House fund

House fund registry ideas, wording and etiquette

Turn a down payment or a new home into gifts guests are happy to give, with ideas by room, wording you can copy and etiquette for weddings and housewarmings.

6 min read

Bridal shower

Bridal shower registry ideas: what to add (and what to save for the wedding)

A practical list of bridal shower gift ideas — kitchen, entertaining, self-care and cash funds — and a simple rule for splitting items between the shower and the wedding.

6 min read

Graduation

How much money to give for graduation: a guide by relationship and school level

Clear graduation gift amount ranges for high school, college and graduate degrees, by how close you are to the graduate — plus how to give money in a way that feels personal.

5 min read

Birthday

Birthday wish list ideas for adults: 40 things worth asking for

Forty birthday wish list ideas grouped by type — experiences, hobbies, home, self-care and bigger goals — with milestone birthday ideas and polite ways to share your list.

5 min read

Group gifts

How to collect money for a group gift (without chasing anyone)

A step-by-step method for teacher gifts, coworker farewells and friend birthdays — with ready-to-send messages and a simple way to see who has chipped in.

6 min read

Splitting costs

How to split bachelorette party costs fairly (with a worked example)

Who traditionally pays, the three fair ways to divide costs, a worked budget example and the messages that keep money from getting awkward between friends.

5 min read