You’ve said yes, told your friends and family, and celebrated your engagement. But now the time has come to create your wedding registry… or bridal shower registry…

Anyone know what the difference is? Do you need to create both or can you get away with just one? What’s the etiquette here?

Like many aspects of wedding planning, creating a registry is riddled with dos, don’ts and contrasting opinions. And it can be really hard to get a straightforward answer.

That’s why we wanted to create this guide to clear up all things to do with bridal shower registries vs wedding registries – and help you make the decision that will best set you up for married life.

So, without further ado…

What’s the difference between a wedding and bridal shower registry?

Wedding and bridal shower registries have many similarities, and many couples prefer to just create one registry to cover both occasions.

However, they’re not technically the same.

While a wedding registry is a list of items that you’d like to receive as gifts in celebration of your wedding, a bridal shower registry is a list of items you’d like to receive from bridal shower guests.

As a general rule, bridal shower gifts tend to be smaller gifts that are more personal to the bride – as opposed to wedding gifts, which are typically more expensive and focused on things that can be enjoyed by both newlyweds.

What is a bridal shower registry?

A bridal shower registry is a list of items that the bride would like to receive as gifts at her bridal shower.

Remember, the purpose of a bridal shower (at least traditionally) is for friends and family to ‘shower’ the bride with gifts.

So, a bridal shower registry gives the bride a chance to direct bridal shower guests to items she actually wants and needs – helping to avoid duplicate gifts and avoid waste.

It also helps guests to buy more confidently, knowing exactly how to put a smile on the bride’s face!

What gifts are typically included on a bridal shower registry?

Bridal shower gifts are typically smaller and less expensive than wedding registry gifts and are designed to set the bride up for newly married life.

As such, they can include more personal items – like lingerie – that wouldn’t usually be appropriate for inclusion on a wedding registry.

That said, the most common bridal shower registry gifts are items for the home, such as:

• Kitchen gadgets

• Cookware

• Tableware

• Home decor

What is a wedding registry?

A wedding registry is a list of items that an engaged couple would like to receive as gifts for their wedding day.

This is beneficial for both the couple and their guests.

The couple benefits from receiving items they actually want and need, avoiding unwanted gifts or duplicate items. 

Meanwhile, guests get to say goodbye to the guesswork associated with gift buying, by picking items to gift that have been requested by the couple.

What gifts are typically included on a wedding registry?

Wedding registries often include similar gifts to what you’d find on a bridal shower registry. But a wedding registry will typically also include some higher-priced or more extravagant items – like fine china.

It’s also worth noting that items on a wedding registry should be geared towards the couple as a whole, rather than towards one person.

Common wedding registry items include:

• Electronics

• Kitchen gadgets

• Cookware

• Tableware

• Home decor

• Bedding

However, don’t feel like you have to select physical items.

Nowadays, many couples ask for financial contributions towards a honeymoon fund, home renovation, or charity close to their hearts. 

Plus, if you choose a universal gift registry provider (like Moonsift) you can even ask for experiences, vouchers and subscriptions to enjoy as a couple – the sky’s the limit!

Bridal shower registry vs wedding registry: do I need both?

So, do you need both a bridal shower registry and a wedding registry? Or can you simply create one registry for both events?

Well, we know it’s probably not what you want to hear, but there’s no set rule or etiquette here.

Rather, it’s completely up to you whether you’d like to create separate bridal shower and wedding registries, or whether you’d prefer to combine the two. And of course, there are pros and cons to both.

When you’re making your decision, it makes sense to think about what items you would want to include on each registry if they were separate. 

If there’s a lot of overlap, a combined registry may be all you need (and would probably make your life easier!). 

Just make sure to include plenty of lower-priced items so that there’s enough choice for your bridal shower guests. If you want, you could even update your registry after your bridal shower is over, to add more high-ticket items suitable for your wedding day.

On the other hand, if you have very different visions for each registry, it might make more sense to keep them separate.

For instance, you might want to include lingerie on your bridal shower registry, which probably wouldn’t be appropriate for your wedding registry. Or, you might decide that you want to ask for physical items (for instance, homeware) on your bridal registry, while focusing your wedding registry on building your honeymoon fund.

There’s no right or wrong answer – it’s just about what’s right for you and your future spouse!

Choosing whether to create one or two registries

Umming and ahhing about whether to create separate bridal shower and wedding registries, or whether to combine the two?

We don’t blame you. It can feel like a bit of a can of worms, especially when there’s no real precedent to follow.

We’ve done a ton of research so that you don’t have to and have listed out the pros and cons of each option, to help you make your choice.

Pros of separate registries

• Option to ask for more personal gifts for the bride

• Gives guests clear direction of what type of gift is expected for each event

• Allows the couple to ask for different kinds of gifts for each occasion (eg. physical items for the bridal shower but cash for the wedding)

• Gives the couple more control

Cons of separate registries

• Directing guests to two registries may overwhelm them

• If there’s a lot of overlap between two registries, this can result in duplicate gifts

• More work to create and manage two registries

“We are doing two, but that is because our Wedding registry is our Honeymoon Fund... and the Bridal Shower will be a much smaller, less expensive registry for some new home items (we have lived together 5.5 years, we have everything plus some, just want some upgrades)...”

– Brittany, WeddingWire Community Forum

Pros of combined registries

• Easier to manage and track

• Avoids overlap (which can result in duplicate gifts)

• Avoids overwhelming guests with separate links

• Gives guests more choice over how much to spend and what to buy

Cons of combined registries

• No personal items for the bride

• Less control over what gifts are bought for which occasion

• Expectations are less clear for guests of both events 

“You can use one registry for both events! It will be significantly easier for you and your guests to just go to one page rather than several different websites.”

– Fireflyeyes, Reddit

Create your registry on Moonsift

Whether you decide to create one registry or separate registries for your bridal shower and wedding day, you’re in the right place.

Moonsift is a universal registry provider, which means you can add items from any store in the world – including experiences.

Plus, you can even add a cash fund so that guests can contribute towards your honeymoon, home renovation fund, or simply a bigger-ticket item.

So, whether you’re hoping to go down the traditional route and add items for the home, or you’re planning to think outside the box, we’ll have you covered.

100% free with no fees or markups, it’s the easy way to create a beautiful bridal shower and wedding registry to set you up for blissful married life!

Try it today.

Things people also ask about bridal shower registries vs wedding registries

Should a bridal shower registry be different from a wedding registry?

Yes, as a general rule, a bridal shower registry should include smaller items that are lower in price, while a wedding registry can include more extravagant items. However, couples can also choose to create one combined registry with items that are appropriate for both occasions. 

Are bridal shower gifts different than wedding gifts?

Yes. Bridal shower gifts are usually smaller and lower in price than wedding gifts. They can also be more personal to the bride, whereas wedding gifts should always be geared towards both newlyweds.

Can you go off-registry for a bridal shower?

Yes, you can go off-registry if you want to. However, if there’s a registry, it’s always safer to shop from this so that you know you’re buying something the bride actually wants and needs. This is especially the case if she’s created a separate bridal shower registry.

Create your own registry here.