Honeymoon Gift Registries
by The Big Day

Whether it's a moonlit supper on a Kauai beach or a dramatic helicopter tour of Kilauea, thousands of engaged couples around the world are finding their dream honeymoons to be as close as their keyboards via online honeymoon registries.

Honeymoon registries function much like conventional bridal registries, but instead of the traditional china patterns, etc., the chosen gifts are portions of their honeymoon expenses. For example, the price of airfare from Minneapolis to Maui would be broken down into wedding-gift-sized purchases of, let's say, $100 or less. The newlyweds receive the cash they need, while offering wedding guests the opportunity to purchase portions of the lovebirds’ shipboard extras, scuba lessons, a night’s lodging in the honeymoon suite - whatever would help create the engaged couple’s perfect romantic journey.

The concept seems to offer both guests and betrothed an option that gives everyone what they want. Plus, there's no denying that Aunt Rose has lots more fun picking out gifts from a colorful, personalized registry than she would writing out a check. At least this way, she and Uncle Harry can picture the blissful couple enjoying a luau on Waikiki or a balmy sunset cruise instead of imagining them paying their gas bill back in Minnesota.

All honeymoon registries charge a service fee representing a percentage of the dollar value of gifts purchased for the soon-to-be-newlyweds. Some registries also charge an additional non-refundable registration fee, ranging from $50 to $150. Unlike the service charge, this non-refundable "sign on" fee must be paid up front, regardless of how many - or how few - gifts are purchased for the honeymooners.

Here are a few things to investigate before signing on:

· Make certain there is no up-front registration or sign-up fee.
· Look for a registry with a service charge of less than10%, with no sliding scale.
· Check to see what perks they offer, like a free wedding web page and announcement cards.
· Be sure the registry carries the BBBOnLine Reliability Seal.
· Ask if your personal information will be protected by a formal Privacy Policy, such as TRUSTe - and find out the registry's policies on privacy.
· Find out if your cash gifts are to be kept in a secure, untouchable account until the registry cuts your check.

A honeymoon registry gives friends and family a satisfying and convenient way to purchase a wedding gift and the pleasure of knowing they’ve given the sweethearts memories that will last a lifetime.

The Big Day